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Update 2-21-2007 (Summary of article): So far, the most effective treatment for relieving your nasal spray withdrawl symptoms (e.g. stuffiness) appears to be a dose of prednisone along with antibiodic. This is just from what I gather from the feedback I receive and the comments below. You will need to see an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor to get this prescription. The best non-prescription solution appears to be the usage of a humidifier with a drop of Vicks Vapo Steam added to the water. Please leave a comment below about your nasal spray withdrawl horrors; it only serves to help others to know that they are not alone. Or at least read some of the stories that other readers have shared; you won’t want to use Afrin ever again! |
Before an intervention is called, I will go ahead and openly admit that I have a problem. I am addicted to over the counter nasal spray. Not because I have a killer sinus problem but because every time I fall off the wagon, the congestion returns with vengeance, blocking my nasal passages, stifling my sleep, and overall, decreasing my quality of life.
Summarizing from last weeks Grey’s Anatomy, the medical term of my condition is Rhinitis Medicamentosa. This is quite different from Allergic Rhinitis for the onset of my condition is caused by the continuous usage of OTC nasal sprays, as opposed to Allergic Rhinitis, which is a blockage of the nasal passage due to a common allergen. Most of OTC nasal sprays use one of two main ingredients; Oxymetazoline or Phenylepherine. Oxymetazoline is the most common active ingredient (as found in Afrin) while Phenylepherine comes in second (as found in 4-Way Nasal Spray). Either of these ingredients work by temporarily shrinking the nasal membrane. Both are very effective. Both are very addictive.
My Story
My troubles started back in early May. I had begun an intensive weight training program and had been making good progress towards eliminating body fat while gaining muscle and strength.
But coupled with my intense workouts, a tight schedule at work, a flurry of "oh shit" home repairs, and ignoring my blood pressure medicine, I quickly found my head feeling like it was going to explode, and I was hospitalized soon thereafter.
Slowly through the usage of a combination of drugs, my blood pressure came back down. But I started to realize another issue; I was still receiving headaches. Not the same headache that I had experienced earlier (frequent blood pressure checks confirmed this), but more of a sinus pressured pain. The intensity would originate from the top of the nose to around the eye-brow and would work its way throughout the top of my head. It was as if someone squeezing the top of my forehead.
I was taking a combination of Atenolol, Hydralazine, and Dyazide for my blood pressure.
The pain always intensified after nasal spray usage, and would weaken as the day progressed. Usually the pain would wear off after a period of 12-13 hours. The congestion always persisted even after the headaches died down. This lead me to believe that the headaches were induced by the nasal spray.
My suspicion is the my nasal spray was interracting with my blood pressure medication. Hydralazine works by dialating the veins and nasal spray constricts the membrane tissue, so that conflict is probably what was causing my headaches. It’s no coincidence that the headaches lasted on average of 12 hours (the same amount of time most nasal sprays remains effective).
I needed to kick this habit and do it quickly.
I finally broke down and purchased the Rhinostat titration system. The premise behind a titration system is that you utilize the medication (in this case, nose spray) as needed, and when the liquid reaches a certain point in the bottle, you add a dilutent to reduce the contents of the active ingredient. The Rhinostat system appeared to work fairly well in the beginning. The bottle is a peculiar design and didn’t seem to penetrate my nasal passages the way a conventional nasal spray bottle did. The dosage of the decongestant is quite small, so if you find yourself frequently using your nasal spray, the Rhinostat system is going to become diluted quite quickly. Unfortunately the dilution of the system outpaced the withdrawal of my symptoms. In the end, I was left with a fully diluted solution and still a stuffy nose. In order to sleep, I relapsed.
I have tried several decongestant products since the Rhinostat system, and all have failed to clear my passageways. Here are the products I tried in attempt to alleviate congestion (all of the products do not contain Oxymetazoline or Phenylepherine):
- Sinusbuster
- SnoreStop NasoSpray
- Colloidal Silver Nasal Spray by Source Naturals
- Sinus and Allergy Relief Nasal Spray by bioAllers
My Own Titration System
Since I was unsuccessful in finding a solution that allowed me to sleep in peace, I decided to create my own titration system that I could control the dosages.
Start with a full bottle of nasal spray and every time the fluid level reaches half, fill in the rest of the fluid level with Saline nose spray. BUT, not just any saline nasal spray. Don’t go the cheap route on this; make sure that saline solution does not contain benzalkonium chloride (e.g. Simply Saline ). Benzalkonium chloride has been shown to further increase the rebound effect. Most cheap saline solutions WILL WORSEN your symptoms (e.g. stuffiness). If you don’t want to continue having a stuffy nose, get Simply Saline oror something without the preservatives.
Repeat this process of filling the nasal spray bottle with Simply Saline until the solution is fully diluted.
The Conclusion (as of 7/13/06)
So far, I still get somewhat congested and I can feel my sinuses swell up from time to time, but I think the intensity is slowing diminishing. I’ve heard that it takes 4-7 days to withdrawal cold-turkey, so utilizing a titration system I can reasonably expect double that time-frame before I can draw any real conclusions.
I see an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) tomorrow. While I am skeptical that he’ll have any real insight besides the standard "stop using the stuff!", I’ll be sure to follow-up if he has any better solutions.
Update (8/4/06 10:11pm)
After further research, I’ve discovered that some individuals have had success with a relatively new antihistamine called Astelin that doesn’t contain any steroids, Oxymetazoline or Phenylepherine. My ear, nose and throat doctor was able to provide me a months sample.
A word of warning, Astelin is extremely bitter and even with a big gulf of mouthwash, don’t be suprised when the aftertaste remains. The substance has a sedative effect, and after a liberal dose, definitely made me sleepy. As a decongestant, it was mildly effective. My nasal passages opened up a bit, but by the time I had awakened in the morning, my stuffy nose had returned. Over usage of the medication only seemed to worsen my congestive issues. 3-4 pumps appeared to be the optimal dosage for effectiveness.
Further Updates (8/24/06 6:00pm)
Tim, author of the "Herbs and More" blog, was kind enough to further clarify his comments with an email outlining some specific herbal remedies for congestion. He writes….
" My nose would continually stop up at night. It would open at least partially during
the day, but at night, forget it! I was on Allegra and Nasalcort spray, both
prescriptions which were around $25 each per month.
Now, the only time I use an Afrin type nasal spray is right now, because I have a
bad cold. This is the 3rd day. Even so, I am only using it at night so I can
sleep. Other than that, I have not used any type of decongestant for over 9
months.
I take Stinging Nettles four times a day. The cheapest place to buy them is at
Puritan’s 3 for 1 sale. If you buy any from there, please get there through my
blog so I’ll get credit. I also take a ginger capsule four times a day with the
Stinging Nettles. I buy the Ginger at Wal-Mart…Rexall brand.
Like any herb, it can take a couple of weeks before you start having an effect.
For nasal sprays, I alternate between Nasalcrom, which is non-addicting over the
counter which you can get at Wal-mart, and Nutribiotic Grapefruit Seed Extract
nasal spray, which is the cheapest price at Vitacost. If you get anything from
Vitacost, please go there through my blog.
At first, I had to heavily use the nasalcrom or the Nutribiotic GSE nasal spray.
But the longer I took the Stinging Nettles and Ginger, the less often I use those.
I probably only use one of them about 1 day out of every two weeks. My nose
stays pretty clear, even at night, usually without them.
Good luck and I hope you find something non-prescription that works for you! One
last thing…there are expensive herbal decongestant formulas without sudaphed
that are supposed to help your nose. They are costly, even at Vitacost. I tried
all of them and for me, they did not work. The Stinging Nettles (1 bottle of 100
capsules is about $3.80 with puritans 3 for 1 sale) and the ginger (1 bottle of
100 capsules for $3.88 at Wal-mart) works for me….and it is much cheaper! "
If you like any of Tim’s suggestions, return the favor by buying your desired herbs from his site.
Update (9/10/06 10:24pm)
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.support.sinusitis/msg/c8025333cf1faae9?hl=en&
The easiest way to get off Afrin is a short course of prednisone with an
antibiotic. Ask your doctor about this.
Murray Grossan, M.D.
Anyone else have any experience with this treatment?
Update (12/9/2006 2:00pm)
If you can get a heated humidifier and add some "Vicks Vapo Steam" (http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=306484&id=prod352095) to the water, it should help a bit to open up your passages (only temporarily though). Stick your face close to the humidifier, and try to breathe in as deep as possible. Or a Vick’s Personal Steam Inhaler may be more appropriate than a general humidifier ( http://www.achooallergy.com/sinus-vicksinhaler.asp )
Update (2-22-07 8:00pm)
As if we needed any more reason to quit using OTC Nasal Sprays, I ran across this 1994 study outlining a few cases where OTC nasal spray was attributed to inducing paranoid psychosis in some patients. I can personally testify that looking back, I was clearly more hyper when utilizing the spray and would get these periods of adrenal rushes where it was nearly impossible to sit at my desk and concentrate. I no longer experience these intense hyper moments, but to be fair, I have also quit caffeine as well, so that could have been the contributing factor.
Here is a link to the study for those interested: Paranoid Psychosis Induced by Oxymetazoline Nasal Spray
Update (3-15-07 9:17pm)
Just to clarify….
From some of the emails that I receive, I think we have to make a distinction here. If you’re congestion is partly due to sinuses, alergies (pollutants, allergens, etc), cold, etc, there may be ways to reduce the congestion. You could look at using an antihistamine, Corticosteroid, cromolyn sodium, a decongestant or flush regularly with a pure saline spray.
But the above text above is addressing the issue of stufiness as it stems from the overuse of over the counter nasal/nose spray. I never had problems with sinuses and such, so it was much easier for me to isolate my problems directly with the nose spray usage. But if you have other related issues, you should look at getting those problems resolved first before discontinuing your nasal spray.
Why is that? You have to treat the process as a science experiment. For instance, if you have chronic sinus issues and have used the nasal spray heavily for several years, if you discontinue the usage of the nasal spray yet remain stuffed up, how do you know if the issue is that you’re not fully withdrawn from the nasal spray or is it just your sinuses continuing to complicate matters?
Remember to isolate the process, taking it one step at a time.
Information Links
- http://www.rhinostat.com/
- https://www.uspharmacist.com/index.asp?show=article&page=8_1302.htm
- http://efrenzconnect-health-and-wellness.blogspot.com/2005/11/power-medications-for-rhinitis.html
- http://www.astelin.com
July 11th, 2006 at 5:21 pm
I’ve tried kicking the habit several times but it’s just too hard. Although, I’ve never considered going to an ENT doctor, so maybe its time.
July 12th, 2006 at 5:48 pm
I feel your pain. I cold turkeyed Afrin (and other OTC decongestants) at the advice of my doctor. Instead, I used Flonase and Astelin. But after 10 months of not touching OTCs, I still had a stuffy nose.
Now I use Flonase, Astelin, but still have to take a couple squirts of OTCs to be able to breathe thru my nose.
Oh well–at least I’m not addicted to booze or meth.
August 4th, 2006 at 8:52 pm
I also had an on/off semi-necessary continued use of the oxymetazonline hydrochloride nasal decongestants. I say semi because at the time they were necessary… either sleep with my mouth open and worry about spiders (I lived garden level and the place was practically alive with them) miving and taking up residence with my tonsils, or use the stuff. But the funny thing about the decongestants is.. once you use them once and their effects wear off, your nose is more congested than before. Not because of an increase in mucus production that typically prods a person to initially use them, but because the nasal tissues in the passageways swell for some terribly inconvenient reason. At least in my experience.
Thankfully I started doing yoga from “A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga and Kriya” during one of my dependant bouts. One of the first techniques described in the daily sadhanas (spiritual practices) is called jala neti, which is an ancient yogic technique of cleaning the nasal passageways with a saline solution using a sort of special pot called a neti pot. A small amount of salt (too much and the salt burns the nose, too little and the chlorine burns the nose) is dissolved in lukewarm water. The tip of the pot is inserted into one nostril and the head tipped sidways to allow water to run through out the other nostril. Then it’s done to the other nostril. Afterwhich, the thoroughly loosened mucus is forcefully expelled by blowing the nose. When the nasal system returns to its typical moisture saturation a few minutes later, the nose remains completely free of obstruction for about 24-48 hours. There’re no ill side effects. I’ve been doing it nearly every day for over a year.
I got my pot at healthandyoga.com, in case you’re interested lol.
August 19th, 2006 at 11:42 am
[…] Nosespray; Heroin for the common man. […]
August 19th, 2006 at 7:53 pm
This article made me laugh a few times. I used to be in the same boat. Sometimes, I would wean myself off Afrin by only using it in one nostril for about a week. The one without Afrin would stay completely shut for about 3 days! After about a week, when I could breathe out of the untreated side, I would then quit Afrin altogether. The whole process involves breathing out of only one side of your nose for about two weeks. What a drag. I was on prescriptions Allegra and Nasalcort for a while. Now, I have found some natural alternatives that have helped me tremendously. I have been off all prescriptions and OTC medicines for over 9 months now. Great article! It made me laugh at myself as I read it!
Tim
August 21st, 2006 at 3:20 am
Tim, I’d love for you to share your natural remedies with us. As I outlined above, I tried a few things that I found at the local health food store, but nothing seemed to be effective. I am open to suggestions!
August 23rd, 2006 at 5:12 pm
One more bit of information to go with my other two: When I was “coming off” Afrin, I started off by continuing to use it on one side. On the non-Afrin side, I started inhaling the Nutribiotic GSE four to six times a day (in addition to taking stinging nettles and ginger 4 times a day). You can also use Nasalcrom instead of Nutribiotic if you want to. You breathe in real deep when you use the Nutribiotic. I used the Afrin on the Afrin side whenever needed for several days. I knew I was getting somewhere when the non-Afrin side started having moments of clearness, although not all the time at first.
The next phase was to only use the Afrin at night on the Afrin side, instead of all the time. At least that would give the day towards weaning off of it, and allowing my nose to adjust, but I would at least have one totally clear side at night. Meanwhile, under no circumstances use Afrin on the non-Afrin side. Anyway, the bottom line is, this is easier than just cold turkey. By doing this gradually, it buys you time to make sure the other stuff will work…meanwhile you are not suffering from two completely clogged sides of your nose…especially when you are trying to get some sleep.
September 23rd, 2006 at 11:27 am
The nasalcrom may not help you because the additives also cause the nasal passages to swell. It contains Benzalkonium which has shown to be addictive.
http://www.ent-consult.com/salineadditives.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinitis_medicamentosa
September 27th, 2006 at 3:37 pm
I have been using afrin for YEARS..after a terrbile bout with chronic sinus infections..the ENT told me that the afrin had DAMAGED my nasal tissues, basically, there was no blood flow to my nasal lining..thus no blood could help fight the infections..he told me to come off the afrin all together and put me on nasal and systemic steroids!! eeek! i’m pretty miserable and it’s only day one..oh well!!!
October 2nd, 2006 at 5:31 pm
I feel for you. My chronic sinusitis left me using the stuff every night and feeling miserably congested the next morning. The only way I kicked the habit was by being diagnosed with sleep apnea and getting a breathing machine, which allowed me to forgo the medicine. I’d second the nasal irrigation.
October 8th, 2006 at 5:08 pm
I’m 20 years old, and have been using OTC oxymetazoline based Logicin sprays religiously for about the past three years. I currently consume an 18mL bottle of 0.05% oxymetazoline spray every 3 days or so.
I have had sinus problems since early teenage years (due to a deviated septum, says the ENT) and could only find relief from congestion by using OTC sprays.
I have tried Rhinostat, however had the same problem as the original poster - it became dilluted far too quickly, and after several dillutions, I would need to administer a ridiculous amount of the liquid, in order to obtain relief. The Rhinostat manual suggests adding additional oxymetazoline to increase the potency of the dillution, however really, withdrawl would need to be far slower if to be successful for users with a high tolerance to the active ingredient, such as my self.
I have attempted cold turkey, and lasted a day and a half. After 12+ hrs of no nasal spray, my nose and ears are 100% completely blocked, which makes day-to-day-life absolute hell.
GP’s have offered no alternative other than going cold-turkey, and seem to generally have a pretty poor understanding of the condition - one suggested that all I need do is take an antihistamine daily.
I will be in contact with my ENT, who I have not seen since my OTC nasal spray addiction commenced.
Keen to hear from others, as to how they kicked their habit.
October 21st, 2006 at 5:15 am
Oh god im in the same boat i have been using nasal sprays for 20 years full on & im 40 now. Im at the stage where i get a blood nose every few days & im hoping its just a damaged blood vessel & nothing more sinister. Doctors just arnt aware of how debilitating the condition is & how difficult it is to get off sprays. I have tried diluting my nasal sprays & im definatley going to try unblocking just one nostril at a time as of 2morrow, wish me luck & i,ll let u know how i go, michelle
October 28th, 2006 at 2:42 pm
Everyone suffering as you are should at least try the Netti Pot. Basically it is the act of flushing your nasal sinuses with saline solution. It is preferred to use sea-salt for this as it contains a balance of naturally occuring minerals and does not contain artifically high levels of iodine (which is good to prevent goiters, but not necessary in the nose). I will be the first to admit it is NOT fun, but neither is exercise, and every fat-ass knows that there is no short-cuts to heaven. If you are brave enough to do this unconventional thing, remember your forehead and chin need to be level facing down in the sink, then you tip your head to one side (as one would during free-style swimming) and breathe through your mouth; insert the crazy-looking tea-pot and pour. The water will exit the lower nostril.
Moderation in all respects needs to be followed: Salt, but not too salty. Warm, but not too warm. Irrigate, but don’t drown yourself. If water starts channeling to your throat, lower your forehead. If your eyeballs feel like they are filling up, raise your forehead.
When your through, have a good snot-blowing session, and a pat on your back. You are on the road to recovery.
Ps. Sometimes when you dissolve sea-salt there is sediment; use a coffee filter and a funnel to clean it up.
Also, use the cleanes water possible, even distilled, since you are adding the salts & minerals back in.
Good luck.
~Paul
November 4th, 2006 at 10:15 pm
well i’m addicted too and let me tell you my nose is jacked up, i also have red weird bumps on the outside of my nostils, after reading all the comments i guess today is going to be last day i use afrin. I’ve only been using afrin for like a month or two, god please help me.
November 21st, 2006 at 11:14 am
I have been using afrin nasal spray for 5 months and i decided to go cold turkey 3 days ago due to the fact that i have a sinus infection because of the nasal spray use. I am on a prescription for levaquin and that is when I made the committment to do this. It is not easy, but I heard that going cold turkey probably is the best route to rid your nasal passages and body of this poison. I am hopeful because I am taking Allegra-D and it seems to take the edge off and opens me up a little bit. On the weekend, Allegra D did not do anything for me. My husband says that the fact that the allegra d is helping a little proves that my nasal passages and sinuses are not totally a lost cause.
November 22nd, 2006 at 10:42 pm
It’s nice to see a place to read comments from others with the same problem, I suppose misery loves company…I was luckily only on nasal spray for two weeks before I made myself stop due to an incident where I completely lost my sense of smell for a few hours after using the spray (not a fun experience)This is my third day off the spray and, as I know you all have experienced, I am miserable from not being able to sleep at night-especially since I am in grad. school and have a very important paper due Monday, but can’t concentrate due to not being able to breath!
BUT I do have good news and a few recommendations to add: Like Michele who posted before me, I am using Claritin-D, which is similar to Allegra-D (I thought my problem at first was allergies, not rebound congestion). The first two days it really didn’t help at all, but today I actually had a few hours of being able to breathe relatively freely (I’m stuffing up again, alas, but not as badly as usual). This stuff is far stronger than something like Sudafed and available now without a prescription, although it does cost about a dollar a pill. I take the pill in the morning before I take a really hot, steamy shower–when I get out, the steam has loosened me up enough to use a saline nasal mist. Within half an hour I am typically cleared up somewhat. My advice for sleeping is a bit less scientific, but it works for me! Half an hour before going to bed I have a really spicey Bloody Mary (I use cayenne pepper, Wortscheshire sauce, and regular pepper) with a shot or two of vodka. The spices clear me up a bit for a little while and the vodka makes me somewhat sleepy, so I normally fall asleep and get at least 4 or 5 hours before the stuffiness wakes me up.
Also, try getting a vaporizer for your bedroom. I haven’t been able to get one yet, but I believe it should work. today was very rainy and humid and I opened my windows and the added humidity really helped me breath, so a vaporizer should be helpful as well.
Hope this helps and good luck everyone!
November 23rd, 2006 at 12:43 am
does anyone know since i am on day 5 of not using afrin, when will my rebound nasal congestion go away and my sinuses will open up. I am using allegra d, but hope to not have to use this anymore
November 23rd, 2006 at 11:37 pm
Most sources say that between 4-7 days is required before things will really start to improve. Maybe a couple of weeks until everything is completely better.
November 25th, 2006 at 5:56 am
I am on day 7 of afrin nasal spray withdrawal. Along with having to deal with the congestion from a sinus infection, I see some improvement in breathing through my nose. The only thing is when i go to sleep, I wake up stuffy and congested. After a few squirts of Simply Saline, and a steaming pot of hot water, I open up. So there is hope
November 25th, 2006 at 12:35 pm
I am currently on day 6 and I definitely do see some improvement. I haven’t been completely closed off for two days–typically I can breathe freely through one nostril and am stuffy in the other (the congestion seems to alternate throughout the day) Like you, most of my problems are when I sleep at night. I typically wake up once per night and then in the morning stuffy and runny–but its better than when I would wake up completely congested and unable to breathe. I took my last Claritin-D today and I am not planning on buying more unless I absolutely have to–I think I will switch to something less strong, like Sudafed, until I can get by without anything. LIke you said, the saline spray and steam (I take really hot showers, I find it works better for me than using a pot of hot water)are what get me cleared up in the morning.
I realize I’ve forgotten to add one thing that has actually helped quite a bit at night–Breathe-Right strips. There’s no medicine, they just adhere to your nose and gently pull apart a bit, to open up the airway more. They don’t work perfectly, but they make it so I can at least sleep!
Good luck, Michele, and anyone else trying to quit! If you can make it to day four, each day after that brings about a bit more improvement, so stick to it, because nasal spray can be some nasty stuff…
November 26th, 2006 at 10:43 pm
i am finally able to breathe in and out better than i used to, but left nostril still a little stuffy. I guess i made some progress. My problem now is lingering congestion and it seems to have settled in my 2 ears. they are clogged and it is not comfortable to have a feeling your head is full. does nasal congestion rebound have anything to do with this. I also mentioned, i am on levaquin to clear up a sinus infection. I am going to the doctor tomorrow to make sure my ears are clear and there is no fluid. I am going to try those breathing strips and still taking allegra d. after a while, it does take the edge off. I hope everything subsides soon.
November 27th, 2006 at 8:55 am
Hmmm, I’m not sure if rebound congestion would still be affecting your ears if your nose is mostly free…I know that I get horrible pressure and clogged ears when my nose is completely shut, but other than that I’m not sure. Good move checking with your doctor. I hope the breathe right strips help you.
