How long should a patient wait before blowing their nose after nasal spray administration?

After administering nasal spray, it is generally recommended that a patient wait approximately 5 minutes before blowing their nose. This time allows the medication to be absorbed effectively in the nasal mucosa, ensuring that the active ingredients have sufficient contact time with the tissue to exert their therapeutic effects. Blowing the nose too soon can lead to the expulsion of the medication, potentially reducing its efficacy and the desired outcomes of the treatment. The wait time is crucial for maximizing the medication's benefits, particularly for those medications designed to target local nasal tissues or provide systemic effects through nasal absorption.