Overuse of Afrin or other topical nasal sprays that contain oxymetazoline can cause a medical condition called rhinitis medicamentosa. A more intensive nasal evaluation and treatment plan can be made specifically for you since everyone does not need the same approach. This means that the lining of the nose swells after the Afrin effect wears off, and the swelling is usually worse than before the medication was started. Through continuous, extended use of nasal decongestants, especially after your symptoms have already cleared, your nose may start to feel stuffy again. Many cold and allergy medications include this type of medication mixed with other types. Saline solutions may help ease the side effects of rebound congestion and get you through the worst days. What's that you say? Nasonex is an intranasal steroid that reduces swelling and mucus in the nasal passageways. Oxymetazoline is the active ingredient in Drixine/Afrin which does all the damage. The Rhinostat kit includes a metered dose delivery system that dilutes the nasal spray dose by 10 percent to 15 percent every day until the nasal turbinates are able to resume their normal functioning. Rebound congestion is also known as rhinitis medicamentosa, chemical rhinitis, nasal spray addiction. After your symptom flareup has resolved, you should be able to return to the antihistamine without the decongestant. Since the rebound effect isnt an Afrin addiction, you can withdraw from daily use at home safely.\n\nOne way to defeat rebound congestion is to simply go cold turkey. 13: Surprising Allergy Symptoms You Might Not Suspect Show Notes Todays episode of the Dr. Momma Says Podcast discusses that even though allergies are common, there are many surprising. Stop taking nasal spray How quickly oxymetazoline addiction develops depends on how much you use and how bad the problem is. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. I used to be able to say over the counter nose sprays are the ones that can be addictive, but now nose sprays that are good for daily use are also over the counter! However, temporary side effects are common, especially if too muchAfrinis sprayed into nostrils. My final piece of advice is to find out what is causing your nasal congestion and treat that cause rather than just treating the symptoms. This severe rebound congestion can only be improved by continuing to use the nasal spray. Rebound congestion is increasing nasal congestion as the decongestant nasal spray wears off, causing the patient to use more spray to combat the continued congestion, explains Susan Besser, MD, a primary care provider specializing in family medicine at Mercy Personal Physicians in Baltimore. N Engl J Med. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. Will Insurance Cover Behavioral Treatment? While the chemicals contained within Afrin and similar drugs do not create a chemical, physiological dependency in the same way that drug families like opiates and amphetamines do, they can be part of aprocess addiction behavior. I have even seen ENT doctors recommend it for very limited use, she says. At some point, the medicine will stop working for you and will begin working against you. You've got questions. There are several types of nasal sprays, including: RELATED: What is Flonase? 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. This rebound effect has led to the erroneous belief that you can become addicted toAfrin. It was helping me breathe normally but I abused it for almost a year. Adrenaline can change blood flow to your nose as well. Signs and symptoms of Afrin overdose may include low blood pressure, a slow heart rate and abnormally slow breathing. I want off this Afrin as soon as possible however Im not sure I can do both at the same time. Sympathomimetics imitate natural molecules in the body, like adrenaline and dopamine, that activate the sympathetic nervous system, part of our fight-or-flight response. This suggests that the combination can be a safe and effective treatment option for children who have allergic rhinitis or adenoid hypertrophy. like Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) or Sudafed PE (phenylephrine) can help relieve inflammation and congestion in the nose after stopping a decongestant spray. Because nasal congestion can actually worsen with prolonged or continuous use of Afrin, it should only be used for a maximum of three days at a time. I use Affrin occasionally at night when I cant sleep due to congestion and dont want to become dependent. Learn what an allergy headache feels like and how to relieve your symptoms. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Flonase is a nasal spray prescribed by doctors for relieving symptoms of allergies and sinusitis. I might have well as put a clothes pin on my nose for a month; it felt like suffocation. Saddle nose deformity is when the nose bridge collapses due to thinning of the bone or cartilage in the septum. However, it has the potential to cause nasal spray addiction over prolonged use. I couldn't leave home without it; I always had to have some in my purse. Most long-term Afrin users cannot do this because having a stuffy nose 24/7 is just uncomfortable and interferes with eating, sleeping and work tasks. I don't think there are any meetings for this. While the results of Afrin use are short-lived, the side effectslike rebound congestionare not. 19% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 70% reported a negative experience. Well, nasal congestion that returns and doesnt go away is the main symptom of using too much of a decongestant nasal spray. It is harder getting off of it at this time then the hydrocodone because I am claustrophobic and just the littlest bit of not being able to breathe since me in orbit. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. All Right Reserved. Within seconds of using Afrin, these side effects usually disappear.\n\nThis is called the rebound effect of nasal sprays. 2010;182(1):19-24. doi:10.1164/rccm.200911-1701OC. He explains that oxymetazoline (the active ingredient in Afrin) actually works by mimicking adrenaline in your nose. