Cromolyn sodium is a prescription medication available in nasal spray, inhalation aerosol and ophthalmic solution formulations. The nasal spray is used to prevent and treat symptoms of hay fever and other allergies, the inhalation aerosol is intended to treat symptoms of bronchial asthma, and the ophthalmic solution is used to treat certain types of conjunctivitis (inflammation of the membrane covering the eye) and keratitis (inflammation of the cornea). All formulations of cromolyn sodium can cause adverse effects in some people.
Most Frequent Side Effects
According to RX List, the most frequently reported adverse reactions reported during clinical trials with cromolyn sodium nasal spray were sneezing, nasal stinging, nasal burning and nasal irritation. Headaches and a bad aftertaste were also reported to occur in roughly 1 out of 50 patients.
Among those using the inhalation aerosol formulation, the most common side effects were throat irritation and dryness, bad aftertaste, cough, wheezing and nausea.
The most frequently reported side effect reported by those using the ophthalmic solution was transient or temporary burning and stinging in the eyes upon applying the eye drops.
Less Frequent Side Effects
Nosebleed, postnasal drip and rash have occurred in less than 1 percent of patients using cromolyn sodium nasal spray.
Infrequent adverse reactions reported among those using the inhalation aerosol formulation include dizziness, urinary frequency and painful urination (dysuria), joint pain and swelling, increased tear production (lacrimation), nausea, headache, rash, swollen parotid (salivary) gland, hives (urticaria), eosinophilia (abnormally high numbers of a certain type of white blood cell in the blood or tissues), substernal (below the breast bone) burning and myopathy (a type of muscle disease). According to RX List, additional side effects have been reported that may or may not be directly attributable to the drug. These symptoms include anemia, hoarseness, exfoliative dermatitis (widespread redness and scaling of the skin), hemoptysis (coughing up blood), muscle pain (myalgia), nephrosis (non-inflammatory kidney disease), periarteritic vasculitis (inflammation of the outer coating of blood vessels), pericarditis (inflammation of the outer covering of the heart), peripheral neuritis (inflammation of the nerves), photodermatitis (skin condition caused by an abnormal reaction to the sun's ultraviolet rays), drowsiness, sneezing, nasal itching and bleeding, nasal burning, stomach ache, vertigo, polymyositis (inflammatory muscle disease), liver disease and serium sickness (an immune response that produces symptoms similar to an allergic reaction).
Individuals using the ophthalmic formulation have infrequently reported symptoms such as conjunctival injection (inflammation and redness of the white of the eye), itchy eyes, watery eyes, dryness around the eye, puffy eyes, eye irritation, and styes (inflamed and infected oil glands on the upper or lower eyelid), according to RX List. While these side effects have occurred around the time in which the drug was used, it is not currently known whether cromolyn sodium was definitively the cause.
Allergic Reaction
Cromolyn sodium can cause severe allergic reactions in some people.
According to RX List, one patient in clinical trials of cromolyn sodium nasal inhaler reported anaphylaxis which a systemic allergic reaction that can become life-threatening. Anaphylaxis and angiodema (swelling under the skin) have also been infrequently reported among those taking the aerosol inhalation formulation.
Rarely, immune system hypersensitivity reactions such as dyspnea (breathlessness), edema (swelling) and rash have been reported by users of the cromolyn sodium ophthalmic solution.
If you experience any of these symptoms, seek emergency medical attention.
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