The fact that I am one Day 8 and this stupid thing hasn’t gone away yet is getting a little frustrating. Are you really on and off? As in, one day I feel I’ve made great improvement, but then the next day it seems to be reversed. Plus, I find that when I am standing up and especially when I am walking I can breathe much much better…going to work is hell, for some reason at my office I can’t breathe at all (which is what clued me initially to the fact that this was caused by quitting my nasal spray and not really severe allergies to a cat I got a few months ago). I’m thinking I might have to stop by my school’s health clinic this week and make sure nothing else is wrong with me (a sinus infection as well, perhaps) You said that your sinus infection was actually caused by the nasal spray?
Well, keep me informed on your progress. I’ll be curious to see how long it takes us to completely get rid of this…what keeps me going is the thought of finally being able to sleep on my stomach and breathe again! I am getting sick of sleeping half sitting up with pillows propping me up!
December 2nd, 2006 at 1:01 pm
I am going to an ear, nose doctor this week and perhaps he can help me with clogged ears and some sinus congestion. Probably need a different type of medication than the one i have been using.
December 3rd, 2006 at 10:29 am
How is your nasal congestion? I think I might cave in and finally go to the doctor, it’s been officially two weeks and I no longer seem to be making any progress at all…Throughout the day I am mostly fine, although my left side of my nose is often clogged, but in the morning it is awful. I was initially so hopeful that in two weeks it would all be cleared up…
Good luck with the ear/nose doctor
December 3rd, 2006 at 12:03 pm
I feel as if I have a non-stop head cold with sinus congestion and ears clogged. I do not know if it has to do with leftover rebound congestion, but I think the ent doctor should be able to help me since it is his field. I went to regular doctor and all she said was my ears were clear and it will eventually go away. All you need is a decongestant. When she said that, I knew I had to go to the ear/nose doctor to get this situation under control.
Will inform you after Wednesday of what happened. Take care.
December 4th, 2006 at 2:54 am
Thank you. I can’t say I’ve suffered quite like the rest of you here, but I’m glad for your input. I was ready to head off to the ER or at least an urgent care facility until some deft searching landed me here. I’ve only been suffering rebound congestion for a couple of days, following a pretty bad sinus problem and some flu-like symptoms. Unfortunately I was nearly suffocated once when I was young and have suffered repeated cases of pneumonia (over 12) since age 4. Due to this, the inability to breathe can send me into a panic, especially when I wake to being totally unable to breathe through my nose. Now that I am armed with information from people who have been through this, I think I can get off this stuff quickly and safely. Since I’m in the first stages, I think my right nostril is already clearing a bit. Hopefully I can “nurse” my left with a little spray every few hours and come down soon. Thanks again, and good luck to you all!
December 4th, 2006 at 9:17 pm
I was hooked on Afrin. Used it at night for about a year with no problems - then all of a sudden I had rebound problems. Could not get off of it without becoming completely stuffed up. I ordered some Sinus-buster spray on the internet. It is basically pepper spray. Hurts like hell, but it does open up your sinus enough to quit using the afrin. It took about a week to kick the afrin. Only use the sinus-buster now when I become stuffy.
December 7th, 2006 at 2:03 pm
went to an ent doctor who said afrin definitely caused my sinus problems.
Good news is that I did not damage anything permanently, but my nasal lining or lower turbinates as he says is temporarily swollen. gave me nasonex to shrink the swelling and he hopes i learned from my lesson. nasal congestion is better, but he says that any lingering congestion in ears and anywhere else wont go away until my nasal lining shrinks down to normal size. He says that will take a few weeks. so get off that afrin, because the doctor says it is like acid or coke, it can ruin your passages for life. i guess i am just lucky it did temporary damage.
December 7th, 2006 at 5:03 pm
Thanks for letting me know what the ENT said, Michele, that actually helps quite a bit. I’m still suffering from sporadic nasal congestion (I havent’ really had bad ear congestion like you) that gets worse at night and in the morning, but I started taking Claritin-D again and this time, now that the worst of the rebound is over, it actually makes it so I can breathe perfectly throughout most of the day. I have an appointment with a regular doctor on Tuesday and had already been considering asking for Nasonex (my mother takes it for allergies, which I haven’t ruled out entirely in my case) and now I definitely will make sure to get a prescription for it. From what I’ve read, the Nasonex and other steroid nasal sprays are quite effective and don’t have many side effects (unlike the Claritin-D or any decongestant which can have some crazy side effects).
So hopefully we will both be clear in time for the holidays!
And Randall–good luck to you!
December 7th, 2006 at 5:23 pm
i hope to finally have a glass of wine after all these problems and have a happy holiday.
December 7th, 2006 at 8:49 pm
Ahhh yes wine…I learned the hard way after I had two glasses of wine and couldnt’ breathe at all for a few hours that alcohol makes your nasal lining swell.
December 9th, 2006 at 1:09 pm
am on day two of cold turkey afrin withdrawal per doctor’s orders. my congestion is not awful (i can breathe through my nose 75% of the time with hot showers & vicks), but i have had the worst headache the whole time.
please tell me this part goes away. i can handle not being able to breathe, but my head feels like it might implode.
December 9th, 2006 at 3:29 pm
I believe headaches can be caused both by using Afrin (I believe the guy who first posted talks about it) but also by nasal congestion. I haven’t had anything severe, like you, but have had a persistent dull headache. I would imagine that once you have been off the spray for awhile and your nasal lining has returned to normal, your headache should disappear as well.
December 9th, 2006 at 3:37 pm
Prolonged lack of oxygen can be a cause for a headache. Before my sleep apnea was diagnosed, I use to wake up with terrible headaches. My CPAP has helped to resolve this.
Maybe you should try the Vick’s Personal Inhaler (listed above)? The targeted humidified air may help to open things up a bit (and maybe use a drop of the Vick’s Vapo Steam as well).
Vick’s Vapo Steam:
http://www.westburyonline.com/Vicks_Vapo_Steam_-_Liquid_Medi_P3042C36.cfm
Vick’s Personal Inhaler:
http://www.shop.com/op/~Vicks_personal_steam_inhaler-prod-6023944-8575910?sourceid=298
December 9th, 2006 at 3:51 pm
i have been using nasonex for three days as prescribed by ent doctor, I say it is helping, but direction say won’t feel the full effect of the nasal spray for 1 to 2 weeks. I switched from allegra=d to sudafed 24 hour. It seems to take the edge off of clogged ears. Hopefully, my ears will start to open up when the nasonex starts shrinking my swollen membranes. My husband says clogged ears could last a long time and doctor says the swollen membranes are temporary as long as i take nasonex faithfully. I just want to be clear again.
December 14th, 2006 at 12:29 pm
I went to see the nurse practioner two days ago and (although she could really tell me nothing, as I expected) I did at least get a prescription for nasonex. Like you said, it supposedly takes up to one to two weeks for it to fully kick in, but I already feel it is working. I am no longer taking Claritin-D (thank god, the constant bone-dry mouth was driving me insane!)and my nasal pasasges seem relatively clear most of the time. I can even sleep on my side and stomach and still be able to breath sometimes!! This isn’t to knock the Claritin-D, though. For anyone who doesn’t want to have to get a prescription for something like nasonex (or who doesn’t have insurance–I think nasonex is almost $90 without it) the Claritin-D was working really well for me for awhile, it just makes you very thirsty and sometimes somewhat jittery.
What I am somewhat surprised about is the fact that Afrin and similar nasal sprays can cause this amount of extreme discomfort if not properly used, but the warnings on the label are so mild! They make it sound as though there is a slim chance something “might” happen, but make no mention of the amount of people who get thoroughly messed up. I religiously read the warning labels on medicine before taking it, and had Afrin’s been a bit more specific, I would never have let myself absent-mindedly slip into using it for almost a month…
December 17th, 2006 at 7:43 pm
i am sleeping better, though i wake up congested. Nasonex is somewhat helping. I still have bouts of congestion even though it is not as bad as it was before. Spoke to ent again and he said to give it 2 more weeks other wise a steroid pack will zap it he said. ears are still feeling full but it seems a lot better than it was. ent said everthing is connected. maybe i will get my christmas wish, and be clear.
December 22nd, 2006 at 7:08 pm
Good luck! I hope everything is clear for you by Christmas!
January 12th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
I’ve been addicted to Afrin for over 25 years, and it has been terrible. I’ve hated the dependency of it, the need to carry it in my pocket at all times, having to excuse myself every couple of hours to load my nose up with the stuff…etc. I’ve tried quiting many, many times and never made it past 8 hours.
However, I’m now on day 5 of cold turkey and not quite sure why this attempt is so successful. Nevertheless, it’s the most liberating feeling I’ve ever had. I simply decided last week to give it another attempt. I resolved about noon time to not use the spray until bed time. I was pretty stopped up until then, but used it only once and made it through the night with enough sleep to function. However, when I stopped up, I got out of bed (i think this was key) and took a hot, steamy shower. As long as I kept active, I was able to deal with the stuffiness throughout the day. As a result, I didn’t use the Afrin until bedtime again (which was a first). This time, I went through the night and the next day with slighly better results…enough so that I decided I would go to bed without a spray and see how long I could last before I just had to use it to get some sleep. I made it until midnight…next day repeated the cycle…made it until 3:00 AM, …repeated the cycle…next day made it until 5:00 AM and I haven’t used it since. My sleep has been a little restless at times, but the good sleep I am getting is the best I’ve had in 25 years. I congest a little during the day…off and on…but it’s not unbearable…AND, it’s getting better every day.
My focus was on setting realistic, small goals. I resolved to stay relaxed and meditate when I was congested, so I could breath comfortably through my mouth when I had to get through a rough patch. I tried to stay active, as being busy and exercising took my mind off of discomfort.
I have tried everything in the past…Nasacort, Rhinostat, blah, blah, blah…but this method of cold turkey is working better than anything. As I said earlier, I had never made it eight hours before this, and now I’m on day five of zero usage.
I was the worst user I know of this stuff and a huge baby about it. If I can do this, you can too!!!
Good luck and be patient!
-tim
January 23rd, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Heh. Same story. 3rd addiction. 1st addiction I quit cold turkey (was addicted for 3 years). 2nd was cold turkey and lots of Tylenol Sinus/saline spray (addicted 2 years). Now on 3rd round, 3 yrs later…. Tried a few times with 2nd’s approach, go figger- not working. Currently on Afrin severe congestion. I’ve even found if you buy the spray, pour it into the pump mist sprayer, you get a helluva rush. haha! So, heading to the store to try the non-Benzalkonium chloride saline to dilute the mix, perhaps something other than Tylenol sinus & do this. It’s nice to find a website that you real people can relate to. Bless my friends, hubby and co-workers hearts, but they have no clue how horrible this addiction is. Thank you for your words….
January 25th, 2007 at 11:02 am
My friends says, “it’s just a matter of will-power.” WTH? Well, my will isn’t working the power vibe this week. So far a few days going - first night/day was horrid. Getting better today. Working the headache today. But staying hard & fast to NOT using even the 1/2 1/2 concoction. My lips are the sahara from having to breathe thru my mouth. Shoot me if I ever pick up a bottle of nasal spray after kicking this addiction.
January 25th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
i also had an afrin addiction for about 6-7 months. Went to ent guy and even though i am better, was diagnosed with chronic rhinitis medicamentosa. fancy term for congestion due to afrin use. I was put on nasonex and allegra d. I am better, but due to hard blowing of nose, some of nasal capillaries caused me to have some small amount of bleeding. Now I am off nasonex due to the fact my nasal passages are raw and sticking to allegra d which helps. when i get my menstrual cycle and a headache, i notice i get very congested even with this medicines. ent said it will take a few months to go away due to the fact my nose needs time to heal from afrin use.
January 25th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
First time I am posting on a website. I have been using otrivin for 13 years. Now I go through a bottle every 5-7 days. I use it every 10 mins when I’m at home and maybe half hour to hour at the most when im out. It is ruining my life. I already have major tmj disease i have artifical joints and nerve damage from the surgeries so i have to take morphone and fentanol patch. I have enough pain in my face but now i started the headaches from the otrivin. I cant just stop cold turkey. Tried the one nostril at a time couldnt even make it an hour. I would do anything to get off it. I read that the overdosing of otrivin can put you in a coma and that scares the hell out of me. I’m also always exhausted. I know the medication I take for the pain makes me tired but I’ve been more tired over the past year. I’m scared that the otrivin is doing this and that I may end up really ill or worse from it and im a single parent of a young child. Can surgery fix this? I saw in ENT and he said if i have a blockage than he can unblock the passage. I had ct scan and it came out normal. I just had the results over the phone as i was about to go in for another tmj replacement which im recovering now. So I have to go back to the ent, calling tomorrow could take weeks or months to get the appointment. He told me the first time I went that i’d have to just stop it but it will be very uncomfertable. But I cant stop, I just cant. I tried I cant take the feeling like i cant breathe and the pain it is causing around my eyes and head. The pain have in my face from the tmj is bad enough so to stop cold turkey for someone like me is impossible. I found the rhinocourt was considreing buying it but did a search and came across this page and now my hope i felt an hour ago is gone. I comment you guys for putting up with the withdrawl. If I dont stop do i have any hope? Have you very heavy users that have been using for years, have any of you felt very tired all the time? I dont know what to do. I’m desparate and I hope the ent will have some suggestion. I was put on the perscription nasal sprays like flonase, some other steriod sprays did nothing at all.
January 26th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
first you need to go to the ent guy. they can put you on a different steroid spray and some kind of allergy pill with a decongestant. I find I am better, but i have my good days and my bad days. you have something that they label as chronic. You need to get off the nasal spray. if cold turkey is not for you, a good ent guy will help you gradually come off of it. look, i could not even breath in november and december without popping an allergy pill, I find i can go longer without taking the second dose of allegra d and when i wake up, i am congested, but it clears out quicker now. so that is an improvement. I still feel tired, because it does effect your sleep. Good Luck
January 27th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
I have tried allergy pills as well but it did nothing the ones you are using is it a perscription or just regular over the counter? My appointment with the ent is in a few weeks but the first time i went there, all he said was you have to stop and it will be very uncomfertable or i can do surgery if there is a blockage which there isnt.
January 27th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
you can buy claritin-D over the counter, it is like allegra d. Or buy sudafed 12 hour or 24 hour relief decongestant. you get those over the counter by pharmacy or upfront by cashier due to the fact that people use decongestants to make drugs. I still would go to the ent. they will give you nasonex for congestion and allegra d or whatever decongestant they feel is good for your case. usually when you give up the nose spray, the ent will give you something to get you through this. Then find another ENT. Anyone who wants to do surgery before trying other alternates is someone I would not go to. For a week the congestion is bad, it gets better in time. Like I said, i still have leftover congestion, but it is alot better than what it used to be.
January 29th, 2007 at 11:06 am
Well, this is an eye-opener. I have been addicted for about 10 years and I have always lacked the willpower to get off of it. The few times that I have tried have been horrible: headaches, pressure, the works. The headache was so bad that I actually thought that I would need an opiate to survive. For the most part, tho, I only use it twice a day, once in the morning and at again at night, unless I am in the middle of a bad cold.
I will, however, be talking to my GP on Friday and I think that I am going to “come clean” and ask for a referral to a ENT.
I bought the rhinostat system and had the same problems. I am thinking about a way to do it over 10 weeks. I figured I would buy 10 30mL bottles of Afrin and a bottle of “good” (I know this now) saline.
I would label the bottles from 0, 1, 2, …, 9. In bottle 9, I would remove, using a marked baby syringe, 3 mL of fluid and replace it with saline. effectively diluting the whole bottle by 10%. I would then go down the line and remove more and more from the remaining bottles until there was a final bottle (do I only need 9?) that only had 10% of the original solution in it.
I would then use the bottles — either one a week, or every two weeks, or use them up — in order. I figure if I “fall off the wagon”, I would fall up a single digit (from 50% to 60%) and not go back to full strength. In the end I would go “cold turkey” from only 10%, and not the full strength.
I haven’t started this yet, just thinking about it. I am not sure if I want to go through the embarrassment of coming clean.
January 29th, 2007 at 11:14 am
BTW, I also don’t buy the 2-7 day rebounding. In my case, I am SURE that it would be 2-7 weeks and frankly, with my job and family, I couldn’t pull it off cold-turkey.
If somebody could promise me 2-7 days, I would go on a vacation alone to dry out. But, like I said, I ain’t buyin’ it.
January 30th, 2007 at 10:07 am
Well, I went to the ENT this morning and came clean about my addiction. He put me on massive a Pregnisone dose and anti-biotics (since sinusitis is why I started casting about for answers).
I am going to gut it out. Wish me luck.
January 30th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
good luck
January 31st, 2007 at 5:54 am
Day one seems OK. I slept last night toot-free for the first time in about 10 years. it was weird, but the pregnisone really did help. A little Tylenol for the pounding headaches and I managed to sleep for about seven hours.
I am going to gut this out. Of course, I am pretty sure that the worst is yet to cmoe. But God is on my side, I can feel it.
January 31st, 2007 at 5:05 pm
I’ve been addicted for only two months, but the thought of going cold turkey scares me. I seriously can’t breath without my spray now. The stuff ROCKS clearing you out when you have a cold, but I had no idea what it would do to me. Now that I read all of your stories, I’m going to start by trying the one nostril trick. I wish I had known when I started taking the stuff. I only started to worry when I didn’t seem to be able to go the whole 12 hours and I was taking it 4 times a day instead of two. I thought that I just had a really bad cold or sinus infection, but I knew that couldn’t be right. I felt find…no fever or anything. I am so glad I found this website. I start my weaning tonight. Wish me luck.
February 1st, 2007 at 11:49 am
Day two is OK, but I seem to be having a bad reaction to the antibiotics, because I feel like a have a little stomach issues. Very nasty. However, I am still pretty unclogged. The pregnisone seems to do the trick.
It is weird, not grabbing for the honker. There are times when I am a little clogged and I have this almost panicked urge to go find an Afrin bottle (or its larger cousin from CVS).
This would be a better experience, I think, if I weren’t so stressed at work and it wasn’t in conjunction with a bout of sinusitis.
So far, so good.
February 3rd, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Day four is fine. The prednisone (the actual spelling, I looked it up) has completely freed me from the rebound. It is kinda miraculous. Of course, the broad-spectrum antibiotics are STILL fucking with my gastrointestinal tract, so I completely discontinued them today AMA (for the record the culture came back “negative” for infection, but the doctor wanted me on a “good long course of strong antibiotics” because of my symptoms. I can’t do it; it is a quality-of-life issue.
In short, I am having a lot of success with the massive-dose-of-catabolic-steriods method of dealing with Afrin addiction. On Tuesday, I am starting a “rapid decrease titration” where I go from 60mg of prednisone a day to 30mg for 2 days and then down to 10mg for three days and then I am off. That is a 10 day course of the steriods. The hope is that the great bulk of the rebound will be over and I will only have to deal with a small amount of symptoms. I am praying.
February 3rd, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Ooops. That’s 12 days of prednisone. Bad math.
February 3rd, 2007 at 1:35 pm
After 10 weeks of chronic congestion, i am finally breathing without having to use my allegra d. just on the nasonex. Never using AFRIN again.
February 9th, 2007 at 11:45 am
Last night, the first night after the first day of only 10mg of prednisone, I think that I experienced my first real symptom of an Afrin hangover. I had a decent headache.
I have to say, that my experience (other than the reaction to the antibiotics) has been positive. It is a little uncomfortable and disconcerting to sleep when I am NOT 100% breathing free. Usually during the night one or the other nostril will clog and I will have to turn over. I have tried a couple of night-time oral decongestants, but have not settled on anything. Last night, I tried nothing and was rewarded with a headache.
The Nasonex does help, but even with my insurance covering half the cost, it is still $50 for 30 hits. For those keeping count, that is about a weeks worth (2 hits per nostril per day). Plus, the Nasonex seems to tickle that part of my brain that wants the nasal fixation of the Afrin. My wife (with whom I came clean on my addiction) gives me the hairy eye when I huff the Nasonex, making sure that it is not Afrin.
I think that I am OK, but without the prednisone, I would have been screwed.
February 11th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Day one of no prednisone. A little headache, not bad. A little congestion, not bad. We shall see tomorrow.
February 13th, 2007 at 9:11 am
I’m done….I’m off the stuff and breathing clear. It sucked for a good week, but the one nostril trick in #5 really worked. I’d like to say I’m never using the stuff again, but it works so great clearing me up when I have a cold that I’ll probably go back to it if I have to. Next time though, I’ll be more careful. Good luck to everyone still working on it.
February 14th, 2007 at 6:33 am
I am done for good with the stuff. I have felt so helpless and so enslaved for so long… I am free and there is no turning back. If I have a bad cold or a ‘flu, I will use Nyquil or some other non-topical remedy.
February 18th, 2007 at 7:27 am
DETOX DAY 1: It is 5 am and I have been up all night … it is my first night of cold turkey Afrin detox and it looks like I am going to get no sleep. I have a steady stream of clear water-like liquid streaming out of both nostrils and have given up my box of kleenex for a towel. 100% blockage in both sides of my nose, a lot of pressure, but no real head ache. This blows! Pun intended
I did the saline squirt before bed, had a cup of tea at 3:00 am, have gobs of vicks in my nose, and have been sucking on halls cough drops all night … all to no avail. I am hoping that the green tea will help get that Afrin crap out of my system. Nothing worth watching on TV … note to self: when in Afrin detox, make sure you have something to occupy your mind in the wee hours of the morning. OK, that is it for now … going to go try drinking tobasco sauce.
February 20th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Just found this web site. I’ve been addicted for 30 years, since I was 12. Started with Neo Synephrine… moved on to Duration and ultimately Afrin.Went to my doctor for a physical yesterday, came clean about my addiction and he put me on Nasacort ( 2 shots in each nostril in the morning ) , Prednisone, and Medent-PE . I may be the record holder for length of addiction. Just wanted to share and thank everyone for al they’re opinions.
February 20th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Hey Patrick if you are still around , let me know how you are doing .I can forsee the same type of night ahead for me and am curious to know how you are holding up a couple of days later. I have to admit, while I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, misery does love company and it is slighty comforting to know others are sharing this pain.
February 21st, 2007 at 10:33 am
Last night was my first night without using Afrin nasal spray in about 15 years. I went to an ENT with severe congestion and he told me that I needed to stop using nasal spray. I almost cried. I am on steroids and sudafed. I didn’t sleep on minute last night and I am sure tonight will be no better. I know that I have to do this for my health but it’s sure not easy. Probably the hardest thing I have ever done. Not being able to breath is the worst feeling. I am glad to see there are so many people who can relate. I didn’t even realize I had a true addiction until I started reading all of these stories. I have carried my nasal spray with me everywhere, for years.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:17 pm
I guess it’s been awhile since I’ve been here. I managed to develop my insomnia again, so I went to the Dr. instead of gutting it out for 10 months like last time, “and btw - I’m addicted to schnauz spray - what can I do?” He gave me flonase & I also used saline spray (non-benzalkonium chloride) - and mixed 50/50 with my remaning afrin. I didn’t take any decongestants at all - slept for 4 days and emerged nasal candy spray free. My voice is clear, no headaches, no incessant need to reach for the bottle. Thank You all for your suggestions, insight and help!!
