Why Some Nasal Sprays Must Be Primed

You open a new nasal spray, point it toward your nose and press.

Done, right?

Not necessarily.

With some pump-style nasal sprays, the first press may be more of a rehearsal than a performance. The pump may need to be primed before it is ready to produce the spray the device is designed to deliver.

In other words, your nasal spray may need a tiny warm-up—but thankfully, no stretching is required.

What Does “Priming” a Nasal Spray Mean?

Priming usually means pressing the pump a certain number of times away from your face before using the medicine in your nose.

For some products, the instructions tell you to continue until you see a fine, consistent mist.

Why?

The pump mechanism needs to be prepared so that medication is moving properly through the device. Instructions for pump-style nasal medicines such as fluticasone specifically tell users to prime the pump before first use and sometimes after the spray has not been used for a period of time.

For additional patient instructions, see MedlinePlus information on fluticasone nasal spray.

Why Does Priming Matter?

A metered nasal-spray pump is designed to deliver medication in a particular way.

If the pump has not been prepared according to its instructions, the early sprays may not behave as intended.

Priming can help establish the fine spray pattern expected from the device before you use it in your nose.

That doesn’t mean more pumping is better. Extra priming may simply waste medication.

The goal is not:

Pump until your finger gets tired.

The goal is:

Prime exactly as directed.

When Might a Spray Need Re-Priming?

Some nasal sprays need to be primed again when they have not been used for a certain period.

Here is where things get important: there is no universal time limit or universal number of pumps.

One product may require re-priming after several days. Another may use a different interval and different number of sprays. MedlinePlus instructions for different nasal-spray medicines demonstrate these product-specific differences.

So don’t memorize your previous bottle’s instructions and assume your new one agrees.

Medication devices are perfectly capable of having different personalities.

Not Every Nasal Spray Should Be Primed

This may be the most important point.

Do not automatically prime every nasal product.

Some ready-to-use, single-dose nasal devices are specifically designed not to be primed before administration. Doing so could release the medication before it is needed. MedlinePlus, for example, specifically instructs users not to prime certain single-dose emergency nasal-spray devices.

That is why the package instructions for the exact device in your hand matter more than a general rule.

Technique Matters After Priming Too

Once a routine pump-style spray is ready, positioning still matters.

Avoid automatically pointing the nozzle straight toward the middle divider of your nose. For more on proper positioning, read my NatalieRx guide: Nasal Spray Technique: Aim Away From the Middle.

And if you’re considering a non-prescription nasal product, review What to Ask Before Starting an OTC Product before assuming every spray is interchangeable.

The NatalieRx Takeaway

Before using a nasal spray:

Check. Prime if directed. Then spray.

Don’t assume every bottle needs priming, and don’t assume yesterday’s spray has the same instructions as today’s.

A few seconds with the leaflet can help make sure the medication—and not your first few practice sprays—is doing the work.

Disclaimer

This article is for general health education only and is not medical advice. Nasal-spray priming, dosing and administration instructions vary by medication and device. Always follow the package information and directions from your pharmacist, prescriber or another qualified healthcare professional.