The researchers found the effectiveness of intranasal corticosteroids -- a drug that reduces swelling and secretions in the nose -- could be achieved with three-quarters of the usually recommended daily dosage when patients were instructed how to vary the daily dosage in response to severity of symptoms. This new approach to dosing could help prevent the problem of increased sensitivity occurring over time, the researchers said.

The study involved 69 patients in whom hay fever -- allergic rhinitis -- had been clinically observed were treated over the course of 28 days with the intranasal corticosteroid triamcinolone acetonide.

Study patients with mild symptoms were instructed to use the treatment only after symptoms occurred once a day while patients with more severe symptoms were told to continue morning daily dosage until they were free of even mild or transient symptoms for 24 hours.

The study, published in the journal Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery, found that during the course of the study, all patients saw improvement in their blocked sinuses, rhinorrhea/runny nose, sneezing and nasal itching.