February 23rd, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Today is day 4, cold turkey, away from Afrin. Day 1 was the pits. My nose was altenately running and totally clogged. I gave up that night and gave myself one squirt in each nostril so I could sleep. The next day I went out and bought Tylenol Cold because it has a decongestent and because I could get the day and night variety. Day 2 was worse than day 1. I don’t know how I made it though–but I did. There were many times I had to talk myself away from grabing the Afrin. I did dilute the Afrin in half with saline–just in case–but I wanted to get off completely so I didn’t want to use it. On the good side, the Tylenol Night really helped me unclog/undrip and sleep. Day 3 was about 50% better than day 2 but only until I ate supper–then I became 100% clogged again. Again, the Tylenol Night unclogged me and put me to sleep. Day 4 is much better. I did not take Tylenol today and I can breath through my nose–fairly well. It is pretty sore and feels swollen however–but I feel like I am improving. Don’t know yet how tonight will go but at least I feel like I am making progress. I am never using Afrin again.
February 25th, 2007 at 9:36 am
Now day 6 for me almost off of Afrin. I’ve had to use it only once at night so I’m making progress. I figure one hit of it every 24 hourrs compared to every hour is pretty good after such a long addiction. Not having a leakng bottle in my pocket all day is already such a welcomed relief. I smell more, taste more, feel better. This week I committ to get off of it totally. Good Luck everybody !!!!!
February 25th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Hey David:
Glad to know it is going well for you. I am on day 6 today and am doing better. My nose is still sore and a bit swollen inside but I can breath fairly well on my own most of the time. Nights are still hard but I haven’t used the Afrin–although very tempted. Good Luck to you and everyone else—may the Force be with us all!!!!!!!!!!
February 26th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Hey Nicole:
Thanks for the thought ! I’m going to try the Tylenol Cold stuff. I’m ok all day, and then at around 7:00pm I start getting really stuffy and a headache. I’ve tried some breathe right strips and saline but they don’t really work. Did you go totally cold turkey without any medications ? That’s amazing ! I’m doing a couple of sprays of Nasacort in the morning and am taking Prednisone. I’m still having to spray once a day at night ( using something called TopCare…probably just as bad as Afrin )How are you today ?
February 27th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Hi David:
Yes, I went cold turkey. Used Afrin the first night but after that just used the Tylenol Nightime Cold Stuff. I also tried Saline spray but it didn’t work.
Last night was the first night without the night tylenol but I did use a breath right strip.
I seem to do really great in the day but at night I get the one side of my nose plugged up thing going. I am hoping that with time that will go away too.
My nose is not totally open during the day but I can breath through it and it seems to be getting better all the time.
I just want to say that the first 3 days were awful. At times both sides of my nose were totally plugged and at other times my nose was running like a waterfall. There were definately times where I didn’t think I could get through it without reaching for the Afrin. But I would say –just wait a few more minutes–a few more blows–and eventually one side would open up and the panic would be over for another hour.
But–one week later I am breathing pretty well and my nose is healing and it feels great!! Hang in there–be strong–you can beat it!
Who would have ever thought a little bottle of nose spray could do this to so many people?? Amazing!
February 27th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
Hey Nicole,
Congrats on your success. Still can’t believe you went cold turkey , that’s really impressive. I’ve been real clear all day since day 1 , of course I’m also very careful not to sneeze, blow too hard or doing any heavy breathing
. Tonight it’s 10 pm and i am still ok. I think that first day last week trying to go all night without the spray was so awful I haven’t tried again. I think I need to accept the fact that I have a little more suffering to go through to completely kick the habit. I forgot to pickup the Tylenol stuff but will do tomorrow. It does feel great doesn’t it. Not only is it kinda liberating not having that bottle in my pocket all day but I could swear my sense of smell and my sense of taste has improved. Good luck,and let’s NOT have a relapse.
March 2nd, 2007 at 12:16 am
I’m 53 yrs. old & back in high school years my allergies came on like gangbusters. I was constantly sniffing, snorting, sneezing, blowing my nose with little results. My boyfriend said he could always find me by following a trail of kleenex. I couldn’t breath so I started using Afrin. Eventually, instead of twice a day I was using it every half hour or so. It had the reverse effect. I finally stopped cold turkey & to this day I won’t touch the stuff because I know what will happen. I’m still sniffing & sneezing all these years later & because of liver disease I can’t take any meds. for it. So I just keep blowing & using saline sprays.
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:04 am
Just an update … last night was the first night that I can honestly say that I had NO SYMPTOMS
So to recap, from first night cold turkey to almost total relief … 12 DAYS. Nose seems back to normal now, but a bit dry and tender. Nonetheless, I CAN BREATHE AGAIN!!! I will never use that crap again …
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Good update Patrick. Congrats ! Tonight I go cold turkey. I’ve been using at night for 10 nights and only that one time a day but don’t seem to be getting better. I’m going to try just using the prescription Nasacort ( steroid ) spray in the morning and that’s it…. Wish me luck all !
March 3rd, 2007 at 2:43 pm
“Hello, my name is Steve, and I’m an oxmetazolineaholic!”
“Hi, Steve!”
I’ve been hooked on this stuff for about 25 years. I started out with the upper-middle class Neo-Synephrine when I could afford $5+ bucks a pop…and now, since I’m retired, and on a fixed income, I buy the Equate brand at WalMarts. $1.96 for the “Value” size, which is 1.25 FL OZ. And I’m not a “snorter”, either. I’ve snorted enough stuff in my lifetime that at this stage of the game…my lungs don’t wany anything but air going into them. So this is what I do. I pull the top off the bottle; yank off the tube that dips down into the bottle; snap the cap back on, then use the bottle as nose drops. I lay down, fill up each nostril, toss my head around, then blow it all out onto a white dish rag. The rags I also buy at WalMart ($3.92 for an 18 pack). I’m an oxymetazoline junkie! *hangs head*
About a week ago I got arrested in a bar fight and spent 5 days in the can waiting for court. That sucked BIG TIME! Not the jail…that was a piece of cake compared to not having the oxy’. When I got sprung, I thought to myself…maybe it’s time we just kick this habit before something worse happens.
So, searching around I came upon this site…and let me say, I’m glad I did! Actual testimonials to the addiction and real-world help. If I could spell halleluiah…I’d say it! Haven’t quite decided how I’m going to tackle this…but I’ll let you know how it’s going once I start.
March 3rd, 2007 at 11:19 pm
oh good stars. i’ve been using afrin regularly for about ten nor fifteen years. broke down and went to an allergist a few weeks ago to make sure that allergies weren’t the initial culprit. well, the were! so…my doc put me on 20mg of prednisone 2x a day for five days, plus 2 squirts of nasonex 2x a day plus 2 squirts of astolin 2x a day. he said that i could use afrin first before any of that to open up my nasal passages to accept the nasonex and astolin. he said that after day four i wouldn’t need the afrin anymore. i’d been so hesitant to start that i had to change my follow-up visit and JUST started today. i’ve been somewhat stuffy most of the day (grrrrrr), but it hasn’t been unbearable…and hopefully won’t. but i’m not holding my breath…
March 3rd, 2007 at 11:21 pm
by the way, that’s two squirts of nasonex and two squirts of astolin per side.
March 5th, 2007 at 10:53 am
I have been using generic Afrin for a little over 2 years. I’m 5 months pregnant now, and I desperately need to get off this stuff! My Dr. know I use it and he said won’t do harm to the baby but may for you. Over the past couple of days, the generic Afrin doesn’t seem to be working so I’ve had to switch to generic 4 Way which only works for about an hour. I don’t know if I have a sinus infection or my body is just trying to say ENOUGH! Any suggestions how to kick this stuff and what is safe for me to use? I’ve called my Dr today and he’s sending me out a Z Pac so maybe that will help?? Still want to get off this stuff!
March 5th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
dear amy,
go to an ear nose throat guy. they specialize in this problem, so they would know what to do and since you are pregnant, that is your best choice. I also had a problem and the ear, nose throat guy did really help me. It takes time and patience. by the way, the generic afrin is telling you that your nasal passages is not accepting this stuff and basically you will get what is called rebound congestion which is very uncomfortable.
March 5th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
My OB is sending me something out called Rhinocort. Any idea it that helps? PLEASE SAY YES
March 5th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Amy, the Rhinocort will help reduce the swelling, but it is not going to be an immediate help. It will take days to work and during that time, you’re going to get rebound congestion big time.
Honestly, I think the prescription of these topical steroids just shows the lack of understanding of the problem. Other than some select ENTs, no one seems to understand the amount of discomfort that comes along with the rebound congestion.
So far the combination of prednisone and anitbiotics seems to be the most effective (what I gather from others), but I do not know the effects of these drugs during pregnancy. As k your doctor about the above drug combination and if it would be an appropriate treatment. Otherwise, pick up a Vick’s Personal Humidifier (you can safely put your face against it and breath in warm humidified air), add a couple of drops of Vick’s Vapo Steam, and hope for the best.
Or you may consider that this may not be the best time to quit, and maybe postpone your withdrawal until after you give birth.
Whatever your choice, I wish you the best of luck.
March 6th, 2007 at 10:20 am
Thanks for the advice! My Dr gave me a good tongue lashing yesterday about using the Afrin (even though he knows I’ve been using it). You’re right about the rhinocort though. I can’t use it without first using some nasal spray (4 way instead. Afrin won’t work for me anymore) so I can breathe it in. After that, I’m clear for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. So, after that wears off, instead of going cold turkey, I’m only putting the nasal spray in 1 nostril. So far, so good. I’m going to try mixing the nasal spray I put into the one nostril with some saline. We’ll see if I still get some relief.
March 6th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Hi all:
I am at day 15 of going cold turkey. I was snorting the stuff about every 3 hours at the end–and it wasn’t helping much. You can read about my days as they went along if you scroll back to Feb. Recap though is that the 1st 3 days are AWFUL, but after you get past that it gets better. Now, at day 15 my nose is open enough to breath but not 100% clear. Both nostrils are open when I am in an upright position. When I lay down at night however, if I am lying on my side–the bottm side still blocks up–but not like a brick is stuck in there. My nose is still pretty dry and one part a bit scaby. (yuk) It is still a little sensitive to the touch but not nearly as bad as it was at the end of week 1. I use a breath right strip at night and it helps a bit but that might be psychological??
Anyway–it is well worth it to get off of that stuff. Going cold turkey was tough but it got me off of it fast. You just gotta pick which was is best for you and go for it. Good Luck to ya all.
March 9th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
I just wanted to say thank-you to everyone who posted here and shared their experience. I decided to go ‘cold turkey’ this morning when I couldn’t taste my coffee. I draw the line when nasal spray messes with my morning coffee. It seems my addiction has been worse in the last few weeks, I don’t know why. I’ve been using the spray so often lately. I’ve been using menthol cough drops and jumping up and down today to stay clear, but I’m really not looking forward to tonite. I don’t do well with stuff like Nyquil…it makes me hyper. I’ll let you know how it goes. And thanks again everyone.
March 10th, 2007 at 12:28 am
I am so glad I ran across this site! I seem to go through nasal problems, every year in the winter. I still don’t know what triggers it. The problem is, I usually start using Afrin to control the problem. Eventually, the problem I had (runny nose, itchy throat and sneezing) goes away, but my sinuses simply close off. I mean, 100% closed. When I talk, I sound rediculous. Well, I would then take more and more Afrin. I never really thought about it. Right now, I’ve been going through the 90%+ closed sinuses for a few weeks. I don’t really know how much Afrin I’ve taken; but, I KNOW FOR SURE this is what is causing my sinuses to simply clamp shut!
Like I said, I’m SO glad I found this site. I was at a restaurant tonight, waiting on some friends, and cursing my sinuses……..then it hit me. I may be addicted to the Afrin. That thought is what brought me here (thanks to good old Google). After reading, I know Afrin’s my problem.
Well, I have gone downstairs and thrown out all my Afrin. I’ll never touch it again. I think I may be extra sensative to it.
Can anyone answer these questions (I think I got some good ideas from the reading, but direct answers/experiences will be helpfull). Thanks VERY much in advance:
1) How long should I expect to be miserable and mouth breathing when going cold turkey (which is exactly what I’ve done, starting today)?? I’ve seen a few people (Nicole and others) say 7-15 days and it gets much better. Is that about right?….I hope.
2) If I only used (this season) about 1/3 bottle of Afrin, do you think this could have created much of a lasting problem or something that I should be able to beat rather quickly??
Thanks again!
March 10th, 2007 at 12:49 am
….in addition to my post above, I’m reading that alcohol also can cause and/or contribute to nasal congestion. I think I may be also seeing a link between the worst bouts with the congestion and having a drink or two. Interesting.
Thanks again, I hope to hear back from some of you as to your experiences and expectations on the questions in #85.
March 10th, 2007 at 5:10 am
Well, I made it through the night! I actually slept fairly well as only one side of my nose was stuffed up at a time. I took an oral decongestant and a couple of ’simply sleep’ (both over the counter) before I went to bed. I’m officially 24 hours Afrin free!!
Rob…I think you’ll have a rather speedy recovery, as you really haven’t been abusing the spray for very long. I think it’s a ‘relative’ thing. Oh My God, I can taste my coffee! sorry Rob…where were we…oh yeah, most of us have been driven to this site after many months and years of overuse. I think if you try an oral decongestant for a few days until your membranes shrink back to normal, you should be ok. We should all remember, though, that all the decongestants we are taking whether oral or spray are contributing to raising our blood pressure, so be aware!
March 10th, 2007 at 11:42 am
as long as you do not have a sinus infection, rebound congestion should last 2 to 3 weeks depending on how bad your congestion is. I went through it, but it affected my sinus and had clogged ears for the longest time. You can take claritin D over the counter or some other congestant like sudafed 24 hours which you buy over the counter. Just make sure you dont have high blood pressure. If you are really miserable see an ear nose doctor who can really help you. I did and it helped a great deal.
March 10th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Betsy and michele, thanks for the comments. I was mouth breathing all night (as has been the case for a week or so). I can breath a trickle out one side at a time, sometimes. At the moment, I’m 100% clogged. Oh well, I’ll try some over the counter tabs to see if I can open anything up, at night only. In total, I only used 1/3 bottle of the stuff; so, I think I’ll rebound okay. I’ll also start irrigating with saline water just to keep things clean and ward off any infection.
Man, I can’t beleive Afrin is that powerful. I really think it should not be on the market. There’s no way something this harmful should be available. I don’t think anyone on this board is a dummy; yet somehow, we all stumbled into a problem with afrin, by accident. It’s almost like meth or something as it only takes a short bit of use and you’re hooked, in many cases, for life. I never knew.
Today’s day 2 of no Afrin. I’ll keep you posted.
March 10th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
[…] Nasal Spray Addiction? I wrote a blog article sometime ago about my addiction to OTC nasal spray and have been absolutely floored by the number of emails I receive from people screaming "me too!". I’ve been clean for about 8 months now and looking back, I am wondering how much the substance played into my high blood pressure and hyper-manic episodes. The issue becomes when you try to stop using the nasal spray; you experience something called "rebound congestion" where your nasal passages close up to the point where you can only breath out of your mouth. So of course you take another shot of nasal spray and the cycle continues. All I can say is that I will never touch a topical decongestant ever again. Has anyone else ever gotten into this endless cycle of nasal spray addiction? I am curious as to whether you ever found any natural/herbal remedies to fight the rebound congestion? __________________ Jim RunFatBoy - Exercise for the rest of us. "The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes ‘Awww!’" — Jack Kerouac […]
March 11th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
It’s day 3 now; and, I think I’ve mastered it. I know, this is nothing compared to what many of you went through. I am just thankful that the light went on in my head on Friday night, after suffering for 2 weeks. My original problem was allergy related. I took a little afrin here and there. Then, my sinuses just clamped shut. I thought that was stragne and took more afrin, a little here and a little there. Whenever I was without the afrin, I would be 100% shut and mouth breathing. Well, like I said, I feel very lucky to be pretty much breathing 75% clearly out of at least 1 side, most of the time. I’m sure I’ll be totally past the rebound within a few days.
For those of you suffering, even if it takes 1 month of mouth breathing, isn’t it worth it? I sort of got used to it (didn’t like it, just stopped thinking about it).
Good luck to all!! I tell you, if the FDA has the best interest of the public in mind, this stuff would be Rx only a LONG LONG time ago!! Somethign needs to be done!
March 12th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Hi Guys…
Nice thread here. I can totally relate to everything everyone said here. I started out taking Afrin with a bad cold in December. The doctor actually suggested it. I know better since I have been addicted to it twice before.
The problem is I am pregnant. Haven’t stopped completely and now it’s been about 3 months. I only have 7 weeks left of the pregnancy and the doctor told me today I have to get off of it now that my pregnancy is coming to an end.
My problem has been pregnancy related after the bad cold. I’ve had 3 sinus infections and been prescribed Nasonex twice to get off the Afrin. Both times the sinus infection got so bad the doctor said to continue until it cleared up because of all the pain.
Now I have been sleeping terribly and have a worse infection. The doctor got suddently scared and decided I had to use a special machine to wash out my nose every hour. I mix warm water with sea salt and shoot it up my nose. I am also taking a ton of tylenol. Otherwise nothing.
Today is day one but I can only do one nostril at a time or else I start to panic and feel really weird. It’s like I can’t focus my eyes or calm down and I think my blood pressure shoots up. Does anybody know what I mean?
I’ve been using the weird salt water machine and it’s sorta working though. I can squeeze a little air out of the nostril who hasn’t gotten any afrin in 12 hours.
Anyway it’s very scary being pregnant and having this.
March 12th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Laney -
I know exactly what you’re speaking of. I use to pump my leg for no apparent reason and if I were running out of nasal spray, my anxiety would set in and my blood pressure would immediately shoot up. I don’t know if the adrenaline rush is psychological or a result of one of the active ingredients.
You have to try and get a personal humidifier and add some Vick’s Vapo Steam to the water. Breathing in the humidified air will help open up your nostrils.
I wish you luck.
March 12th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
I have tried the one nostril method for 3 weeks now. I still am 90% completely blocked on the side that I stopped using the nasal spray in. I have been taking Sudafed PE 24 hour, vicks vapor rub, hot showers and using saline spray in both nostrils. Does anyone know how long til the rebound congestion is completely gone on the one side? Has this happened to anyone else, I would go to a doctor but don’t have insurance nor enough money to pay the doctor bill as well as for prescriptions so thats not an option. I think I might go cold turkey in a few weeks–when I have a break from work, but I don’t want to give in and use nasal spray on both sides. Any suggestions til then are greatly appreciated.
March 13th, 2007 at 9:44 am
Wow–I felt like I was the only one with this problem until I found this website. I have had nasal congestion for 16 years. It developed when I was pregnant, and I remember requesting the doctor give me some Advil when I was in labor! I just could not breathe.
Something I haven’t read here might be of help–is it possible that an undiagnosed food allergy or intolerance could be behind some of the initial nasal congestion you have suffered from?
My husband and I went on a diet about 4 years ago in which we cut out all sugar and white flour (the initial phase called for NO flour of any kind), and for the first time in years I discovered that I could breathe more easily. When I added back anything that contained wheat, I found myself going back to my nasal spray. Recently, I tried the no wheat diet again, and my nasal stuffiness has improved.
Just a suggestion.
March 13th, 2007 at 11:56 am
Hi Laney,
I was in the same boat as you last week. I am coming up on my 6th month of pregnancy and up until last week, had been using generic Afrin with my Dr’s ok. One day, it just stopped working. I freaked out and switched to generic 4 Way. It only got worse. I was using that about every 45 minutes to an hour because I was that stopped up. I called my Dr. and he sent me out a Z Pac to treat a sinus infection. Of course I still couldn’t breathe so I called them back and told them I was using nasal spray and the nurse and my Dr. freaked out and told me to stop. He prescribed me Rhinocort instead. I couldn’t go off the spray cold turkey so the same day I started using the Rhinocort, I started using the nasal spray only in one nostril. It sucked for about 2 days, but at least I was getting some relief. After that, I diluted the spray with Simply Saline and started doing it less frequently. By this past weekend, I stopped using them altogether and haven’t touched them since. I think the antibiotics helped and the Rhinocort is definitely starting to help but I think if I stopped using it, I’d be ok.
Put it to you this way, do you really want to be going thru labor and suddenly not be able to breathe? I didn’t! You just gotta use whatever method works for you. Good Luck!!!!
March 13th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
It is nice to see so many people in the same boat! I have been using Afrin for 12 years. I only use the spray at night before bed. My turbinate seem to swell and cause congestion only when I lay down. I had a procedure called Somnoplasty one year ago this month that was supposed to reduce the swelling in my turbinates. It did not work and I felt that the congestion I experience post-procedure exacerbated my need for Afrin. My congestion seems to be getting worse during the day time hours which tell me the rebound is starting to get serious. I only use 50% diluted Afrin, one spray in each nostril, (sometimes two sprays) one time per night. I am going to try the Rhinostat system to wean myself completely off. I am going to do a much slower ‘down-titration’ however. Going down by 1/4 strength for a one week period for one month. In conjunction with the down titration I am going to use Rhinocort AQ after I use the Afrin to better reach the turbinates. I am also doing a sinus rise 1x per day. When I feel I am close to being off Afrin, I am going to do a Prednisone pack in my last week of down titration for a final knock out punch of this nasty habit. During the day Sudafed keeps me happy. Has anyone tried a system similar to mine, and if so, with what results?
March 13th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
One more thought, has anyone used fish oil (it has natural anti-inflammatory properties) to help with the congestion. I have and I do notice improvement.
March 13th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Jason -
I too experienced congestion when laying down. I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea and prescribed a CPAP machine with a humidifier. If I leave the CPAP pressure at 9 with the humidifier on full blast my nasal passages stay clear when I’m sleeping. The system has worked wonderfully. I never knew that my sleep pattern was so screwed up until the CPAP allowed for a consistent nights rest. I can’t sleep without it.
In regards to your titration system; why not do the Prednisone in the beginning?
Regarding fish oil: it didn’t help with my congestion but it did help in reducing the number of heart palpitations I was experiencing (most as a side effect of the beta blocker that I take for my blood pressure). The fish oil also helped with the frequent headaches I was receiving.
March 14th, 2007 at 12:17 am
Jim,
I decided to do the Prednisone at the end b/c I have a hard time sleeping (even when I can breath) and one of the side effects of Prednisone is insomnia. Once I can get used to sleeping a little congested I will take the Prednisone. That way I am not battling two sleep related issues at once, congestion and insomnia as a side effect. It is probably more psychosomatic than anything else. Plus my ENT agreed to do it that way. Another natural remedy I have heard about for congestion is Bromaline, ever tried that? I did, not much of a response.
March 14th, 2007 at 12:30 am
Jim,
Also on the Prednisone, I understand that it works the best for the ‘cold turkey’ approach. Since I am titrating off my dose I will not be going cold turkey until the end of my titration. I hope the Prednisone can knock out any left over swelling in my recovering turbinates. Hope that makes sense.
I don’t have apnea but I wonder if teh CPAP would help me breath better. Are they combersome?
March 27th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
After what is over a year now with no Afrin and no prescriptions, my nose started clogging up at night again. Oh nooooo. I can’t go back to Afrin! I also still wanted to avoid a prescription. I actually used a nasal decongestant spray for two nights (not Afrin). I also had to start taking 12 hour sudafed (the real stuff you have to ask for). Then I heard a story about a singer using a nasal irrigation system on National Public Radio. That prompted me to go to Walgreens and buy the SinuCleanse nasal wash system for $15. That was 2 weeks ago. So far so good. My nose isn’t getting stopped up anymore at night. The nasal wash system, or “nedi pot”, “netti pot”, seems to work. I have the packets right now, but after they are gone I’ll just use sea salt or no-iodine salt. I’m still taking the 12 hour sudafed at bedtime, but I’m going to drop that and see what happens soon. I seem to have dodged the prescription bullet again….for now!
