Last Updated on August 20, 2019
About a year ago, I developed an ear infection that, once treated, left fluid in my ear. The end result of all of that was that I dealt with what is known as Eustacian Tube Dysfunction, or ETD as it is commonly called. I visited the ENT, who suggested, among other things, using Flonase which had once been a prescription steroid but was now available over the counter.
One of the first things I discovered is that Flonase could cost some money. At my local grocer, 120 metered sprays of the brand name version cost $25, and even the grocer’s generic equivalent (Fluticasone Propionate) wasn’t much cheaper. Walmart was cheaper, though: I could get 240 metered sprays under the Equate label for about the same price. (Target wasn’t as cheap as Walmart but was still cheaper than my grocer: 240 metered sprays cost about $30.)
I didn’t expect to find generic Flonase at Dollar General. But I did.
DG Health Non-Drowsy Allergy Relief Nasal Spray is the Dollar General equivalent to Flonase (Fluticasone Propionate). The version I found came in a single bottle with 120 metered sprays and cost $12.50. What was interesting about this price was that it was as cheap as Walmart per spray, but it didn’t require me to buy as much. That makes the Dollar General version worth a look, especially, if you don’t need it for more than a couple of months.
According to the insert, the DG nasal spray is manufactured by Perrigo, a drug company that specializes in healthcare products, including generic equivalents. (Perrigo was founded in the U.S. and still runs its operations here, but it relocated to Ireland in 2013 to avoid paying U.S. corporate taxes.)
The DG nasal spray comes with instructions, which you should read carefully prior to using. They are big and easy to follow, so as long as you do what you’re supposed to, you’ll be fine. I found the DG instructions to be as good as the instructions I’ve gotten from other similar nasal sprays. There is a small learning curve to priming the pump, using it properly in the nose, and cleaning it to make sure it doesn’t get clogged. (In my case, getting it into the Eustacian tube required a slightly different technique on top of that.) Also, bear in mind that, like any drug, there are potential side effects, so be sure to read about those, too.
I found that the Dollar General nasal spray worked about as well as other generic equivalents. It was as easy to use, as easy to clean, and was generally as effective in treating my condition. In short, it worked like any other Flonase generic I’d tried.
The back panel. (Click to enlarge.)
The Verdict:
If you use Flonase or its generic equivalent, Fluticasone Propionate, DG Health Non-Drowsy Allergy Relief Nasal Spray is a competent way to get it. The pump works on par with other generics, the instructions are clear, and the drug appears to work about the same. It’s also much cheaper than the brand name and as cheap per spray as the Walmart equivalent, without having to buy as much as you do from Walmart.