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is Flonase Addictive Like Afrin? I think this is something we suffer from quietly, away from the public eye. When people use strong vasoconstricting nasal decongestants for more than a few days, the nose adapts. Frequent use of oxymetazoline can cause worsening of nasal congestion after usage is stopped. Here's how to save on hydroxyzine HCl without insurance. Afrin is available over-the-counter. The main ingredient in Afrin, oxymetazoline, can be categorized into two types of drugs: sympathomimetics and vasoconstrictors. Children may accidentally swallow Afrin that drips from the nose into the back of the throat. That is a humane way to get off of the drug. That was scary - so I used afrin again. , because it doesnt create a physiological dependence on the spray. This is often described as Afrin addiction but is actually an example of a physical dependence on medication. Afrin is a popular nasal spray used to temporarily relieve nasal congestion due to colds, allergies and sinusitis. There is an irritant in most salines that aggravates your nose, and they take that out. Other topical decongestants that can also cause rhinitis medicamentosa are naphazoline, xylometazoline, and phenylephrine. There is no one side fits all answer. Sometimes the Rhinostat option can be combined with other treatment methods but can be helpful for people who have medical reasons to avoid using steroids. Updated November 17, 2015. Symptoms of rhinitis medicamentosa include nasal stuffiness or congestion, swelling, and pain. If you feel only Afrin spray will work, Dr. Besser says, its okay for a day or two. Oxymetazoline prevents blood vessel dilatation and stops increase in production of nasal secret. For example, if your rebound congestion was caused by Afrin and your healthcare provider gave you a prescription for "Rhinostat" you would essentially receive Afrin in a special bottle that allows you to very gradually decrease the dose because of the way it is dispensed. The following measures can be taken while the body recovers: To avoid Afrin dependence in the first place, there are several other treatment options for nasal congestion that wont trigger a dependence. The oxymetazoline works by activating alpha-2 adrenergic receptors after binding to them. Medical Toxicologist such as Flonase (fluticasone), to help reduce congestion and inflammation in the nasal passages. Ramey JT, Bailen E, Lockey RF. Clin Exp Allergy. Rebound congestion is a very real side effect of using nasal spray too frequently. Some people may continuously use Afrin to avoid these worsening symptoms, and this is often described as Afrin addiction. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Afrin nose spray works wonders to improve nasal congestion but it is not meant for long term or recurrent use. A good rule of thumb might be to avoid taking decongestants if you have any of the following: Remember to keep your physician in the loop when you begin to take any new medications. Most people can use decongestants safely, but they may cause health problems for some people. The tour begins on Aug. 3 in Sterling . 2010;40(3):381-4. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.2009.03450.x, Vaidyanathan S, Williamson P, Clearie K, Khan F, Lipworth B. Fluticasone reverses oxymetazoline-induced tachyphylaxis of response and rebound congestion. Decongestants are a type of medicine that can give some short-term relief for a blocked or stuffy nose. Zytec D, Claritin D, and Allegra D are often surprising decongestant medication to many people since they are often labeled as allergy medications. you may again begin to feel severe congestion, which is only relieved by the additional use of a nasal decongestant spray. Although saline solutions are non-habit-forming and wont cause a rebound effect, the relief you feel after spraying saline and water onto your nasal passages is a short 30 to 45 minutes. Upneeq Prescribing Information. Also, while Afrin starts working immediately to relieve congestion, Flonase users may not feel congestion relief for a few days.\n\nAlthough Flonase doesnt cause a rebound effect like Afrin does, long-term use of corticosteroid nasal sprays can promote recurring nosebleeds and headaches. According to a 2017 study in China, yes, it can. Your strategy is intriguing. Certain conditions can cause these vessels to become swollen or constrict. The generic version of Claritin, loratadine, costs $19 without insurance. Congestion related to the use of nasal decongestants. (every 10-12 hours as directed) The fourth time I did it, it wore off much faster (like within a few hours versus the 10 hours it had lasted the previous times) and I feel like my congestion is actually even worse now. These CBD candies offer a simple and flexible . Nasal decongestant sprays, which reduce nasal swelling and congestion by constricting the blood vessels in the nose, include Afrin (oxymetazoline), Neo-Synephrine (phenylephrine), Otrivine (xylometazoline), and Privine (naphazoline). Revised November 2022. Yau WP, Mitchell AA, Lin KJ, Werler MM, Hernndez-Daz S. Use of decongestants during pregnancy and the risk of birth defects. Don't use more than 2 doses in a 24-hour period. If you are already addicted to a nasal spray, talk to your healthcare provider. Charlotte Doyle Aug 6, 2022 7:54 AM EDT Here's how you can stop being addicted to Afrin. As Afrin wears off and congestion returns, vessels dilate more and more. I can not breathe at all through my nose. I wonder if you had a moment to answer a question? Allergan. Here's how you can stop being addicted to Afrin. SprayingAfrininto your nose immediately produces constriction of blood vessels in the nasal passages, which reduces swelling of nasal tissues and congestion. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Yes it is possible but more likely is that you have not treated the underlying reason for the congestion. thanks for ALL the feedback MY GOD my anxiety is really high! It reduces the active ingredient as you work through a bottle of it, that you delete at various stages with saline they provide. Most can beat a dependence on Afrin by yourself. Almost 40% of adults suffer from seasonal allergies, which can cause an allergy headache. The first week is usually the most difficult and you may experience severe congestion and headaches which then begin to subside. Viagra is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Afrin (for the nose) is for temporary relief of nasal congestion (stuffy nose) caused by allergies or the common cold. Thank you so much for your comment! Afrinusers rarely report allergic side effects. Help from Poison Control is available atwww.poison.organd by phone at1-800-222-1222. I remember my mom would give nose drops to my brother and me every night, and it was just part of our bedtime ritual: nose drops, some Vicks Vapor Rub, a prayer, and good night. Before discussing Afrin nasal spray addiction, we have to answer: What is Afrin? Not everyone who stops taking this allergy medication will experience symptoms, but if you do, they can be very uncomfortable, If youre using Afrin for seasonal allergies or an upper respiratory infection, your friends may warn you about the dangers of, addiction. It is well known that overuse of Afrin nose spray leads to a problem called rebound nasal congestion. Others have found that gradually diluting the spray with saline solution can help. 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