For those interested, you can do a google search for Sinucleanse, and you will find their website. It actually has a video on how to use the little pot. It looks like a little genie lamp. Beware though…the video is not a cartoon, its real people pouring salt water in one nostril and it dripping out the other, up close…but it gets the idea across!
March 30th, 2007 at 12:57 am
Nice story. At least you’ve admitted your problem before encountering the shame and hassle of an addiction intervention. I suppose you’re all right now.
–Jed
April 2nd, 2007 at 12:32 pm
I am hooked on Afrin. I have been using it for well over two months now, and I am sick of it. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories, I am going to slowly cut back and then stop.
April 5th, 2007 at 9:42 am
Addiction to Afrin is a HORRIBLE hole to fall into! I have really extensive environmental allergies and I live in an area of the USA that challenges my sinuses daily (northern California wine country). I’ve had surgery once already and been threatened with the possibility of more as nasal polyps grow. I refuse to stop riding my Harley Davidson because of allergies! I only use Afrin before I fly to keep me from getting the intolerable knife-in-the-face headaches on landing. What I use so I can keep riding? Nasopure hypertonic saline washes - twice daily when I brush my teeth. Unlike the neti pot, this is easy and actually feels good, and it takes just a minute. I think it’s cheaper than an Afrin addiction. I get it at www.nasopure.com. It’s SO worth it!
April 12th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
has anyone out there lost their sense of taste and smell from afrin addiction? about 2 days ago i noticed i couldn’t taste or smell anything. i am scared! i saw my ENT last week who told me i have to quit. i know that, but it sure is easier said than done. last week i actually partially collapsed my right lung coughing so hard. i have a horrible head cold right now and it is impossible to quit right now. nothin seems to work, i have tried allegra-D, sudafed, tylenol cold (day and night) . . .trust me, i have tried it all! i have used afrin for probably 7 years now off and on. i just want to smell and taste again!
April 22nd, 2007 at 9:18 am
I too am addicted to over the counter nose spray. Yesterday I made up my own concoction using saline that you soak your contacts in and a touch of over the counter nose spray solution added to it. Also, I went to the store and got a tube of “preparation-h” which states on the tube that it shrinks swelling, so I rubbed it on my sinuses (extrernally) and I slept like a baby. No more swelling and I think I can tollerate not using my nose spray now.
May 4th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
I have been using OTC’s for almost 19 years. For some reason in 1988, I was feeling a stinging sensation deep in my sinuses. Then it felt like concrete being pured in my nose. My sinuses were completely blocked. I used OTC everyday for a year thinking the problem would heal itself.
It took 3 or 4 full squirts up my nose to open the sinuses. It was awful. I had enough and went to the doctor and he put on a steroid spray for 2 weeks. After 3 days of not sleeping due to the rebound effect, the sinuses opened up a little. The doctor then told me extra cartilage grew in my sinuses and that was the source of the congestion. I passed on the surgery, I dont want anybody slicing my sinus cavities. I guess my sinuses kinda adjusted because I only need a half a squirt every other day at night. During the day my sinuses are clear. The BAD part is I have a constantly runny nose from the OTC.
May 4th, 2007 at 11:26 pm
I’ve been using the stuff (oxymetazoline, usually Eckerd brand) for 18 months now at a doctor’s suggestion. It’s terrible. Some days I’m extremely clear and then I have terrible nights like tonight where I’m scouring the internet for help. Tried Rhinostat but, like the OP, had no success. Reading all of your posts has been incredible. I don’t know anyone else who’s addicted and while my friends all feel terrible for me, they can’t sympathize in the least without knowing what it’s like. I really, really want to quit the stuff but I have to use it regularly (once or twice an hour) to not get severe congestion. The only way to really clear up is to work out which I try to do once a day but then I’m only clear (partially) for an hour or so.
I don’t have health insurance so I can’t see a specialist. I just wish there was an easy way to quit this stuff!
May 5th, 2007 at 10:35 am
I was addicted to Afrin and later 4-Way for almost 30 years. Thankfully for the last 5 years I would cut the strength in half. Get a new bottle, pull the sprayer, fill the empty space with city tap water (or saline). My bottles went everywhere with me. The car, at work, shopping, on vacation, always next to my bed. I quit cold turkey in January and haven’t used it since. I breath fine (wide open) during the day and evening. But when I lie down in bed (I sleep on my side) it slams shut on one side. If I lay on my right side the right nasal passage goes shut. On the left side it’s the left sinus. I can’t sleep on my back. This isn’t constant. Usually if I get to sleep by 11 PM I’ll wake up at 4 AM socked shut on one side. Then I have to get up until it opens. That usually involves using an herbal sinus spray and menthol ointment. Sometimes I’m up for an hour, sometimes 2. Pollen season doesn’t make it any better.
I’ve had my best results with Nutribiotic Nasal Spray from Vitacost.com (4.99). Another spray called SinuFix comes from GNC. It only works half as well, gives you half the amount in the sprayer, and costs twice as much. Other things that help: NoseBetter menthol in a tube (Walgreens can order it) for up your nose, Boroleum menthol in a tube for up your nose (available online), Vicks in a jar for around the nasal openings (don’t put it up your nasal passages). Simply Saline from WalMart can help at times since it has no preservatives in its aerosol can. An excellent nasal emollient is Ponaris. A mixture of various oils that comes in a bottle with a dropper. Available at some hospital pharmacies and possibly online. Used by NASA in space for dry nasal passages. It works well but smells and tastes like varnish or paint thinner, LOL. You get used to it.
I’d still like to find something that would keep me ‘open’ all night. Antihistamines don’t help at all. They leave me dry and blocked. Sudafed PE helps a little, but not much. Nothing oral seems to help much. It’s an evil addiction that I’ll never go back to. I don’t know how I’ll survive with a cold since I haven’t had one since quitting.
May 6th, 2007 at 2:26 am
Hello fellow sufferers!
I’ve been properly addicted since my first pregancy. And I can’t remember not using a spray at night time ever since. Since my second pregnancy I’m using 24/7.
Shortly before my second son was born my blood pressure started to rise, but nobody knew why. 2 years on my bp is still slightly raised and I’m buying multi-buys of otc nasal sprays, carrying bottles in various handbags, coat pockets and having stashes all over the house.
I’ve tried cold turkey but I get so blocked that my mucus membranes stick together when I swallow and it feels like my throat might close up.
This morning I woke up after my last horrendous squirt (which means tipping my head back and letting the stuff drizzle) at 4am and popped an antihistamin, a sudafed capsule and I’m using a saline spray every half hour. I’m stuffy but I don’t feel like my head’s encased in concrete. Please let this continue that way!
I can cope with being blocked but the sticking together of membranes scares me!
I’ll give the one squirt, one nostril a try, if my current attempt fails.
This blood pressure thing is ridiculous!!!
Good luck to you all!
May 8th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
I have been “addicted” to nose spray several times in my life and just recently gotten off of it by myself. The best way I found is to do ONE NOSTRIL at a time. I stopped nose spray in my right nostril but continued using it in my left until my right was fully cleared up (which took less than 2 weeks). I then stopped my left and it took only 1 week and I have been breathing easy for 2 weeks now. I will NEVER buy the 12 hour nosespray again. I will use Claritin.
May 8th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
I have been using neosynephrine nasal spray for over a year now.I started using it the day after my baby was born on April 20,2006.Shortly thereafter I began to experience excessive sweating on my neck,chest,and back.Actually all over but heaviest in those areas.It seemed as if the slightest bit of activity would start me sweating.It got so bad I could barely go out in public for fear of soaking my shirt through again.I have been to numerous doctors.My primary doctor,the ER,my gyn several times,a gastroenterologist and finally an endocrinologist.Currently I am seeing an Acupuncturist,I am at my wits end.All the MD’s ran extensive blood and urine tests but could find nothing wrong with me.My thyroid,hormones and blood sugar all checked out.By now the sweating has made my life intolerable.After putting it together and going online to research the chemical Benzalkonium Chloride I found that this may be the responsible culprit for my affliction.upon reading this information,I have stopped using the nasal spray as of yesterday and I pray that the sweating stops.Has anyone else experienced similar symptoms from the everyday use of nasal spray?
May 9th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
My Doc gave me some samples of Nasonex and Zyrtec. After only one day of Nasonex usage I feel that my sinus congestion is worst. After reading these horror stories involving nasal spray addiction I will be throwing the nasonex in the trash. And with the massive migraine I received after taking the Zyrtec it may soon be following the Nasonex in the garbage. I’ll be shopping around for a weaker OTC decongestant & antihistamine in pill or liquid form. I’d rather suffer a little than be addicted to anything. I’m glad I found your website before it was too late. Keep up the good work by keeping us informed. I fully believe that some Doctors are very much aware of the addictive aspect of Nasal Sprays. Some will continue to prescribe meds like Afrin etc. fully knowing how dangerous they can be in order to keep you coming back to them only to dish out another med to you to bring you “down” from the addictive Nasal Spray. Once a Doctor writes you a Prescription and you become “hooked” they have you and your wallet. You’ll then need to make more follow-up appointments,pay more Co-pay fees & get more prescriptions written. Then the process starts all over again. It’s a vicious cycle. I’ve discovered you have to do your own research on your meds. Thanks again for the info.
May 10th, 2007 at 9:35 am
Going Cold Turkey today! I have been addicted to nose spray since Y2K. I am tired of being controlled. I had a nightmare that I went to a bank and was duck taped and could not breath. I have trouble even swallowing without it and it scares me. I will vow never to use the stuff again! Wish me luck!
May 11th, 2007 at 11:29 am
Day 2 and actually got to breath on my own for a half hour untill my sinusus clogged back up. Not only do I feel better my moods have improved. I am going to kick this habit for good. I used Claritan D not the regular claritan and was able to breath through one nostrill. I abused the other side more so I think it should take longer. It was so nice to get a glimps of whats to come! I was sneezing constantly and wanted to quit cold turkey so when I got married next month I would not end up sneezing at the altar! Seems to be going great after being addicted for almost 8 years!
May 11th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Good job Jill! Stick with it; psychologically it will be tough to get use to breathing “normally” but don’t panic, the passages will eventually open themselves up.
May 11th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Hi afrin addicts, just here to say you can do it. I am breathing out of both nostrills after only 2 days now. Before I went cold turkey I could hardley swallow my passages were so blocked up. It was real scary and prompted me to quit. I only went through 24 hours of painstaking breathing, but after that It is bearable and I can smell the coffee again! Good luck to you all. By the way, cold turkey is the only quick way to go if you can take it. I will never regret throwing away all my 12 bottles so I wouldn’t give in no matter what. I was spending $65.00 plus a week on medication. Now I can think of no better way to spend my money then by treating myself to some flowers now that I can smell.
May 11th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
its 9:oo pm and I have a terrible headache! I can breath now but am wondering if the headache is do to Afrin withdrawls?
May 12th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Day 3 dealing with a massive headache but am able to breath when sitting up almost at 90%. Taking no OTC medicine at all! This is so great taking a breath on my own. Glad I went cold turkey. Besides the rebound headaches I should be back to my old self this week.
May 13th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Day 4, Never felt better! No headache and breathing normally. Should have done this years ago! Good luck to all trying to kick the habit.
May 15th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Day 6, Still have a little bit of a stuffy nose but nothing like before. I think it takes about 2 weeks to fully clear up, at least I hope so. Doing fine now and glad to be off nose sprays!
May 16th, 2007 at 8:04 am
Day 7, Breathing good on my own now during the day. Still a little stuffy at night but nothing unbearable. I can see the big difference by the way I no longer sneeze and I save lots of money on tissue now also my nose and eyes are no longer red. Feeling great!
May 16th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Keep it up Jill! On a side note (and I don’t know if this is related) after going off the Afrin a year ago, I haven’t had a single headache. Although, I gave up caffeine as well, so that could be part of it.
May 18th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Day 9, Able to sleep now and breath easier than I have in years. I am able to smell 75% better than before even though I thought my nasal passages were open with the Afrin the effected my smell. Got flowers for mothers day and could even smell them! I have not used any OTC medication at all and am able cope without them now.
May 21st, 2007 at 9:55 am
Hello , I had been using Otrivin for the past 5 years. My nose gets very much stuffy at night times. Usually i take 3 droplets on each nostril atleast two times a day.. Daily. The condition seems to be worsening. Can you guys tell me which is the better alternative and how can i breathe normally without using Otivin ?
May 25th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
hello, i have been using afrin for 5 years now. it all started out with a cold and i have not been able to kick the habit since. now i am 6 months pregnant and my doctor keeps telling me how i should not be using it while i am pregnant but i still do. my nose will get 100% clogged up if i do not use the afrin when i feel just a little stuffy. i can not go cold turkey. i would be fine doing that if it were not for not being able to sleep. i have tried sleeping this way but breathing out of my mouth just makes my mouth really dry causing me to wake up every 15 minutes to take a sip of water. my ENT said i could have this surgery after i have to baby where he will scrape my sinuses. he says it will work but i don’t want to wait all the way until september. i don’t ever remember it being this bad before i was pregnant but now it is just horrible. please help!!
May 25th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
when i was pregnant and had congestion due to overuse of afrin, i invested in a nettles pot which rinses out the sinuses
May 31st, 2007 at 10:38 am
Thanks to all that has been written here, I had an appointment with a ENT yeterday and this saturday will start down the journey to kick this habit…
June 7th, 2007 at 6:43 am
Wow. How encouraging to find this blog. I have been addicted to Afrin for about 6 years. I had no idea this addiction is so common. I was able to stay off of if for 4 months last year around the time I had sinus surgery, but I’ve been back on it for about 1 year. This is day 3 without it, and I haven’t slept but about 3 hours both nights. I did find that a personal vaporizor helps a lot. This time I’m on Astelin and Zyrtec-D. Also helping. Does anyone out there have itchy skin along with their sinus problems?
June 12th, 2007 at 10:51 am
Thank you all ! I know i’ve been addicted for 3 years now,and it keep getting worse.My spray of choice was zimcam at $12 box a pop.I’ve spend all sunday afternoon reading every comments on this site and at 2 pm took my last hit.I’ve sprayed 4 sprays in an old bottle filled it up with saline water and massaged the side of my nose all the way to my forehead with preparation h and belive it or not it seem to work for now.I’m still a little congested but nothing unbearable.I had just order sinusbuster sunday morning and by the time I receive it I may not have to use it(hopefully).You all give me the stengh i needed to give it a try and knowing i’m not crazy or along help a lot.
thank you again.
June 12th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
I have been addicted to nasal spray for 15 years. It has gotten to the point that my nose will close completely and even knot up inside and I cannot get any relief. I will pump the mist inside my nose repeatedly until my nostril will finally open (this may take 2-3 hours of repeated pumps). I try to not use the stuff but end up being so miserable that I have panic attacks. There have been times that I wish I would cease to exist. I’ve tried to take decongestants and allergy medicines they seem to help at times but no more than 2-3 days of relief. I cannot live without my nose spray. What should I do?????? Help me????
June 14th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
I was on nose spray for 35 years (that’s no typo… I said 35). Today marks my second week of being nose spray free, which I always felt was totally impossible. And it’s all due to this site.
I’d “shoot up” nose spray at least once an hour, sometimes more, and did this everyday for all those years. If I didn’t my nose would totally and completely close up. I was totally afraid to go ANYWHERE without the nose spray in my pocket.
I read with interest what was said at the top of the page about the titration system, and later “My Own Titration System.” See above.
I began by diluting a helf-bottle of nose spray 50% with homemade saline solution (1/8 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp baking soda to 1/2 pint water). I used that for 3 weeks and was amazed it worked, but it did. I then diluted the diluted nose spray down another 50% with saline and used that for 2 weeks.
Finally I diluted THAT diluted nose spray down by 50% again (so that the stuff I was shooting was now 1/8 strength at this point) and used for 2 more weeks.
Then came the day I got home from work and suddenly realized, “Hey, I didn’t use nose spray all day today. Wow.” I then started to see how long I could go without it.
As I said, my current record is 2 weeks and counting.
Besides not having to suffer the embarrassment of having to spray it in public, in meetings, in restaurants, etc. I’ve found one side-benefit: I no longer get up in the middle of the night. I always thought it was just because I needed to go to the bathroom. Turns out my stopped up nose must’ve woken me up at 3 a.m.
A huge thanks to Jim, and everyone else on here, for helping me do what I always assumed was impossible.
Sure, it’s only been 2 weeks. But think I’ll ever touch that stuff again ever? HA!
June 14th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Congratulations Gerry! It’s quite the liberating feeling not being tethered to the bottle.
Believe me, if you’re two weeks into and feeling better, than you’re definitely over the mental hump. 2 weeks will easily turn into two years and you’ll think back and wonder how you ever got hooked on the stuff in the first place.
Great job and good luck to you in the future!
June 29th, 2007 at 10:19 am
I have nasal polyps. Had the operation to remove them 5 years ago. I had been completly symptom free until about a month ago. Cat scan reveils that they are back. Yes I am using OTC nasal spray and ephedrine to get me through the nights. Just horrible, very sleep deprived, have tried everything. I am a single working mother and cant afford to have the operation ($1,000 deductable, thanks Tufts!). Not that I am looking forward to that procedure again but I see no other choice. Question for anyone who knows: I just orderd a natural product from a website called “Sinuswars”. They claim to be able to help with all kinds of sinus problems including polups. Anyone with experience with this companie’s products? Please help I am at the end of my rope!
June 30th, 2007 at 6:15 am
Been on the stuff for 4 months , i havent abused it too much, tried to stay on the 2 times a day as it says on the bottle but i have to stop. i am going to try the one nostril at a time as #5 post. will let you know how it turns out , good luck everyone and strenght to you all.
July 1st, 2007 at 1:58 am
I have been using Otrivin for about 4 years now. I am presuming that this is the same as Afrin, I live in New Zealand and am guessing we do not have Afrin as I have not seen it in the Pharmacy. I thank god that I found this blog as I was begining to think I was the only person suffering from congestion.
Through reading your comments I now know that I have to go cold turkey to kick this habbit, which I am really not looking foward to doing.
One question if someone wouldn’t mind answering. Is it ok to do one nostril at a time, or do you suggest that you go completely cold turkey? I couldn’t imagine not being able to breath at night, let alone for a possible 2-3 weeks….
Thank you to everyone who has left a comment about this addiction, you have opened my eyes!!!!
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:58 pm
I was glad to find this website while searching around. I knew it was a problem for me for a long time (years) but I didn’t realize how many other people were in the same boat. I went to my regular doc about another issue and we ended up talking about my sinuses. As of now, I have been 48 hours without my OTC spray and I am already experiencing some relief.
However, I disagree with the above poster who feels that Nasonex is just as addictive and not helpful. My doctor put me on it to help make the transition off the OTC spray. Nasonex is a steroid nasal spray and will not be effective immediately; it takes a week or two; however, it works. If you research it, it does not have the same mechanism and does not produce the rebound effect that the OTC sprays do, and I really don’t believe that doctors are putting people on it just to get them “addicted” and keep them coming back for co-pay fees. I had to overlap the Nasonex and the OTC for about a week, but now the Nasonex and Claritin-D are working very well and I am hoping to never pick up an OTC spray again!!
The next step is to get off the Claritin-D; I had an elevated heart rate episode a few years back and chronic use of anything with pseudoephedrine could contribute to another episode. I have an appointment in a couple weeks with an ENT to come up with some other options that will hopefully be better. For everyone here who is still working their way off, I feel your pain and wish you the best, and thank you for sharing your stories and what you have found successful and unsuccessful.
July 6th, 2007 at 3:54 am
My nasal stuffiness does not seem like the regular hayfever/allergy symptoms that I have had. Right now my right nostril is stopped up and the left is clear. In a few minutes it might be the reverse. Sometimes both are stopped up and when I get up and move around for a few minutes both passages will become clear. I don’t use nasal sprays but I went to the doctor and he gave me a shot and prescribed Allegra and Flonase nasal spray. I was just fine for a couple of weeks and then the symptoms came back. The Allegra and the Flonase didn’t work so after about a month I quit using them.
I am taking Atenolol and Dyazide for HBP so I do not take decongestants. This nasal condition seems to have started after I began taking these meds about 3 years ago. Is it possible that the condition is connected with these medicines ? The fact that the condition will clear when I move around is puzzling. Could this be some chemical or hormone imbalance? At night, if I am lying on my left side the right nostril will be mostly clear and vice versa. I wish I could find out what is causing the problem then maybe I could come up with the solution. I would appreciate your comments. Thanks.
July 8th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Leslie -
The oscillation between the two nasal passages is the way blood flow moves in the nasal area (looking for my source on that, but I do remember reading it). The extreme stuffiness is not common though.
When I was taking my larger doses of Hydralazine, it felt like my nasal passage ways were much more stuffed up. With a decrease dosage, the stuffiness disappeared.
As far as I know, the Atenolol and Dyazide do not have properties that should cause stuffiness, but you will want to check with your doctor on that.
I am sorry that I can’t be of more help. Maybe your doctors can switch around and let you try some derivative form of your meds to see if that has any effect on your stuffiness?
I wish you the best of luck and please keep us posted.
July 8th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
I too was given Nasonex to help me off the effects of the Afrin. I was only on Afrin for 6-8 months, but the nasal congestion rebound was awful. My ENT gave me nasonex and told me to take Allegra-D, but due to high blood pressure, I began taking the new allergy pill called Alavert which you can buy at any CVS or drug store. All I can say, it took a while before I could finally breathe through my nose. I am much better and still taking Nasonex, but am off the Alavert. I noticed if I have a cold, the sinus congestion comes back and I go back to taking Allavert. It takes time, but the sooner you get off of it, the better you will be.
July 10th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Okay lets see been addicted for almost a year and day four of cold turkey. Feels like someone has poured cement in my sinuses. I don’t think i could get air through my nostril if someone paid me million dollars. I sound so professional when I speak now at work and I’m sure all my co-workers/supervisors have their own thoughts of why my nose is so stuffed up. There is absolutly no reason Afrin should be allowed on the market!!
July 11th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
not that it seems that anyone reads this anymore but night 5 and twice today I actually thought I felt a little air go through a nostril. Of course right after it happened that was like a break in the dam and a constant stream of liquid then continued to poor out of that nostril for a good 20 minutes each time. Of course both sides still feel like they are packed solid w/cement. Since I have gone 5 days already I will finish out the week of cold turkey but if I am still completly blocked come Monday I am going to have to go back on the juice as I can’t continue to show up at work like I have been on a week long coke binge.
July 12th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
okay day 6 in purgatory. The cement in my nose has turned to a thick gravey. Not loose enough that I can breath yet but loose enough that I look like Lupus from the Bad News Bears movie w/that constant stream of mucus and boogers hanging from my nostrils. I am so happy I have decided to give up using Afrin so I don’t look silly in my meeting using the spray. I’m sure I look much more professional giving my presentations to the CEO w/a stream of snot running down my face. God help the maker of Afrin if I run into him in a dark alley after a night of drinking…..more posts to come.
July 12th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Sinus cement -
Glad to hear that things have “loosened up”. Keep us all posted!
July 12th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
sinus cement, good luck to you. I have been off for about two weeks now and the worst is definitely over, so hopefully it is on the way for you. Can you try one of the steroid sprays to help hurry it along? I know the Nasonex is what did it for me. Today I sniffed really deeply and the sides of my nose sucked inward…both of them…for the first time in about ever. I also saw the ENT today and he suggested using the over the counter medicine Mucinex and gave me a prescription to try the spray Astelin, which has a different mechanism from both the OTC sprays and the Nasonex. I guess on a scale of congestion from 1 to 10 I am about a 3 and that may be as good as it gets, but compared to always being a 10 or on the Afrin, I’ll take it!
July 17th, 2007 at 10:20 am
As long as we’re doing updates… tomorrow I’ll have been off nose spray for 7 weeks, after a 35-year addiction. It’s been just great to NOT have to worry about dragging the bottle with me everywhere. (Oh the simple pleasures of wearing a pair of running shorts WITHOUT pockets all day…)
Evenings are still a little difficult since my nose tends to stuff up past 10pm, and there have been more than a few times when I’ve thought about giving myself just one hit before bedtime. But haven’t, and am glad. Point is: I can still breathe through both nostrils, so why risk it?
I can’t believe I’m still off of the stuff!
July 17th, 2007 at 10:35 am
Sinus Cement - New people are reading this! I found this site last night after being hooked on 4way for 1 month. This is about the 3rd time this has happened to me in the last 6 or so years.
I was recovering from a cold that set in 4 weeks ago, and last week I had 8 flights in 4 short days for work when I began to abuse the OTC spray.
Yesterday, everything came to a hault. The spray caused pain when used and didn’t do much anyway.
I visited my PMD who prescribed Azithromax and Tusso-DM and recommended the cold turkey method.
Didn’t sleep last night - took a hot shower, used my Vicks personal humidifier, a regular humidifier, rubbed my sinuses, etc and couldn’t get 5 minutes of shut eye.
I’m stubborn, I will kick this if it kills me. I’ve read every thread and only a few have commented as to what hits me the most - the occassional instant aggression.
What surprises me is 1) my body won’t sneeze and 2) I didn’t realize how much your body adjusts to pressure, but now that each fine tune create a gurgle in my face/throat, I am amazed.
I have bought a Neilmed sprayer, aka sinus toilet, and will use this once my condition improves >50%.
I don’t how some of you have managed this for years.
I’ll be back to report on status-
July 17th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Well I’m back, Day 12 of dancing w/the devil. I actually have some good news to report here from purgatory this time. Over the weekend my nose clogged up as bad as the first few days out of the blue. At this point I can assure everyone I know what it feels like to have play-doh shoved up my nose and can’t for the life of me understand why a child would want to do this but yet they do it all the time. So Saturday morning the play-doh storm hits me out of the blue. The good news is my nose stopped running at this point but it didn’t matter because I couldn’t breath through it at all. By the way, I am on Astelin for those of you that asked. Well Sunday I almost gave in and take a quick hit but everything started to loosen up again. At this point all the play-doh in my nose turned into a liquid that could not defeat gravity and literally ran like a small stream down my face. At one point I thought my brain was melting because there was no way my sinuses could hold this much fluid themselves. If you have ever had a bloody nose this is what is was like but it was clear liquid and not blood pouring out of both nostrils. My nose was getting so red from wiping it that I eventually just shoved balls of toilet paper up each nostril to get some relief. I spent the rest of Sunday switching my toilet paper tampons to stop my nose flow. Monday morning i woke up to a headache from hell. At one point I thought I may have to go to the hospital because of the severity of it. It was so bad i didn’t even notice that my nose was not running and was actually some what clear. When the hell?? When did this happen??? Well I dealt w/the headache pretty much all day and today …………about a 90% clear nose and no headache. Thats right my Afrin bitch I beat you. It may have taken 12+ days of pure hell but I beat you.
July 18th, 2007 at 10:17 am
I’m back with an update… First off, congrats sinus cement.
After my second day on Tusso DM, Azithromycin and Prednisone, i have improved in the course of 48hrs from 0%/0% –> 75%/25% (l/r nostril usage respectively).
I have spend a total of about 5 hours with my head in my Vicks personal Steam Inhaler and a steaming shower.
I took a hit of 75%saline/5%aloe/20% Vicks Sinus before bed last night and slept well. Today I will be using my NeilMed ’sinus flush’ as instructed sans an addition of some vegetable oil to moisturize mucosa/nasal lining.
Best of luck to each of you-
July 26th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
UPDATE: after one week of only using afrin on my right nostril i felt a little loosening on the left nostril { non afrin one}.
However, i went to my ent, got a shot of steriod on my bumm and a prescription of Nasonex. It only took a day and a half for both nostrils to be completely clear. I used the nasonex for 2 weeks but have decided to stop using it and so far i have absolutely no rebound congestion.
I WILL NEVER USE AFRIN AGAIN!!
good luck to all of you
July 28th, 2007 at 1:23 am
This stuff is a horror. Believe me, I’ve been there. It initially works when nothing else will and relieves your congestion from other causes. But then it wears off. It takes a huge strength of will not to shoot some more in there because the congestion is worse when it wears off than it was before you used it (at least with me).
I used it first when I was about 20 or 21 years old and got insanely clogged up because of allergies. You know, I could cover one nostril and blow on the other one and only get the smallest trickle of air and it made squeaking noises because my membranes and sinuses were swollen up like balloons in there. The generic Afrin stuff would take care of it and open me up so I could breathe. Of course at 10 to 12 hours later I’d be back in exactly the same position, maybe a little bit worse each time with not getting any air through my nose.
Taking it once easily turns into taking it for a few days while thinking things will get better at some point. Of course it never does, so a week later you wonder what is going on and why your nose is worse than ever without it, and you are still taking it and hoping it will get better without knowing what you’re being set up for.
Anyway, when I was 21 (38 now) I ended up taking it for about 3 months or something (I don’t remember how long exactly). I think I had heard some rumor somewhere or other about it being addictive (no Internet to check easily back then) and I was just sick of it after a long, long time of using it and depending on it. Then I decided I needed to go without my little helper. I was also concerned since I had to take it like every 4 to 6 hours by then in order to get any relief at all. I didn’t want to take it so often and would try to delay as long as I could before taking it again but was wretchedly miserable. Finally I decided that I might as well give it up entirely since I was miserable so much with it anyway. Plus it made me feel hyped and irritable all the time and I could feel my heart beating fast. I’m pretty sensitive to stimulants. I knew it couldn’t be good for me.
It seems like it took about 10-15 days for the congestion to go back to my usual semi-congested state (which means I can feel some air going through my nose but it would be hard to breathe fully through only my nose). I’ve never really been able to breathe completely through my nose, so I guess I should see an ENT doctor. What I wouldn’t give for a giant Karl Malden-like nose that is so huge it would probably never clog up, but instead I have this small nose that doesn’t work so well (and also small mouth that had to have teeth removed to make room).
I found this site while wondering if I should try some of that evil stuff again since my nose has been a little more clogged up lately. But even worse, one ear has been clogged for about a week and it’s hard to hear people clearly and it makes me insane and I can’t get it to unclog right. I just want to clear the nose and by clearing the nose maybe the ears will clear, so I can feel human again.
But after reading this blog it helps me remember why I should never ever make that choice to use this crap ever again. For 12 hours of relief it turns into hellish payback later that’s worse than the original problem was to begin with. Using this stuff is like a deal with the devil since it doesn’t fix anything and will hurt more sometime later.
I’ll have to go to the NealsMed nasal irrigation bottle (sort of like the Neti Bowl, only you squirt and snort the saline solution you prepare instead of pouring it in). It doesn’t seem to help overly much with opening things up, but I think it helps move trapped bacteria and snot and things out, so that I won’t end up with some infection.
I think my present clogged state all came about after getting some dental work done and the bacteria decided that It wanted to move up my nose and ears instead of hanging out in my mouth.
I’m totally shocked and sad because of the number of people who have used this crap for years or decades and I understand from my brief addiction how it happens. It’s not that obvious what is going on until it’s too late. Then you’re stuck with a couple of weeks of extreme discomfort and often loss of sleep in order to wait it out and become nasally functional again.
It’s going to be miserable, but you can do it! Best luck everyone.
July 29th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
100% - using a Neilmed sinus toilet and 2 shots of Flonase/day. Good luck, God Bless.
August 4th, 2007 at 11:52 am
I’m sitting here so miserable and congested that I was thinking about paying the outrageous co-pay to go to an urgent care center. I’ve been using Afrin and various generic equivalents for more years than I like to admit. About 15 years ago, I went to an ENT, and he gave me some sort of steriod shot and told me to go home and go cold turkey. It was one miserable week, but it worked, and I stayed nose-spray free for about 3 years. Then with a really bad cold, I bought another bottle of Afrin…only going to use it for the recommended 3 days….yeah, right. 10 years later, here I am. I panic at the thought of being anywhere without access to my fix. I’ve kicked pot and booze many years ago, but this one just won’t let me go.
I really am feeling a little comfort just reading these postings and realizing I have got to take some action. I’ll make an appointment with an ENT next week and see if I can get some help. This is just no way to live.
I’ll be back and report in. Thanks to all of you who have posted here. Never realized there were so many with the exact same problems, feelings.
August 4th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
Good luck to you Jack. If you can get the Prednisone prescribed, it will go a long way with helping with the rebound congestion.
August 4th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Oh thank you, thank you, thank you to all those who have posted here.
I have been using nasal sprays of one sort or another for so long that I don’t even remember when I started….10 yrs? 15 ys? 25 yrs ago? Who knows.
I was using Afrin mostly and was using it every 4-6 hours on a regular basis. Even at night. Then in January I got a horrible head cold that knocked me flat and Afrin no longer worked.
I went to my doc who…get this….told me to change brands! So I went to 4 Way which is a different chemical than Afrin, and lo and behold! It worked.
Sorta anyway.
Since January 15th, I have not slept more than 2 hours in a stretch, and had to move out of my own bedroom into the guest room due to keeping my husband awake all night with my snoring, mouth breathing and getting up and down every hour or two to get my ‘hit’ of spray.
I am miserable, and know that I have to get off this stuff.
I have begun so many times to lengthen the time between ‘hits’ but can’t seem to go very long due to the horrible congestion that makes my head feel like it’s stuffed with wet drippy cotton rags. The pressure in my head makes my eyes feel like they’ll pop out of their sockets, and if I go long enough I’m not able to swallow comfortably, much less breathe. And OHMG! the headaches! I give in and take another ‘hit’!
I’ve tried Rhino-stat, switching brands, steroid sprays, personal steamers, oral meds, diet changes, I even went to a very expensive Naturopathic Physician, all to no avail.
I began today to try to one-nostril approach, and as addicted as I am, I decided to use freely in one side (the left) and go as long as possible bewteen doses for the right side. So far it’s been 3 hours and 40 minutes! Over 3X longer than I’ve made it before!
The left side is stuffy, but the right is so totally plugged that not even the neti pot works. (Water runs in only so far and then just sits there!)
I have got to get off this stuff, and have been SO VERY encouraged by those who have taken the time to post here. It’s helps so much to stiffen my resolve to have a place to see others with the same feelings and fears and issues. My man is wonderful, but cannot relate to this anymore than he could when I was quitting smoking.
But if I could kick the “nico-demon” I can quit this too! Right? With luck I hope to be finding the right side clearing up on it’s own within a week or so.
Thanks especially to Steve the “Oxymetozoline-aholic”! laughter is always my best medicine, and his post was a hoot!
August 5th, 2007 at 10:26 am
UPDATE: It’s been one month! no congestion, no relapse, nothing. I threw out all my little bottles from HELL to keep temptation from getting the best of me, but I haven’t really been tempted since I am breathing freely.\
ONE NOSTRIL AT A TIME system works!!!! It takes a couple of weeks but IT WORKS!
August 5th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Day 2 is coming along. I was really encouraged last night, as long as I kept busy I was able to go more than 4 hours without a “hit” in my right nostril. I’ve not gone that long without a spray in months and months! I know I still have a long way to go, but it is a much better start than I thought I would have.
Sleep last night was pretty much what has become normal for me, 60 to 90 minutes at a stretch, but I hope that becomes longer in the near future.
I am noticing that it takes much less spray to open up the right nostril now that I’m waiting longer between doses.
I’m going to go to the doc’s tomarrow and ask for prednisone to help me along in that respect.
Thanks again to everyone who’s posted.
One question…..does the preparation H really help?
August 8th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
after finding this site IM NOT ALONE! ive been using Nostrilla straight for a year now. 2-3 squirts 5+ times a day. i wake up cuz i cant breath. now i have a sinus infection and im taking avelox. i look horribly tired all the time and feel like crap, now i know why. today i used my nostrilla 3X but one squirt at a time. now after reading this im done! right noe im suffering but better now then never. i emptied my bottle and mixed sea salt and water and tried in just a few mins ago but the salt dripping down the back of my throat made me cough like crazy! so the weekends coming, i suppose i have to suffer. ill be taking nighttime tylenol to help. i used my nostrilla about 6 pm its now almost 11 pm. my ears feel like my brain is trying to squeeze out. im dizzy and everyime i try to breath thru my nose i get dizzy and feel like my lungs are going to collapse. the thought of a cigarette makes my head pulsate, LOL! i picked up that bad habit along with my Nostrilla! i will keep you all post, thanks for all your input!
August 9th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
well today im still stuffy a bit. my head still feels like it wants to explode, and my mood is horrible. also ive had the shakes all day… but i do have a sinus infection. i selpt like crap last night but i dont feel as bad as i thought i would. its be 27 hours since nasal spray. as i type i can breath through my nose but only about 50%. i do find my self looking for it then im like “duh”. my ears are blocked a bit as well. but over all im doing better then i predicted. THANK GOD! happy trails all and thanks for all your stories i love em!
August 9th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
im blocked and boogie again! LOL
August 10th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
Get some Vicks VapoRub CREAM (not the ointment). It comes in a white plastic tube and there’s enough to last a lifetime. Take a very small amount and rub it on the side that is blocked (on the side of your nose, and out onto your face below your eye, and under your nostril). Don’t put it up your nose. Stay far enough down from your eye as this stuff is stronger than regular Vicks in a jar, which is why it works so well. It has saved me many times when nothing else seems to work. I’ve been off the bad stuff for 8 months now. I only stuff up once a night about 4 AM. I have an ENT appointment to see if I can stop that. Then I’ll be 100% 24/7. Good luck, rachelle.
August 13th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
thanks del.
its monday and i feel much better! still semi stuffy but IM DONE WITH IT! yahooooo….
August 17th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Here’s a method that helped me to easily beat the Afrin “addiction” in about 2 to 3 weeks with minimal discomfort. It was worked out with my doctor who prescribed the Fluticasone Propionate. The saline solution is available in pharmacies over-the-counter .
To begin, I diluted Afrin 50% with distilled water and then used it in only in one nostril and only just before bedtime and once more during the day as needed. Concurrently, Fluticasone Propionate was administered as prescribed. I also used a saline solution from time to time. After about 4 to 5 days the side not receiving the 50% Afrin solution began to clear. I then only just before bedtime began to use a 25% Afrin solution in the treated side. After about 5 more days I stopped the Afrin completely while continuing with the Fluticasone and saline solution. Both nostrils were completely clear in less than three weeks. At that point I discontinued the Fluticasone and continued the saline solution from time to time.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Try the Neti pot!
It works!
It’s weird, but it works!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here’s how I kicked the habit in 5 easy days – with no congestion!…
DAY 1 (SATURDAY): Neti pot every 2 hours. I started mid-afternoon so did a total of about 5 doses. Nasal spray when needed, every 3-4 hours. I felt pretty good and breathing was normal all day. The first dose was shocking though – I let out a screaming tirade of expletives while standing in the bathroom – Oh my God! But after that first dose I got used to it.
DAY 2 (SUNDAY): Neti pot every 2 hours. A total of about 8-10 doses. Nasal spray when needed, a total of 4 times, much less often than usual! The first 2 nights I slept with a Breathe Right nasal strip on – it helped.
DAY 3 (MONDAY): Had to go to work. So I only did neti pot 3 times (7:30am, 6:30pm, and 11:00pm). The dose after work was a double dose – did both nostrils twice. Only used nasal spray 3 times (7:00am, 1:00pm, 6:00pm). While at work, since I didn’t have my neti pot with me, I used the Breathe Right Sino Marin saline spray a few times.
DAY 4 (TUESDAY): Neti pot twice. Nasal spray twice. Felt really good all day.
DAY 5 (WEDNESDAY): I WAS FREE!!!! No nasal spray at all (not even in the morning!), neti pot twice. I couldn’t believe it!
Now I am currently on Day 9 (Sunday) and have not used nasal spray in over 4 days. I feel great! I’ve been using the neti pot twice a day, but could probably cut back now.
If you want to try it yourself, here’s what you’ll need:
• $15 - A neti pot, or bottle or some other method of sinus irrigation. I used the Sinuclease Neti Pot. There are other brands. And Sinucleanse also has a bottle version called the Squeeze, which I didn’t try. CVS and Eckerd carry them. Also you can order one online.
• $7 - An extra box of at least 40 refill packets.
• $10-$15 - Lots of Kleenex. I went through 5 boxes in 4 days! Get the nice stuff with lotion. I didn’t and my nose was sore by day 2. But I dabbed on some Neosporin and lotion and survived.
It’s best to do Days 1 and 2 at home, or somewhere where you have a private bathroom/sink area. If you can do Day 3 at home too that is even better. I think the key was doing the neti pot every 2 hours for 2 days.
It was such an easy process, no congestion, no suffering. It was actually a pleasant, peaceful process, almost like a healing. The first dose was rough, but after that it was easy.
That’s it! Good luck! Keep reading if you want to hear how truly addicted I was, but it’s similar to many of your stories… (I’m really long-winded so I thought I’d get the important stuff said first). I’ll post the rest of my drama in the next message.
August 18th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
My story, continued…
You have to reach rock bottom before being willing to pour salt water straight up your nose. I hit rock bottom, so I was willing to try anything – no matter how unpleasant or unconventional. Anything, that is, except not breathing. I knew I couldn’t quit cold turkey. My doctor told me a year ago to quit cold turkey, and I was angry. I have enough stress in my life without the added stress of not being able to breathe. I kept telling myself “Not breathing is not an option”. So I tried all kinds of other ways of quitting, and it got pretty crazy.
I was a nasal spray addict off and on for 20 years. It got worse and worse, especially in the past 2 years because I started working in a “sick building” with recycled air. Previously I had quit nasal spray twice, but relapsed both times. The first time I quit with the Medrol Dose Pack, the second time I tried Medrol but it didn’t work, so then I tried taking 20-25 generic Sudapheds (phenylephrine) a day (the limit is 6). Was able to quit the second time. Relapsed again. Tried both the Medrol (didn’t work), and then the overdosing on Sudaphed again (didn’t work this time). So then I took it to the next level. I started self-medicating to dangerous extremes… I would literally take 1 Zyrtec, 2 Claritin-D, 2-3 Drixorals, and up to 15 generic Sudaphed (phenylephrine) every day! I called it my “molatov cocktail”. Plus nasal spray every 1-2 hours!!! Oh and I had to take 4-6 benadryl to get to sleep because I was so hyper from the other meds. And the last couple weeks before quitting, it got to the point where just squirting 2-3 sprays in each nostril didn’t clear my nose! I would have to spray a few times, try to inhale, wait a couple minutes, repeat. All this while standing in a bathroom stall at work so no one would see me. It was pathetic. I had heart palpitations (pounding heartbeat) and dizzy spells from too much medication. I was having nose bleeds almost every day because my nose was so dried out from overdosing on decongestants. And I couldn’t sleep. I was also irritable and downright bitchy.
All that drama wasn’t rock bottom for me. I was still using nasal spray despite all of that. Rock bottom (aka. the last straw) was when I BROKE A BLOOD VESSEL IN MY EYE because I was so congested and desperately trying to inhale nasal spray when I couldn’t even breathe. This was 11 days ago. I remember standing in a closed bathroom stall at work shooting nasal spray up my nose and it wasn’t working. I was so congested that I couldn’t even inhale the nasal spray. I felt like crying. This process went on several times throughout the day. By the end of the day I looked in the mirror and my right eye was pink, and it had a dark red streak across it. I had a subconjunctival hemorrhage in my eye. Because of nasal spray.
2 days later a friend told me she saw a TV show about the neti pot and people said it changed their lives. (I never fessed up to anyone that I was a nasal spray addict, but I told a few people I had allergies.) When she told me about the neti pot, I immediately looked it up online, then ran out to the drug store and bought one. And that was DAY 1. Saturday. The rest is history. It’s the best $15 I ever spent.
Am I going to relapse again? I’m not worried this time. Because it was such an easy process to quit. I know that if I get a really bad cold and just have to use nasal spray for a couple of days, I know I can immediately get off it with help from the neti pot.
And of course, I am going to visit an allergist this week for a consultation for allergy shots, to finally treat the underlying problem. Also I just started Flonase and it seems to help. But honestly, now that I’m off nasal spray, I’ve realized my allergies are not nearly as bad as I thought they were. The real problem was the nasal spray addiction.
That’s my story. I hope it helps.
Good luck everyone! There is hope! You can do it!
August 19th, 2007 at 10:22 am
Lynn’s story continued, part 3!
Oh and just one last thing…I should add that during the first 4 days of my detox, I was using generic Flonase (fluticasone) twice a day. I’m not sure how much this helped. I don’t think it had much impact, but wanted to pass that info along. Important note: if you are using Flonase, use it AFTER neti so it doesn’t wash out.
August 19th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
Lynn -
That is an amazing story. You’re the first guest that I’ve had give such a detailed account with the Neti pot. I remember being so congested that I can’t even imagine any water penetrating my nasal passage. How did you manage to get any water up there?
August 31st, 2007 at 3:50 am
Hi.
It has taken me 2 days to read all of the replies on this site which I found after being miserable for weeks with a sinus infection (I think).
I am in the UK, we don’t have Afrin but Vicks Sinex is (was) my drug of choice (oxymetazoline is the active ingredient).
I have always had trouble with my nose, I have a tiny nose and very small nostrils, so that even a normal cold can cause my sinuses to swell so completely shut that I cannot even sniff or get any air at all through my nose.
I am a claustrophobic type person anyway, I hate anything over my face, near my throat or my nose and mouth, so having a cold or sinus infection is one of my worst expereinces. I feel on the verge of panic, my heart races, and I literally feel like I am going to die.
A few years ago I had a really bad cold and was WAY overusing the Sinex spray, and ended up having a terrible reaction to it, almost collapsed and ended up in hospital. The doctors had no idea what was wrong, my heartbeat was over 200bpm and blood pressure sky-high, I knew it was due to the Sinex but I was too embarrased about my abuse of the drug to tell them. Eventually, I was sent home and somehow got over the next weeks or so without it.
I have still used it for colds etc since then but have always been able to come off it when I felt that my nose was clearing.
This time, I have had a sinus infection for 2 weeks and was beginning to use it far more than I should have, and seeing the warning signs (having to use more and more, the Sinex not working as well as before, going shorter between doses etc) I have stopped using it for the past 3 days and have been miserable.
The bottle has been standing on my bedside table, staring at me and taunting me, it is pathetic but I need to take it to bed with me just so I know it’s there if I need it, but so far I have been able to use Olbas Oil (menthol oil) to make me feel as though I am taking something.
Today, I can breathe about 75% through both nostrils, so hopefully I am over the worst. I am going to try and never use the Sinex spray again, but I can’t quite bring myself to throw it away, which I suppose speaks volumes about the depth of addiction that this stuff really has over me.
The horror of not being able to breathe through your nose is very difficult to explain to someone who has never had it. They say things like “just breathe through your mouth” which is fine, of course, for about 2 minutes and then you start to panic that you cannot breathe through your nose, in my case the congestion was so bad that my ears would completely clog too and every time I swallowed my face felt like it was going to explode.
I now have a tremendous fear of anyone breathing near me who looks like they might have a cold, it is pathetic but I will try to avoid ever being around ill people so that I don’t catch it. I now have a 1 year old daughter at nursery who is always picking up colds and it is a real worry for me.
Anyway, I have rambled on enough, just wanted to say i admire everyone who is going through this, good luck to you all.
Louise
September 4th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Hi, well been on 4-way nasal spray for years. Getting real bad now cant go more than two hours without it. No sleep ear aches just sick of it so hard to stop. What to do?
September 10th, 2007 at 11:06 am
I’ve been using Afrin numerous times per day for as long as I can remember. I’m 31 and SO very sick of being dependent on this stupid little bottle all the time. After reading this site a few days ago, I decided to quit. Easier said than done, however, as I’m sure many of you will agree. Right now I’m in the midst of Day 4, having only allowed myself one shot of Afrin just before bed each night. I had hoped that after a few days of this I’d be able to begin weaning myself off of the nighttime dose. That doesn’t seem to be happening however. The only improvement I’ve seen is the vicious headache of the first three days has subsided, however I’m still almost completely blocked. Sudafed, benadryl and claritin have done little to help. Breathe right strips allow a little air movement, but not enough to even dream of going to bed without my one beloved dose. I only have one more day before I go back to work so this has GOT to improve at least a little or I’ll have to throw in the towel and try another method. PLEASE someone convince me not to run into the bathroom and snort afrin to my heart’s content!
September 10th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Greta dont give up im still working on it may take a long time but, im gonna keep trying Lisa
September 10th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Don’t do it Greta! In two to three weeks you’ll be rid of the stuff forever. If worse comes to worse, can you get to an ENT for a Prednisone prescription?
September 10th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
I plan to go to the ENT if I don’t see improvement, but I didn’t want to wait a month for an appointment. In any case, I’m so glad I didn’t cave in, because today has been a little better. I took a 12 hour time release sudaphed (which I don’t normally do because it has so much pseudoephedrine I feel like I’m tripping out, but desperate times call for desperate measures) and on the advice of some other commenters I went out in search of a netti pot. Didn’t find one, but did find one of the squirt-bottle variety. Waited for a relatively uncongested moment and tried it out. It feels very WEIRD, but not bad. My nose was actually a little stuffier temporarily afterwards, but for the rest of the day I’ve felt clearer. Don’t know if it’s the new decongestant, the squirt bottle thingie or just time, but at least I feel like there’s some headway being made. I’ll check in again to let you all know of my progress.
Lisa, its been a few days for you, how is it going?
September 11th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Well im doing ok just doing one side at a time find myself trying to keep busy so i dont dwell on it. Keeping busy means eating more I will be done with nasal spray but be 100 pounds heavier lol.
September 13th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Well coming up on day 4 with no spray on the left side and it has not been too bad stuffed up but it helps to still have one side i can breath out of. Wish me luck
September 15th, 2007 at 9:12 am
OK, I made it a week. It seems like day 4 was the hump I had to get over, and things have been improving slowly since then. I have been doing a sinus rinse one or twice a day and it seems to help. Daytime isn’t bad, I’m usually clear all morning. Evenings, however, are still very stuffy. I probably should quit my glass of wine with dinner and see if that’s the problem. I’m still on one shot of afrin right before bed, but I’ve been making it through the night with no problems that way. I think in a few days I’ll start doing only one side before bed.
September 16th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Greta -
I have always found that I get really stuffy after having a beer or two, so you’re right, you may want to try dinner a couple of nights without the wine and see if that helps.
September 18th, 2007 at 4:57 am
Hi.
Me again.
Had a relapse after my husband came back from a business trip abroad with a stinking cold, which I have now caught.
I feel even worse than the las time and have been using the Sinex spray but am trying to limit it to only one nostril at night to allow me to sleep, needless to say I am keeping my husband up with snorting and sniffing every 5 minutes.
Please tell me, does the one nostril approach for weaning yourself off the spray REALLY work? I ask because, when I use the spray in my right nostril, the left will sometimes clear up a bit too - is there a connection between the two sinuses, and if so, does this not mean the old one-nostril trick is useless?
Please help. I have ordered a saline spray and some Sudafed oral decongestant tablets to help me over the next week.
One more question - do oral decongestants like sudafed (pseudophedrine) cause rebound congestion too? Is it safe to take them?
THANK YOU SO MUCH
LOUISE
x
September 23rd, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Hi,
I have been reading all of these posts for some words of encouragement. I used generic afrin for the last 3 1/2 years. I started using it when I was pregnant because I was having problems breathing. Most nights, I would use it before bed and then not again until I woke up the next morning or on the way to work. I knew that I could make it 12hrs without using it. This past week I had just had enough. I was so sick of being prisoner to that bottle. On Friday night @ 10pm I used the nose spray for the last time. Of course Sat was horrible. It felt as if someone had poured cement in my nose. I went to the store and bought saline spray, cough drops, benedryl and Sudafed PE. Sat night was by far the worst, I was not sure that I would make it. It is now Sunday evening @ 8:30pm and it has been nearly 48 hrs. I will tell you that I feel much better. I can actaully breathe through my nose. Yes, my nose is sore and even swollen, but I feel much better. Quitting cold turkey was the only way for me to go. So far, so good. It is very difficult, but well worth it. To all of you who are trying to kick this bad habit..I truly wish you the best of luck.
September 24th, 2007 at 4:43 am
Wow I searched for “addiction to nasal spray” and I’m amazed what I found.
I feel an instant bond with all you guys…..thank you SO much.
I think I’m “almost” addicted….I have been using it for maybe a month or less, but have not been able to skip a night. I only use it once per night, before sleeping.
Tonight I’m in Sydney for business and didn’t bring it on purpose, but ended up buying another tonight.
I have an addictive personality (don’t ask….long story) so I have a bad feeling about this.
Any ideas how to nip this in the bud easily? I identify with the claustrophobic/nightmare feeling when I can’t breathe through my nose….
Hugs,
Damian
September 24th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Hey again.
Am finally getting over the nasty sinus infection with antibiotics and have managed to not use the spray for the last week with the help of oral decongestants.
I’ve been using SUDAFED. I find the PE version useless, the phenylephrine one is crap. If you get the old kind, the pseudophedrine HCL, it is much much more effective but you will probably have to ask for it over the counter because of new pharmacy restrictions on pseudophedrine HCL (it is abused and used to make methamphetamines).
Anyway, try the 12 or 24 hour Sudafed, it does help along with saline sprays and plain old Vicks vapour rubs.
I think I am over the worst, I can breathe through my nose most of the time again but one nostril still invariably stuffs up at night time or when I lie on one side, but I hope this will also go soon too.
Good luck to you all, I will keep checking in with the forum to see your progress.
Louise
x
September 30th, 2007 at 9:43 am
NutiBiotic Nasal Spray has been the answer for me! It has GSE (grapefruit seed extract), and when used, I can feel the congestion literally melt away almost instantly. I had suffered through the physical and financial woes associated with constant sinus congestion for years. In fact, was scheduled for sinus surgery when I providentially came upon this nasal spray on the internet. I subsequently cancelled the surgery. I have been clear for over 14mos, and it even works with a head cold! It’s funny, I work at a hospital, and when I see my ENT in the hallway, he routinely asks me if I am still “open”. When I reply in the affirmative, he shakes his head in disbelief. I think the next time he asks, I will show him my bottle of Nutribiotic. (Ingredients: Deionized water,glycerine, gse 0.1% and sodium ascorbate 1.5%.) I would be interested in hearing from others if this works for them. I can’t help but buy this product for everyone in my sphere of influence!
Jesus saves! Veronica Bradshaw
September 30th, 2007 at 10:03 am
I forgot to mention, this nasal spray is non-addictive. Over the past 14 mos, I have gone up to 3 mos without using it, and had zero congestion. I am able to use it “as needed” without any problem whatsoever. It’s difficult to recall, but I think in the beginning when the sinus problems were severe, I did use it multiple times a day, every day for a few weeks to a couple months. Gradually I even stopped carrying it with me, and would forget to use it, because the problem resolved.
I found this product at our local healthfood store; the prices on the internet are quite a bit lower. I noticed today that the price on the internet through VitaCost has gone from $2.50 a bottle to $4.99 a bottle, so sales must be up. Word must be getting out on this great product. I hope you find freedom from this quality-of-life-sucking addiction, as I have…
In Christ, Veronica Bradshaw
October 8th, 2007 at 6:16 am
I have been addicted to nasal spray for 3 years, I will not name a brand for legal purposes but I will tell you it’s the kind that has the extra menthol kick that other brands don’t have. I have been using it every night in order to sleep knowing it was possibly harmful. I have had nose bleeds as well. I knew this problem was getting out of hand when each time I would go to the doctors office I would have a sinus infection and pressure behind my ears, every time I was prescribed an antibiotic and it did help somewhat but my sinus infection always came back. I don’t have allergies. I could never kick the habit of having to have my nasal spray by my bed at night and when the bottle was lost or misplaced I would go into a fit and freak out like an addict. About 2 months ago I had an onset of motion sickness, the whole dizziness along with the feeling nauseous. I couldn’t get up and walk without being physically sick or tipping over. I was out of town and went into a clinic and was diagnosed with Vertigo which is basically motion sickness in which the doctor gave me a prescription for which I learned later was basically Dramamine. I took it 3 times a day along with some old antibiotics that were left over from a past sinus infection (this is not recommended) It took me 3 weeks to finally get over this “spell” in which I was bedridden and yes, still using my nasal spray.
Just recently I had been feeling the motion sickness/vertigo come back and decided to tell my doctor about my spells of vertigo while I was having my yearly physical she checked my ears and nose and told me “wow you have so much pressure in your sinuses and ears I can’t believe it!’ of course I was too embarrassed to tell her I was addicted to the nasal spray. I was infected once again with a sinus infection, in which I had no clue. I was not stuffed up at the time and didn’t even have a cold. She said that when pressure builds up into the sinuses and the inner ear it can actually break the delicate bones in your ear and cause vertigo. So now my little problem of using nasal spray only 1 time a day is not so little. Not only is it harmful to your nose/nasal passages it can cause so much damage you have to have surgery to put your inner ear bones back together. She wanted me to have a scan of my head and I told her I just could’nt afford it right now. She prescribed me a heavy dose of antibiotics and a steroid nasal spray in which she warned me it would take a while to work. I knew I had one chance to cure this, once I took the antibiotics I could never take one spray of my over the counter nasal spray again or I would be back to square one. I knew it was going to be hell but I had comfort that I would have the steroid nasal spray to use, I just had to wait for it to kick in. The 1st night was awful I was congested, couldn’t sleep. I finally took a OTC oral decongestant (the kind the pharmacists have stashed behind the counter) and it worked enough that I could sleep. The 2nd night I used my steroid nasal spray and woke up congested again but a little bit better than the night before again I popped the OTC oral decongestant and went back to sleep. The 3rd night, used my steroid nasal spray and slept through the whole night without any pills, I was so excited! Now keep in mind I have been on 3-4 days of heavy duty antibiotics that are probably taking effect now. Each night it gets better. Less dizziness and nausea. No more nose bleeds! I am convinced you have to have the combo of the steroid nasal spray AND the antibiotics at the same time to cure the nasal spray addiction. I know I will never be able to go back to using nasal spray even for bad colds. I hope I have not permanently damaged my inner ear bones and my nasal passages which will require surgery and hope I wont have to live with vertigo forever. I will continue to finish my antibiotics and steroid spray and will let you all know how it goes. Nasal spray addiction is serious and no one should hesitate about talking to your doctor about it.
October 12th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
I’ve read all the replies - all good info - I’ve used Otrivan for 10 years - limited at first but at the “addicted ” level the last year - went to the allergy doctor and severe allergy to duct mites etc..but travel alot and can’t commit to twice weekly shots - so the question is …so what … I squirt 4-5 times a day - including before I go to bed and wake up - it relieves the pressure and I can get on with life - without it - well you all know what it’s like - why I’d like to have a perfect clear sinus passage - I doubt that will happen due to my allergies - so unless there is very convincing data that shows that my nasal spray ranks up there with Crack and booze as being bad for you - I see my spray as a diabetic sees their Insulin
October 16th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
A warning: Mucinex has come out with a new nasal spray. You’d think it had to do with getting the mucus out of your nose, right? Wrong! It’s an evil, addictive nasal spray without anything to loosen or remove mucus. It’s an addictive turbinate shrinker. Same ingredient as our evil friends. To quote:
“INGREDIENTS, Mucinex Nasal Spray, Moisture Smart, 0.75 Oz:
Active Ingredients:
Oxymetazoline Hydrochloride (0.05%) (Nasal Decongestant).
Inactive Ingredients:
Aloe Barbadensis Powder, Benzalkonium Chloride Solution, Chamomile Flavor, Edetate Disodium, Glycine, Polyethylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Purified Water, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide.”
Beware!
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:29 am
BGM…….you should just read the post above you I think.
Update from me…..I am free. As I said in my posts above, I was only starting to get addicted, so I just stopped.
Amazingly, my nose cleared up within a couple of days and has been fine ever since. It was the evil spray that was causing the on-going problems. I will never use that junk again.
Damian
November 9th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
You guys are hysterical! LOL! We sound like a bunch of coke addicts…”toot, blow”, etc! We could start our own N/A support group- nasal spray anonymous! You’ve all given me hope to kick the addiction! I’m going to try the 1/2-1/2 solution and the one side at a time trick. And no more using during the day. Only at night to sleep. Hopefully will be successful. Have been hooked for about 10 years, but only use 1/2 a toot a day, and another 1/2 toot at night. One bottle lasts me months. Don’t anyone give up hope. If people kick meth, we can kick this! Besides, I have to…I’m preggers!
November 11th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
I was addicted to Afrin for 15 years. What a nightmare I lived through during that time. A doctor gave me Astelin about 11 years ago. He said it contained a steroid (I know someone elsewhere here said it didn’t but that’s what the dr told me). It was bitter so I was instructed to not tilt my head back when taking it. The Astelin finally got me off Afrin; however, after a 15 year addiction there was lasting damage.
My passages are still blocked (daily), but now where near the degree they were before. During the day, I’m about 40-60% blocked most of the time (due to constant presence of mucous) and at night when I lay down, it goes up to about 95-100% blockage (i.e., no air flow through either nostril). I learned about nasal strips about 10 years ago and use them every night. Have not missed a night in 10 years. They open my nostrils (note: not sinus passages)enough to where at least one nostril will allow enough air in to breathe and allow me to sleep. Every once in a while even using the strips doesn’t help. I am so totally clogged that they are useless. At those times, I sleep in my Lazy Boy chair because it’s adjustable and can keep my upper body elevated, which allows me to breath just fine. Problem is, I can only sleep about three hours in that chair.
Anyway, the reason I’m here is because I was hoping to find out if Mucinex was addictive. Quite frankly, the commercials are so gross that I have never given this product any thought. But it occurred to me the other day that since my problem is obviously free-flowing mucous (there is no doubt lining damage in my passages, but the problem sessm to manifest itself as mucous), maybe I should give it a try. But…I wanted to make sure that it wasn’t addictive. I wondered if it was really Afrin with an updated name. Not going back there.
Btw, Afrin should be dispensed via prescription and monitored. I’m not much for government control of substances, but if anything qualifies, surely it’s an addictive product like this.
So…anyone have any luck with the product that has a gross commercial (Mucinex)?
Thanks…
jc
November 12th, 2007 at 9:30 am
JC -
I don’t know about the addictive properties of Mucinex. I’ve only used it once or twice during a cold.
But have you tried the netti pot? Maybe your sinus passages need a good cleansing?
November 12th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
I don’t mean to sound naive, but what is “netti pot?” Guess I can google to see what turns up.
Thanks…
jc
November 17th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Hello to all Nasal Spray Addicts, Recovering and Using…
WOW! Where to begin…First of all, THANK YOU !! You’re stories have given me hope. I have had this Nasal Spray monkey on my back for 24+ years (1983). I used the stuff with Oxymetazoline HCL.(We should all be chemists by now)
I, too, have the same stories as most of you…Carrying that damn honker everywhere, keeping spare ones in nightstands, or the car, my desk drawer at work, hell, I even have one in my friggin’ toolbox in the garage.
One time, about 12 years ago, I remember cleaning out an old bureau, and found almost 50 empty bottles of that stuff in the bottom drawer.. I’ve had the nosebleeds(none recently, thank god), headaches, ears blocked, you name it, I’ve been there.
Any way, About 2 years ago, I decided screw it, I’m going Cold Turkey. It was winter, and I had been laid-off from work, so I figured, might as well kick this while I don’t have to work. I went on the internet and started reading all I could find. One study said 97% of people with this condition who try to go Cold Turkey simply can’t do it.
Well, I went 8 Full weeks with almost NO improvement, particularly on my left side, and limited relief on my right. I was amazed that I wasn’t seeing any real improvement after all those weeks. My right side opened up when it felt like it, with no rhyme or reason. At first, it made me feel like I was coming down with a cold or flu, feeling run-down and with no energy. I wasn’t sure if it was the withdrawl from the spray or not.
Finally, after 2 months of this, It broke me, and I started using again, but just in the left side.
I then ended up moving from Massachusetts to California,
but the change didn’t make any difference.
My right side started closing up again, so at present,
I am using in my right side about 2 X every 24 hrs., usually at night, so I can sleep. My left side is hopeless,
It is perpetually blocked at about 80-90% all the time.
I have to tilt my head back, squeeze my nose closed, and push air into my sinuses to open them up briefly. Then I spray 3-4 times into it, to get the spray into my sinuses, before they slam shut again.
If it weren’t for my partially open right side, I’d be so miserable that I’d probably go crazy.
I have to ball up tissue paper, and stuff it up my nose, to keep it from running 24/7. However, I can’t do this at work, so I suffer all day long with a stuffed-up, runny nose.
I plan on seeing an ENT in December, when my health insurance kicks in. I think a big dose of Prednisone and some other meds will be the only thing that will work for me.
It is an understatement to say I am so tired of being miserable, I am years beyond this. Every day brings another day of nose-wiping, tissue-stuffing misery. Every night,I wake up at least twice, with a least 1 sinus filled with head-throbbing cement. I sneeze constantly, which only worsens my symptoms. It’s packed so tight, if I tried to blow it, I get 1 or 2 blows, then it clamps shut.
I may try to get some decongestant pills, but when I tried Sudafed a couple years ago, it made me jittery and restless.
At this point, I’ll try about anything.
I don’t know how many of you have suffered these symptoms, or for how long, but I need some serious help.
Any ideas?
November 18th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
Wow, Jeff! What a story. One bit of advice: when you go to see your ENT print out your “story” as above and give it to them at your first appointment when you hand in your patient information sheet. My ENT was very grateful for having a descriptive history.
I was on it for almost 30 years but cut it in half for about the last 10. That helped. I’ve been off it for almost a year now. I breathe wide open during the day but at night I’ll block up on one side usually once or twice. I usually have to get up at 4 or 5 AM, drink some grapefruit juice, shoot some saline spray, and put a bit of Vicks or Mentholatum around the outside bottom of my nostrils. Then I can sleep again.
I’ve tried most of the “natural” nasal sprays. None really help, and some have alcohol or benzalkonium chloride in them. The alcohol will burn the bejeebers out of your nose.
The ENT didn’t really help much. Told me the turbinates were what was swelling. Tried a steroid nasal spray along with Astelin but neither really helped. Astelin helps with pollen or dust in the summer. They also gave me a saline nasal wash bottle system by NeilMed which works well. Comes with salt packets. These are also useful to make saline solution and put into a round nasal spray bottle (like Astelin or Nasalcrom comes in). I make it up using a bottle of Aquafina water.
Another thing is dryness. Try getting an ultrasonic humidifier (Walgreens $29) and filling it with distilled water. Use it in your bedroom and also inhale the fine mist before bed. It helps me. Good luck!
November 20th, 2007 at 6:56 am
My name is Scott and I’ve been using and abusing nasal spray for at least 15 years now (I am 37). I started when I had a cold and childhood allergies and haven’t been able to put it down since, spraying nearly every half hour every day. I’ve been wanting to get off of it for a while now but lacked the willpower to give it a serious effort. Finally, yesterday I got to work and I was tired of how it made me feel, tired of worrying where it is, tired of making sure I have one at work and one at home and tracking the amount left in each bottle, tired of the panic attacks if I can’t find it or am nearly out, so I decided to do something about it. I did an internet search on nasal spray addiction, not expecting to find much, and was blown away by what I found. When I found this site I wanted to cry because I saw myself in every single one of your posts. After reading most of this page I stopped at KMart on my way home and purchased nearly every item that you all said has helped you. I also decided to do the one-nostril-at-a-time method as I figured it’d be easier to sleep and an easier transition to a life off this junk. I was kind of stuffy and miserable at work and by the time I got home I was just exhausted. I was dreading the night, hoping I’d get to sleep. At 10:00pm I took a Tylenol PM and used a breathe-right strip on my nose and got into bed. I actually fell asleep fairly quickly (it usually takes me a while to fall asleep). Usually I wake up 4, 5, sometimes more times per night to spray and always feel ehausted in the morning no matter how much sleep I get. Let me tell you, I had one of the best night sleeps I’ve had in a LONG time. I think I only woke up twice, once just to pee. I sprayed the one nostril during the night once or twice. When I woke up just before 6:00, my nose was actually clear. The nostril I DIDN’T spray was actually MORE clear than the other one. I didn’t feel tired. This is the most refreshed I’ve felt in I don’t know how long. It’s close to 24 hours since I’ve sprayed my right nostril and right now it’s not too bad. I can’t believe that after only 1 day of cutting my use in half how much better I feel. I can’t wait until I can get through a 24 hour period without spraying either nostril!
I want to say a thank you to everyone on this board for helping me through this. By no means have I beaten this yet, but I feel you’ve given me great guidance on how to get through this. You’re all inspirations to me and I hope I am strong enough to follow your examples.
November 21st, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Scott, I was reading your story and can so relate! It has been two months since I have used nose spray. What a great feeling:) Just a little advice for you…For about 2-3 weeks after I had stopped using the nose spray I used Simple(Simply)? Saline nose wash every am and every night before bed. I feel that it really helped to heal my nose. It almost felt like I had chemical burns in the inside my nose. Anyway, hope that helps! Stay strong, you can do it and will be so glad that you did. Good Luck!!
November 21st, 2007 at 9:17 pm
The one that helps me most is a squeeze bottle nasal wash (works better for me than the neti pot) that I got from my ENT. Made by Neilmed. WalMart now sells this item. I also use the small saline packets to mix with Aquafina for a perfect saline solution. I fill a pump nasal spray bottle with this. An inexpensive but perfect nasal moisturizer.
http://www.neilmed.com/
November 25th, 2007 at 8:16 am
Well, it’s been almost a week since I’ve decided to get off the nasal spray. I have to admit, day one was easy. Each subsequent day after has been harder. Man, this stuff just owns me. I haven’t slept as well since that first night, and after not using it in one nostril for about 3 - 4 days I’ve ending up spraying just once per night in my “cold-turkey” nostril just to sleep. My nose hasn’t been runny, just periodically blocked. I’m trying my best not to spray but I’m giving in now and then. I have an appoinment with my family doctor on Wednesday. I think I’m going to need medical help with this, because I can’t do this on my own. I will look for the saline spray you mentioned, thanks for the tip.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Where`s my trophy? I`m 63 years old and been using this poison since I was 12. That`s got to be a record. After numerous GP visits and several ENT trips, I decided to try one more time. This Dr. gave me a 90 mg. shot of prednisone in the hip and 60 mg.of pred. for 5 days, 40 mg. of pred. for 5 days, 20 mg. of pred. for 5 days. After a terrible couple of days, I opened up so I could breathe. By the end of the prednisone treatment, I was 90 % o.k. He gave me some Astelin to use if I thought I needed to use it. I did not use it for several months because I didn`t want to risk having a relapse. The fall of the year is always worse for me, I guess because of the extra dry air and the crap floating in the air. So I used some Astelin and some saline solution. After using these it seems like I was worse than before I used them. I looked on the label and they had a common ingredient which is BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE. After researching this, I found it was a preservative that is very addictive and can cause a rebound effect just as bad if not worse than the oxymet. I had been using for 50 years. Needless to say, I don`t squirt anything up my nose anymore. Hope this might be a help to someone out there.
November 26th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
K.V. -
WOW! Yes, you definitely get the award for longest addiction to nasal spray.
If only more people knew about benzalkonium chloride being a major culprit in congestion, they could greatly speed up their recovery process.
I wish you the best of luck. If you ever need feel like you need to “shoot up” come back and read these stories, and then maybe you will find inspiration to not use ever again!
Jim
November 28th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
I have read some of the stories here, and can understand fully what everyone is going through. I have been a user for over 17 years, but have been clean for the last 6 or 7 months (almost sounds like were talking about hard core drugs here, but sometimes that is the way this addiction makes me feel). My problem is that most ppl say that this really can’t be an addiction, but yet I still want the feeling that I would recieve from a quick puff up the nose. It is like the nasal spray is my form of comfort. You know how some ppl smoke or drink, I would turn to the white and purple Afrin bottle. I can remember when I would scrap change together to go buy a bottle when I was out. And like Scott in the comment above mine, I had one in my room beside my bed, in my purse, in the car, and where ever else. When I would use the spray it would make my head feel clear, and after reading some of the comments here I will be doing more research about the drug in the medicine and it’s effects on the brain. I pushed to stop using when my ENT told me that the inside of my nose was damaged, and if I had a serious hit to the nose there would be no way to rebuild the damaged bone and tissue inside. After reading the blog above with the lady who is been using since she was 12 and is 63 now, what are the long term effects? For the past 7 months I have little or no energy, and I am sick and tired of being this tired? Does anyone have any suggestions on how to help me at all? Right now I really want to go buy a bottle, but I know I can’t stop in three days.
November 29th, 2007 at 9:27 am
Update - I went to my family doctor, who I really trust and can talk to about anything,and I think he’s able to help me. He gave me Allegra D (the “D” is basically Sudafed)and Nasonex and recommended Simply Saline. He told me to use the Neo Synephrine only before bed and try not to use it during the day. I think it’s working better than I hoped. I haven’t sprayed at all since 1:30 this past morning and I’ve been able to hold off off since. My only worry is once I run out of the Allegra-D, will I still be clear? My nose is still totally dry. Hopefully the saline will help with that.
I too have wondered about the long-term effects. To K.V. Deaton, the poster above who’s been using for 50 years, what problems have you encountered? How is your recovery going?
November 29th, 2007 at 10:58 am
Hi all,
I had been addicted to Otrivin on and off since I was a teen. The longest I went was probably 8 years of addiction. I used it probably about 8-10 times a day and throughout the night.
Like many of you, I got sick and embarassed of having a bottle everywhere and checking to make sure I had one when I went out, etc. Luckily, I never had the problems some of you have experienced with runny nose, it not working at all, plugged ears, etc. It always did the job.
I got off the Otrivin about two years ago using the titration method. I did an internet search and found the site that sold their own product using this method (can’t remember the name now) and thought seriously of buying it. I’m glad I didn’t now after reading some of the comments from here. I did my own with 0.9% medical saline and figured out the “percent solution” so I went from 100% of a 0.05 % solution of Otrivin down by 10% every week. I did both nostrils at the same time as I’d tried the cold turkey in one nostril and found it hell. This worked very well for me.
Oral decongestants never worked in any way for me, regardless of what brand or strength. Now, when I get a cold I must admit that I do use the Otrivin but I am VERY careful with it and have not had a problem coming off it again. I have the same panicky feelings as some of you when I’m totally blocked.
For those of you who truly want to end this addiction you will find a way, believe me. Good luck to you all.
November 29th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
I been off of Afrin for over a year, and still have an occasional stuffy nose. I too was a user and when I decided to go cold turkey, it felt like I was addicted. With the help of an ENT doctor, nasonex and an occasional decongestant had helped me. Even though I have been off of the stuff, I still have remnants of mild damage that this Afrin did to me. Good Luck to all who have been through this. It can be very frustrating.
November 30th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Scott,
Concerning the long term effects. I`v probably lost 80% of my sense of smell, and suffer a chronic sinus infection that I can never quite shake. I get tempory help from mixing 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. baking soda with 1 & 1/2 cup of water that has been brought to a boil and allowed to cool. Use a rubber bulb like you use to clean out a babies nose and irrigate each side of the nostril.
In addition to my nose spray addiction, I have rheumatoid
arthritis. Which is an autoimmune disease that in my case is accompanied by Sjogren`s Syndrome pronounced (Show-grins). This problem attacks any bodily funtion that procuces mucuous, namely eyes, mouth, and nose. In the last couple of months it has gotten quite a bit worse.
At the present time, I`m battling a bad cold, which along with the withdrawal from nasal spray and the effects of the
Benzalkonium Chloride that was in the Astelin and the saline solution, I`m having a grand old time.
As rough as it is, I haven`t used any thing, even an oral decongestant. I first went to the ENT, Dr., the first of March `07. After the 15 day treatment of Prednisone, I did not use absolutely anything until about a month ago. I was really doing quite well, until I began to experience quite a bit of stuffiness. So to be quite honest I`m not sure which is the worst culprit, the ill effects of the Benzalkonium Chloride or the Sjorgens Syndrome which can make your nose extremly dry. I`m not sure when you use nasal spray for any length of time, if you ever completely recover from the use.
I sometimes wonder how many people would share in a class action law suit against these drug manufacturers. There are more people out there that are suffering from this addiction than you could ever imagine. I have told my kids and grandkids if they ever buy a bottle of this stuff, I`ll come back and haunt them.
Everybody hang in there ! ! !
December 24th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
I’ve had alergy issues for a few years now and about three months ago I turned to OTC nasal sprays b/c it was the only thing that seemed to give me any relief. What a terrible mistake that turned out to be. After 3 months use i’m in much worse shape than I ever was before. I decided to do some research on kicking the habit and that has led me here. I never realized just how many people suffer from OTC nasal spray addiction. I’ve made the decision to kick this habit now before I do any more damage. Since the holidays are here, I will wait to do this after so I don’t have a miserable Christmas. But boy do I have a New Years resolution. I will beat this.
January 11th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Hi All.
I have been “using” nasal spray for almost 3 years now. I have actually kicked an addiction to illegal drugs and sometimes, I feel like this ADDICTION to nasal spray is harder!! I use it many times each day and night but STILL wake up with a totally clogged nose and dry mouth from snoring all night. Finding this web site is amazing. I was so tired of hearing people say “just STOP using it and you’ll be fine!” HAHA If only they knew!! I think my first step will be trying one nostril at a time. Atleast when I was in rehab I couldn’t relapse…this time, its different. Wish me luck!!
Alaina
January 11th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
good luck alaina. It will take alot of patience and then it gets better. see an ent doctor becuase they can help you with your stuffy nose.
January 16th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Thanks Michele. This is hard!!
January 16th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
As an Afrin “Addict” for over 30 years I finally managed to kick the habit almost 10 years ago. I used to go through 1 to 1 1/2 bottles per week, and I had them stashed everywhere including my desk, my car, and scattered all around the house. As an allergy sufferer with a severely deviated septum I had 10 years of allergy shots, 2 septoplasties and a turbinectoby (reduces the size of the bony ‘turbinates’ in the nasal passages), and I was still addicted to this stuff. I never went more than 1 or 2 hours without it ever, including getting up in the middle of the night to take a few hits. It was always worst at night and I could never, ever sleep without it under any circumstances.
Finally, after suffering in silence (and shame) I approached my doctor (the beloved, late Dr. David Russell of Boston), and he worked out a regimen that finally freed me of this horrible addiction once and for all. Here is what he gave me:
1 10 day regiment of prednisone
1 bottle of Flonase (aka Fluticasone)
10 days worth of Antibiotics (I forget which kind)
10 days worth of sleeping pills (Temazepam, aka Restoril)
The first 3 days sucked, but I was able to get through them, and the sleeping pills made me sleep at night despite my clogged nose. On day 4, I started having periods when I wasn’t clogged at all. By day 6 I was clear most of the day. By day 8 I was clear all day and some of the night. By day 10 I was clear all the time, day and night.
That was more than 9 years ago, and I’ve never relapsed. I still take Flonase daily, and I sometimes take an allergy pill (Allegra) or an over the counter Sudaphed, but I only use Afrin on the very, very, very rare occassion when I have a severe cold. And I never use it more than once every 48 hours as I fear becoming readdicted.
So there is hope for all of you. If I can do it, so can you. If you’ve tried and failed before, please speak to your doctor, and be completely truthful with him or her. If your doctor won’t prescribe you what you need, then I suggest that you get another doctor who will. Do NOT wait as this problem only gets worse with time. There is help out there, and there is hope, and most of all, you are not alone. There are lots of others out there just like you who understand your pain, and understand your frustration.
Now if I could just quit smoking cigarettes I’d be all set
Good luck, and god bless.
Rich W
January 17th, 2008 at 2:43 am
Hi everyone. I never thought this many people were having same problem as I.
I have been addicted to this stuff for last 10 years. I have been having on a nightmare some times here and there about what if some body duck tape me at the crime, or forgot to pack my spray, lost a bag where I stuff extra stuff when I go on a trip outside of u.s. and how I would have to have my family member fedex me the stuff and etc. (not likely I would forget to pack it though. I make sure that before passport) And today, it hit me when I ask my daughter to bring my ‘chi-chi’ from upstairs so I can spay. It’s bad!!!! My todddler girl would fetch it for me with just nick name!!!! Then and there, I went into online and found this site.
I read all these testimonies and laughted and cried. Oh gosh. I am going to have to do this. I want to have another child and I do not wish to use this stuff when I am pregnant.
I am going to go for one side at a time and also going to go see a specialist tomorrow morning. Wish me luck! I know i need it. I will keep u updated.
January 17th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Hello fellow nasal addiction strugglers! I got an upper respiratory infection the week before Christmas ‘07 and used Afrin (for the first time in my life) for about 7 days despite the 3 day usage limit. I was also on Amoxiccilin antibiotic for about 10 days. After this 1 week of Afrin use I knew I was addicted because i was using it every 4-6 hours to get any relief. Idecided to use Sudafed for the next 7 days to get off of the Afrin (the behind the counter Sudafed is all I can take since I am 6 months pregnant). The Sudafed took 3 hours to kick in and only lasted 3 hours and caused me to have insomnia for the entire week and landed me in the hospital with fever, dehydration, and tachycardia (my resting heart rate was 120’s-140’s). I think this was just exhaustion building up from my sleepless sudafed week. Nonetheless they put me on z-pack antibiotic for a sinus infection and I was back to using the Afrin again just to get some sleep. I purchased the rhinostat system but it doesn’t even work for me at full strength so I can’t imagine diluting it daily to wean off. I saw an ENT last week and he gave me steroid nasal drops and another round of Amoxicillin antibiotic. I followed up with him January 15th with no improvement and still using the afrin about twice a day. He then ordered prednisone and gave me Nasacort AQ and Nasonex which are both steroid nasal sprays. He just said use one and when it was gone to start the other one. He also gave me a saline nasal irrigation kit which I haven’t used yet. I am hesitant since the directions say to put it in your nose and let it drain out of your mouth. The prednisone has helped and I am O.K. during the day but I still have to use afrin before bed in order to get any sleep due to the increased evening and nighttime congestion. My prednisone is done tomorrow and I am already fearing the worst because without it I am sure that I will turn back to using afrin more than just at night. Does anyone know if my nose will heal with just a nighttime dose and then maybe decrease from there or am I causing just as much damage using it only at night. My ENT said it looked like someone let a grenade off in my nose because there was already so much damage from just 2 weeks of Afrin overuse. I am constantly worrying that I will never get over this and it feels like all I am doing is waiting to get better and it is never going to happen. I don’t think that I have the willpower to quit cold-turkey and I feel like no one else understands what I am going through except for you awesome people on this site who can relate. People don’t understand that it’s not just a “stuffy nose”. It is a much worse congestion that goes up into your eyeballs, changes your voice, and even affects the way your food tastes. Someone please give me some more advice. My ENT wanted me to contact him today if I was not improved and I think I will call him just for the fact that I have still not been able to totally kick the afrin despite the prednisone and the Nasacort AQ. Thanks for listening. You guys are my inspiration!!
January 17th, 2008 at 10:11 am
By the way- I was actually able to sneeze yesterday for the first time in a couple of weeks. Is this a good sign or just another bit of false hope?
January 17th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Hello everyone,
this is my first day off the “juice”. This stuff is so bad I wish it would just go away. I bought a neti pot yesterday and it worked well last night. This morning my nose was so clogged up that the saline would not go down my nostrils. I think i should of started this on a weekend that way I could be home to use the neti pot every 2 hours. We will see how this goes.
January 17th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Hi~ I went to go c a doctor this morning and got steroid nasal spay. I am not sure if it works yet. But I am doing it one side at a time and it is woking good. I took claritin-d and I think that helps the most. Left side that I am not spraying afrin is not even half way open but it feels good! Though My doctor told me to stop using my steroid spay when I find out if I am pregnant. He is my family practitioner so he also knows that I had pretty low blood presure during pregnancy. So He said it is ok to take cleritin-d during pregnancy but told me to just watch out.
Oh, this is for Bobbie above me….
I am sure it’s different with every doctors. But My doctor said that he rather have me use afrin than steroids nasal spray during pregnancy. At least it doesn’t effect on baby if u use afrin. And try different medications after u give a birth to your child. (it is bad enough during pregnancy anyway. )Good luck!!!!
So, last night was the first night without a afrin on one side. It was fine. I slept about 6 hours.
January 18th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
day 2– neti pot this morning worked a lot of better. For me just doing one nostril with the neti pot is working better.
I did have to get my “fix” yesterday during work. Im a loan officer and not breathing or breathing funny infont on clients was not an option at that point. I have no appointments today so hopefully I can stay clean. The weekend is here so I can really get into doing the neti pot every 2 hours. I think that will help a lot.
I will update you guys on Monday to see how everything goes.
Have a good weekend everyone.
January 18th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Day 2 of no Afrin and I feel like the prednisone is really my lifesaver in this process. Followed up with the ENT again today and he extended the prednisone for 5 more days at 30 mgs daily. Although I am 6 months pregnant I did get approval from my ob/gyn for the prednisone. Her response was that it was just as safe to take when pregnant as it is if you aren’t pregnant. She reminded me that if a woman is in preterm labor they actually administer steroids by injection to help the baby’s lungs, bowels, etc. to develop.
I was able to sleep for about 5 hours last night and the funny thing was that I didn’t wake up due to congestion-it was nerves that wouldn’t allow me to rest comfortably. I just laid there waiting and wondering when I might become blocked again and the misery that would accompany that congested feeling. Funny thing is I didn’t really get congested until late morning/early afternoon and it didn’t last more than an hour or so. I have to work 2 12 hour shifts this weekend so I just hope that I can stay well rested and not become exhausted to the point that I feel like I need to poison my nose again just to get some rest. I actually have confidence in myself this time and this is the longest I’ve gone without afrin and I think I could talk myself out of using it just knowing that if I used it I would have to start the whole process over again at day 1.
I have so much respect for everyone here who has kicked or is in the process of kicking this nasty addiction.
January 18th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
By the way the ent told me today that the inside of my nose is pale blue in color from the damage the afrin caused (mind you I’ve only been using for 2-3 weeks)! I assume that once the healing process takes place it should turn back to the pink color it should normally be (?)
January 19th, 2008 at 2:25 am
Yup…I used to rely on OTC sprays like Afrin or Vicks Sinex a LOT until I learned my lesson. Now I use them rarely if ever, and ONLY right before I go to sleep, so I usually sleep through the worst of the rebound congestion and can give my nose a good blow in the morning to clear it.
January 23rd, 2008 at 11:49 am
My regimen and progress thus far…
Tues. 1/15= 60 mgs prednisone and 3 squirts of afrin in each nostril before bed.
Wed. 1/16= 40 mgs prednisone and 2 squirts of afrin in each nostril before bed.
Thurs. 1/17= 40 mgs prednisone and no afrin.
Fri. 1/18= 30 mgs prednisone and no afrin.
Sat. 1/19= 30 mgs prednisone and no afrin.
Sun. 1/20= 30 mgs prednisone and no afrin.
During the above days my congestion seemed to be dissipating and I was able to sleep 5-6 hours intermittently throughout the night (propped up on the couch of course)!
Mon. 1/21= 30 mgs of prednisone and no afrin.
For some reason I could only sleep for one hour monday night. I don’t know if this was just my hump day or what but it was awful and the congestion seemed to be the worst that it has been throughtout this entire process.
Tues. 1/22= 30 mgs of prednisone and no afrin. Was still pretty congested throughout the day Tuesday but was able to get 5-6 hours of fairly unclogged sleep Tuesday night (still on the couch none the less)!
Wed. 1/23= 30 mgs of prednisone and no afrin so far. This is the last day of my prednisone therapy and I have a follow up appointment with the ENT this afternoon. Will give an update of my progress after my appointment (hopefully there is some progress to report).
I have also been using 2 squirts of Nasacort AQ in each nostril before bed but I have read about the preservative BKU that is in it and I think I will quit taking it because of the rebound effect this preservative supposedly has. I also use a saline nasal flush and simply saline every once in awhile. I try to use the nasal strips if I get clogged at night but they are very uncomfortable on my skin and for some strange reason they usually open my left nostril up more but cause the right one to slam shut.
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:53 pm
bobbie:
it takes alot of patience for rebound congestion to go
away. Try steaming your nose with hot water from a kettle or take a hot shower and stay in there. it does help. I went through it and being on nasonex does help me. I am alot better, but i still get lingering congestion when allergies flare up.
January 28th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
been clear for 5 days now. the first couple of days with the neti pot seemed like a waste but i kept doing it and then all of sudden my nose started to clear up. i can breat about 80%/40% and its getting better. Yesterday was the fist day without getting any headaches.
My advice is go out and buy a neti pot. After several years of addiction I feel that I might be free at last.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:29 am
OK- it has been 2 weeks since I have officially used afrin and i am still extremely congested at times during the day and pretty much all night. Now I am getting severe sinus headaches too. I have been using the neti pot since saturday and started using sinus buster today and neither are doing much except causing more frustration for me because it seems like nothing is working!! I am so close to giving up and going back to afrin-I don’t know if nothing is working because I am 7 months pregnant and maybe my hormones are out of whack.
I am debating on whether to just throw the towel in and try to quit after the baby is born when my body (and mind) are back to normal. I hate to come this far for nothing but the prednisone didn’t even cure the rebound and that is supposedly the best and easiest way to quit afrin!!
By the way- as if all of this isn’t enough to deal with- I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes today at my ob appointment.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:34 am
Bobbie -
I am sorry to hear that the Afrin is still troubling you.
Before giving up, I’d ask your doctor what she/he thinks. If the stress from being congested all the time is causing your blood pressure to rise, then by all means, stop. But if there aren’t any side effects other than the major discomfort of headaches and stuffiness, I’d hate to see you come this far only to back out.
First and foremost, do what’s right for your pregnancy. Consult your doctor.
February 2nd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
bobbie:
Go to an ENT(ear, nose and throat guy), he can best help you and will know what to do since you are pregnant. You have swollen nasal passages and you might need a spray that helps congestion.
Good Luck and let us know what is happening.
February 7th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
I wrote in back on December 24th about my nasal spray dependency. I decided then that I was going to attempt to kick the habit but I waited to do it until after the holidays for obvious reasons. I actually did not go cold turkey until a week ago. But leading up to that first day of cold turkey I decided to start making myself wait longer and longer between uses to see if it would help once I did stop using it all together and I believe that it did. Once I did stop using it completely it took about 5 days before the severe 100% blockage subsided. After that I finally noticed some movement. I started using a neti pot once I had some movement and that helped me a lot during the day. I chewed a lot of gum for the dry mouth during the worst times. Sleeping came in short periods for the first few days but eventually I got more used to the dry mouth. I kept bottled water next to the bed. Now here it is 9 days later since cold turkey and I’m almost completely back to normal. It’s a great feeling my friends. All together I was hooked on the stuff for about 5 months. I know that is nothing compared to some of you. That’s a good thing though because I probably saved myself some serious if not permanent damage. I did notice during the month of January that I had lost most of my sense of smell. I think that scared me more than anything. I walked in to a Boston Market and as I was standing there I realized that the wonderful smell of comfort food was missing. To someone reading this right now who is where I was just a couple of short weeks ago. You CAN beat this. It may seem impossible now because it most certainly seemed that way to myself, but now I see that it only took unwavering determination from me. There were times that I wanted to give up but now I am so glad that I didn’t. So stay strong if/when you decide to kick the habit cold turkey like I did.
February 8th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
I discovered this site the other day when I finally made the decision to kick this dependence out the door. I’ve been using nasal spray for 4 years now (I’m 26).. and as of recently i was up to 5-6 times a day. And that was stretching it out as long as I could. Over a month ago I got a bad ear infection that was treated with two different antiobiotics (cipro, and biaxin). The infection finally disappeared but the pressure/plugginess (is that even a word?) persisted along with worsening congestion, and horrible pain shooting through the left side of my mouth. the epiphany that happened somewhere within the fog (along with some research
), helped me to realize that the nasal spray was causing this.
Fast forward to yesterday when I found this site. I decided that I would give weaning one nostril at a time a try. Lastnight I was able to sleep okay, waking up with pressure on the one side a couple of times. Sprayed one side again in this morning. Started stuffing up a couple hours later and got that panicky/trapped feeling. There was no way I could quit this way.. and cold turkey was completely out of the question.
This afternoon was dooms day… where I finally came clean about my heroine…. I mean nasal spray… addiction. My dr sympathized with me and prescribed me Avamys spray (steroid) as well as the newish Atrovent nasal spray (dries out your sinuses). She told me that she’s had tonnes of patients in the same situation and that one lady in particular has tried several different things and hated them all. Until she was convinced by the dr to try Atrovent. Apparently it’s a newish spray. She said it is the only thing that has ever worked for her.
When my dr prescribed them to me she said that it would take a good two weeks for it to finally work, and that the Atrovent wouldn’t clear me up anywhere near what the evil Otrivin did. Thinking I’d just have to be miserable for a few weeks until it worked, I took my first dose of each med at 4pm today. It’s now 11pm and my nose has never been more clear. It’s like a frigging miracle!!! I have never been happier! Maybe this won’t last, but I am sure hoping like hell that it will and that once I am off these meds I can breathe freely without ever having to touch a bottle of liquid evil for the rest of my life.
So… please be encouraged. If you’re looking for something to help you ask your dr for Avamys and Atrovent. It’s absolutely worth a try!! I will update on the progress in the next couple days once I really know if it has worked or not.
Good luck everyone… I really really hope you call find your answer soon. This is such an aweful and debilitating addiction to live with.
February 9th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Also, to anyone thinking about trying sinus buster to help kick the OTC nasal spray habit, don’t waste your money. I ordered it and tried it many times before I decided to just go cold turkey and it never helped. At times I felt like it even aggravated the problem and, on one occasion, I accidentally sprayed the crap into my eye. Good times ensued.
February 11th, 2008 at 2:32 am
OMGoodness Im sooo glad I found this site. I have been a “oxymetazoline freak” for the last 12 years (Im 30). I really thought I was the only one.
I live in New Zealand and the ‘evil’ spray equivalent to Afrin here is Drixine, anyways because of hayfever allergies when I was pregnant I used the nasal spray and next thing you know I cant live without it, I overlooked the “use for no longer than 5 days”.
I can relate to the leaving bottles all over the place, kitchen, car, bedstands,drawers etc and that terrifying panic that comes when Im about to run out and i got no money till the morn or cant find it and start ripping everything up just to find it, looking for an open chemist at 2am and if that was a no go Id try my family and friends all to their disapproval of course. Even friends I hadnt seen for years would see me pull it out my bag and shove it up my noggin they’d be like “you still on that crap??”
Anyways I am on DAY 2 (well 30hrs) of using the one nostril at a time method and I cant believe that I didnt do this years ago. I sprayed my last spray up the “cold turkey” nostril at 2pm and by 10pm (8hrs later) my head felt like it was going to expolde on one side with a mild headache (I can only imagine going cold turkey in both nostrils at once, I couldnt do it, its enough to discourage anyone very scary scary feeling)
Ok so it was time to go to bed and I was SCARED, woke every hour on the hour with anxiety and a pounding heart and had to pray for the strength to carry it through to the morn coz I nearly gave up twice, my nostril was 100% closed and the pressure in my head was unbearable. I got up bout 5am ready to give in but instead started kick boxing and drinking lots of water, well drowning my self with water and come 7am POP!! OMG I can breath 50% through my “cold turkey” side. WHAT!! who would have thought it was this easy. I am totally ’sold out’ on this method, still early days yet for me but Im sure it only gets better??
There was a point today where my cold turkey side was actually clearer than the one I was still shooting up, prompting me to squirt more up it lol
There is something about vigorous exercise and plenty of water that seems to speed up the “unblocking” process.
I must admit though the first 12 hrs was the worst and I nearly gave in twice but I drew my strength thru my main man Jesus Christ and I stuck through it, someone said earlier that they felt like someone filled their head up with cement, you are so right about that feeling.
NOTE: I am doing the “one nostril method” with NO other oral decongestants or natural sprays just complete cold turkey. My opinion is that they could actually make the process worse or prolonged, I mean after 17 hours of taking my last dose I am now breathing 50-60% on my own, I am no longer uncomfortable since the POP this morn what would I need those other decongestants.. and its a wonderful feeling to breath on my own even if only at half pie and I cant wait to see what day 4 has in store.
IT WORKS!! we can give up, NO CRAP!!
February 11th, 2008 at 2:40 am
Praise God!!
February 11th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
well guys its been 25 days since I’ve last used afrin and I am still miserably congested most of the time.
I was put back on prednisone but this time on a 4 week taper and I can hardly stand the awful side effects from it.
I have seen 5 different ent’s, have had a nasal endoscopy at the hospital and am still getting nowhere. I do know that my inferior nasal turbinates are extremely swollen and it’s like I am trying to breathe out of slits in my nose and the ent’s assistant said it was a wonder I could breathe at all (and I wasn’t even that congested the day of the scope).-they let me see the pictures after the encoscopy which was really freaky to actually see how swollen I am. I now have a left nasal septoplasty (for a deviated septum), and a right inferior turbinate reduction surgery scheduled for May 1st with an ent. Hopefully I won’t really need the surgery when it comes closer to the date. I am still hoping and praying to heal on my own from the evil afrin. Several doctors have told me that this is also hormonal and the swelling is caused from being pregnant which I don’t buy since this is my third pregnancy and I have never experienced this before. I am using nasacort aq nasal spray which is a steroid spray and I think it works but not for long.
My biggest concern is that I can barely get any air through my nostrils while being on prednisone (which is an antiinflammatory) I don’t even want to imagine how blocked I will be when my prednisone decreases this week. However like I said the side effects of the steroids are awful and it might be nice for my body to feel normal again after the steroids are done even if my nose is still congested.
My anxiety is through the roof and I just don’t know how I am going to get through another 2 months of this misery!
February 11th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Hi there Bobby Have you tried the one nostril method?? I wouldnt recommend going cold turkey in both nostrils it will discourage you big time. Then you will go out and look for a doc to prescribe other things to “help” combat the congestion other ways (that DONT work) and you will go on a never ending cycle of it NOT working for you. You dont really need all that other stuff it actually prolongs your healing.
NOTE: There is no diff between oral decongestants and nasal spray they both do the same thing (but nasal is quicker and better), they both constrict the blood vessels, BUT we want our body to do this on its own so if you use oral decongestants its NOT gonna help you off Afrin I was ready to go out and buy Sudafed 12hr in the worst part (first 12hrs) but am so glad I didnt. It s a lie you really dont need it.
Remember docs dont know everything so we cant blame them or get frustrated at them, we are the guinea pigs and the stats will soon prove that cold turkey in either one or both nostrils is the BEST way to do it.
OK Day 3 (45hrs) OMG I accidently sprayed half a squirt up my cold turkey nostril arrrrrgh, the anxiety I felt from that was worse than the actual blockage anxiety. Went to blow it out my nose but it didnt come, please dont tell me I to have to start again?? Seems to be ok though.
Before the accidental squirt: Last night got to sleep really well but woke this morn with my cold turkey side blocked up again, so straight away got up and started kick boxing LOL within 30mins my nose was back to 50-60% clear, phew lucky, then I got stressed for a moment (not over nasal spray) and without thinking sprayed up the wrong nostril. Arrrgh..
Will keep you posted with my treatment.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Hi there. My name is Joe (all: hi Joe) andd I am addicted to nasal spray.
My Mom always had it around the house when I grew up. She and my Dafd used it in the morning. When I was about 14 or 15 she showed me how to “get really good squirts” up in my nose as I had frequent colds and allergies. As a matter of fact I used it before I made out with my girlfriend so I could kiss and not come up for air. Well I am 43 now and still using it it regularly, several times a day. I always have a backup in case and my wife makes sure I have some around. We have been married for 11 years and been together for about 16 years. She has helped me to got to several ENT’s. First they tried the whole Flonase thing - nothing. Then I had a turbinectomy on one side. After actually recovering from the surgery the stuffiness (or should I say the complete nasal blockage) continued for months forcing me to get back on the sparay. I’ve used prednisone (not just for this but other injuries - broken limbs form a mororcycle accident) as well as at least 10-15 times over the years for sinus infections/blockges causing my ears to block up or get infected. I am a musician and an audio engineer and this has been an incredibly horriffic thing to go through. I lost 90% of my hearing in 2005 and had to get tubes put n my ears. My hearing returned within 30. minutes of the surgery only to find that I could hear no bass frequencies. After 3 weeks they were removed and all my hearing returned. All as a result of this drug. My children go to find my spray in the house as they know I can’t work or gig wiothout it. I always wake form 1 to 3 times per night to re-charge. I have developed serious sleep apnea as well. The snoring is so bad I cannot sleep with my wife anymore. It has been about 2 years. I MUST sleep on a couch where I can’t roll onto my back and I can keep my head relatively propped up. If not, I gag, choke and stop breathing for up to 60 seconds. This occurs about 40 tmes per night. (results from a bevy of sleep studies) I was prescribed a C-PAP whcich is device that forces air into the lungs while sleeping. Because my nose clogs I cannot use the nasal version and the mouth version makes me choke and wake up. I have tried cold turkey and allergy drugs numerous times. The results are day after day of incredible oxygen deprivation headaches rivallin migranes and hangovers. I also even hold my breath when I am awake because it is too damn dufficult to breathe. I have never had relief going off the spray - even for up to a month. What works? Lots of water/liquids - sleeping upright or on a couch - steroids - excersize - avoiding dairy products, wine and beer. Caffine helps. Being in hot, dry climates (Like PHoenix,AZ) helps. Sleeping 4-5 hours per night is better than 8 because it is literally less time fighting for air. Also, (this is stupid) sleeping with a piece of gum in my mouth seem to help by generating saliva and lessening the swelling in my nose. (Told you it was stupid.) As far as products, I buy generic store brands (Rite Aid, CVS) and NOT Afrin. Afrin is too expensive and really burns and/or makes my nose more irritated. Oh yeah, I forgot about the nose bleeds. they occur often in dry winter months or when I blow my nose too hard. However a good long bleed opens my nose for hours. (Stupid & sick.) The nasal spray also raises my blood pressure and makes me more irritable at times. The bad part is sneaking to the restroom during a dinner with friends or a meeting to get a “Hit.” So that’s my story. Not interested in getting any treatment anytime soon becasue I am busy writing music and performing (and breathing.) I wish everyone the best of luck. JS
February 12th, 2008 at 2:13 am
Joe S -
Wow, that’s an amazing story.
While you say you’re not interested in getting off the stuff, let me make a brief recommendation; give the CPAP another try.
I use to get severely congested anytime I would fall asleep especially on my back, and my loud snoring could wake anyone from across the room.
I was a prescribed a CPAP _WITH_ a built in humidifier and it has honestly saved my life. I crank up the air pressure and the humidification as high as they will go, and they slowly but surely open up my passages as the night goes on. If I am really stuff due to a cold or something, I will add a little bit of Vicks Vapo Steam to the water.
Like yourself, I use to get oxygen deprivation headaches but no longer with the CPAP. I didn’t realize it over the years but I had STOPPED DREAMING, literally! Only until I got my CPAP did I begin to have intense dreams once again.
Maybe you were just prescribed a crappy CPAP? Your sleep apnea will eventually kill you. Try different masks. Get a humidified CPAP. Add some Vicks Vapo Steam to the water. Just don’t give up. Quality sleep is attainable without the waking up every four hours for “a hit”.
Jim
February 12th, 2008 at 2:25 am
When you say you have tried cold turkey does that mean one or two nostrils and more importantly did you use anything else to help at the sametime?
February 12th, 2008 at 4:49 am
bobbie, I have to say your story is very similar to mine. I am 6 mo pregnant and started using the Mucinex spray last month after I came down with a cold. I used it for maybe 4-5 days. Got better and had no problem. Then a week later I got another cold and started using the Mucinex again. Today is the 7th day that I used it and I am absolutely convinced I’m addicted. My last dose was around 2:30pm. I have been up all night long. I have been to the doctor twice. Today he prescribed me Nasonex (which I’m fearful of taking 1) because I’m pregnat and 2) what if I get addicted to that too?
I just can’t believe this has happened to me after using it for only 7 days. 4 days longer than recommended. Well, my husband poured the rest of it down the drain and I will never use it again. I’m so afraid of the damage that I’ve done to my poor nose. Unfortunately, the Nasonex doesn’t even start working for a few days.
I don’t know how I’ll get through this! I have a note to excuse me from work tomorrow and Wednesday, but after reading alll these posts I doubt that’s enough time to heal!
February 12th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Correction: the Dr. gave me Flonase, not Nasonex.
Well, it’s been about 19 hours since I last took the Mucinex. I can breathe so much easier when I’m standing up and moving around. As soon as I sit down it gets very congested again. I called out sick from work for the rest of the week so I can suffer in the privacy of my own home. I’m hoping that 6 days will be enough to recover from this.
I am beyond pissed that there aren’t more serious warnings on the packaging of these products.
February 12th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I reakon, these companys are away laughing with our moneys. Its just wrong, they know we are gonna get addicted before we do.
February 12th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
27 hours after my last dose of Mucinex and I’m doing really poorly. My nose is SOO congested and it doesn’t get better anymore when I walk around.
I’ll be taking my second dosage of Flonase in a few hours.
Looks like I’m going to be up all night again.
Does anyone know how long typical rebound congestion lasts before it wears off??
February 12th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Are you doing one or two nostrils??
Day 4: Wow its nearly been 72 hours since I stopped the spray in my right nostril. Apart from accidently squirting a half dose up my nose yesturday thankfully it didnt make any diff and I am continuing to get better and better.
Took the advice of a previous post, did my kickboxing and swallowed heaps of water, I then slept propped up on pillows, its wasnt that bad!! I didnt have complete blockage either bout 30% clear now at night an 60-70% during the day. Things are looking up.
Im starting to wean my left nostril already too by going as long as I can without shooting up, its great to notice that when the left nostril spray is wearing off my cold turkey side is clearer.
I must admit Im not too keen on the first 12hrs of weaning myself of the last nostril, esp if it is going to be anything like the first night arrrgh.
February 12th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I completely stopped the Mucinex (both nostrils) on Monday.
It’s been about 32 hours now. I *think* the Flonase might be helping. My left nostril is completely clear but the right is still clogged. I was able to sleep from about 7:30pm - 11pm tonight.
I’m hoping a few more days and I’ll be back to normal!
February 13th, 2008 at 11:31 am
It’s been about 46 hours since my last dose of Mucinex spray and I seem to be better today than yesterday. I am still congested though but it’s not like concrete like it was the first 24 hours.
I was able to sleep most of last night. I think my Flonase is helping the swelling and if it’s a lot better tomorrow I will probably head back to work.
This rebound congestion has been soooooooooooooooooooo horrible. I really regret ever using that spray! UGh!!
February 13th, 2008 at 11:48 am
also, bobbi, you questioned the nasal congestion thing in pregnanat women. I went to my 28 week appt yesterday and when I mentioned my rebound/spray congestion to the NP she said “nasal congestion is common during pregnancy especially during the 3rd trimester. It’s due to an increase in the hormone estrogen.” So, maybe this will give you some hope that the congestion you (we) are experiencing is also due to being in our 3rd trimester. I also didn’t experience this lovely side effect with my first pregnancy but I had some things with that one that I haven’t had this time so you never know!
February 13th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
This is how I got addicted, 12 years ago in the last month of my pregnancy I got a cold and the rest is history.
DAY 5 - Still using spray in right nostril but going as long as I can inbetween sprays. In the cold turkey nostril im 40% clear at night and 70% clear in the day
Im NEVER putting that crap up my left nostril again for the rest of my life!! if I get a cold or allergies Im just gonna suffer with it, its just not worth getting addicted to this crap again.
February 13th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
I know how you feel Michelle, and I only used it for a week!!!
I’m even nervous to take the Flonase but know that it’s not the same as Mucinex and you can’t develop a tolerance for it.
51 hours after my last dose of Mucinex/2 doses of Flonase so far - I’m doing a LOT better. Sitting down/upright is the worst and the heat makes it bad too. When I’m standing up/walking around the congestion is almost non-existant. When I lie down it’s great. It must drain to another part of my head when I lay down so thankfully I have confidence that I’ll be able to sleep tonight.
Hope I continue to improve. My doctor suggested continuing the Flonase for 2 weeks but I’m hoping to stop after 1. I want to see how things are when I’m not on that drug.
February 13th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Oh, and I did a little searching today on Google to see if I could find out the “typical” length of time it takes rebound congestion to go away and found this: http://health.howstuffworks.com/question546.htm
And if you are tolerant, don’t worry–it’s not permanent. If you quit cold turkey, the changes that your body has made will eventually be reversed in a couple weeks to a month.
bobbi, you mention that 25 days later and you are still suffering. The above says it could take up to a month and that’s quiting cold turkey. If you are still using it even in one nostril or a diluted dose, this may explain why you aren’t recovering as quickly.
February 14th, 2008 at 6:15 am
Hello everybody!
Wow, I thought I was the only person that is dependent on nasal sprays! It is a real problem, but no one talks about it in public. It seems so innocent…just a nose spray right?
6 months ago I started to use Vicks Sinex for a cold. And kept using it, even when I wasn’t stopped up just for that fresh, menthol feeling. When my last bottle lasted only 2 days and my ears started to hurt I knew I had to quit.
SOOO today is my first day, and this is worse than any cold I ever had! Hope I can do it, 12 hours without and I’m already tempted. But I will stick to it like all of you guys! Good luck to everyone!!!!
Pavlina, Czech Republic
February 14th, 2008 at 6:17 am
This is funny…nasal spray info
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtaKTtZdq3o
February 14th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Almost 3 days since I stopped taking Mucinex spray and I’m finally feeling A LOT better. I even think I can return to work tomorrow.
My nose still has moments where it gets a little stuffy or even runny. Last night was tough, I was completely congested on one side while I was sleeping. I took some Sudafed and for the first time in weeks it actually worked.
This whole rebound congestion experience has truly been hellish and I will NEVER use that stuff again. Not even for the recommended time period.
February 14th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
BIG TIP: DO NOT CRY!! you get the mad congestion hahaha
February 14th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Oh yeah, I learned that the hard way. Crying induced the WORST congestion ever. I thought I’d pass out from lack of oxygen.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Hello everybody,
I have a remedy I discovered myself that has helped me and quite a few people I have told it to.
I, also was addicted to OTC nasal spray from 1978 to 1996.
I started with Neo Synephrine which is 4 hour spray for 2
years and then needed Afrin 12 hour spray when the 4 hour was not enough. I squirted three bottles of that evil crap up my nose each week. I saw ENT doctors on quite a few occasions with no luck. They told me I needed to quit it cold turkey and use Flonase. Like most other sufferers,I couldnt get past the first night without relapsing.
A few months later I used the Flonase as directed, once in the morning and once before bed. Then I used Afrin as needed. within 2 to 3 days, I found myself needing the Afrin less and less. By day 4, I threw the Afrin away for good. I used the Flonase until the bottle was empty.
That was 1996. When I did this, I was never heavy headed of congested. It was painless.
Recently I posted my story on a few forums and I got a handful of email responses. I have already helped a few people kick the Afrin habit. Im in the process of writing an E-book about it and making a website. Email me if you are willing to kick and I will give you more detailed instructions. Maybe this will put Afrin out of business! LOL!
February 19th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
My email is autobodywizard@yahoo.com
My website is www.offafrin.com
February 20th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Just to clarify a few things about my afrin withdrawal….I haven’t used it in either nostril since January 17th. Someone on this blog gave me the peculiar advice to use it in only one nostril to wean myself off of it but that seems to defy the purpose of not using it in either nostril for over a month now. Wouldn’t that just make me go back into further rebound congestion by getting the one nostril re-addicted to the afrin when neither nostril has had it for over a month?? I absolutely refuse to use afrin at this point at any strength or amount (diluted or 1 nostril) after being strong enough to not use it for this long!
My sinuses are nowhere near completely clear but when I think back to using afrin every 4 hours and then being severely congested after using it and needing it more and more that makes this congestion not so horrible because I am rarely 100% stuffy like I was when I began to experience rebound congestion.
Everyone is different and certain things may work for some and not for others. That is the beauty of this site so we can all offer advice and support to one another and try to help each other through this horrible experience.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:20 am
That could have been me?? but I meant, do one nostril at a time from the beginning of treatment NOT if you are halfway through your own treatment. Unless of course that is not working??
February 26th, 2008 at 3:19 am
OK, so its been 2 weeks since I sprayed up my left nostril and am about 70% open most of the time.
At this stage the worst things for me I have found is No.1 DO NOT CRY!! lol im congested on and off throughout the night while sleeping, humidity (i think it is) the real hot and muggy weather that is about to explode and rain, that sux!! (end of summer here in NZ)
I must say I can now see that I have muscles moving in my legs. Thanks to all the kickboxing I have managed to tone up a bit. There is hope lol
To tell the truth though Im not to keen to start on my right nostril yet, will wait till my last bottle has run out.
I have dramatically reduced the usage of my spray in my one nostril. I usually go through a 15ml bottle within 3-5 days, 2 or 3 days when sick or have allergies. After a week I still have half a bottle.. Who hoo now the chemist can stop seeing my face as often and the companys dont get my money. Things are looking up!!
P.S I LOVE the feeling of the cold turkey nostril feeling really clear when the spray nostril starts to wear off..
Yay!! nostril is working all by itself. Also to know that after 12 years the spray will NEVER go up that nostril (and soon the next) as long as I live..
February 27th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Well I am down to only 10 milligrams of prednisone daily until monday march 3rd then down to 5 milligrams then hopefully off of it forever because sometimes I am convinced that the steroid side effects are worse than the congestion ever was.
I am convinced that my nose is returning to normal because a month ago I was on double the steroids and could only breathe about half as good as I can now. I think it’s safe to say that throughout the day I am more clear than stuffed and I stay pretty clear throughout the night. If I am stuffy in the middle of the night I get up and use a couple of squirts of simply saline and about 10 tissues and that seems to do the trick. Saline spray never worked for me until about a week or two ago. I used to wake up stuffed and have to find something to do for about 3 hours until the congestion subsided enough for me to lay back down to get the rest of my sleep for the night. I am still using nasacort aq in the morning and at night and that seems to help quite a bit too.
I still have a left nasal septoplasty and right inferior turbinate reduction surgery scheduled for may 1st but if my nose keeps improving and i am “naturally” back to normal by then maybe i can cancel the surgery.
I guess I’ll finally find out in a few weeks if any of this is pregnancy related (which many doctors told me it was with the increase in hormone levels )since i am 33 1/2 weeks pregnant now. I keep joking that I am going to be more relieved to deliver this placenta than the poor kid himself just to get my hormone levels, and myself, back to normal.
Not that there is any good time to be addicted to nasal spray or to withdraw from it but when you are pregnant your body is already going through so much and it just sucks to put it through anymore than it already has to go through.
March 5th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Well, I got the flu and bad cold two weeks ago and started to use Vicks again and didn’t stop since!
So I will try to quit again after my b day next week, wish me luck!!! (and pardon my english)
Pavlina, Czech Rep.
March 7th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Tell the truth I actually like just spraying up one nostril still have the same bottle from 2wks ago.
Very rearly use it now and nostril without spray is finally 90% clear after 4wks.
Just waiting now till bottle is finished to complete the process of weaning myself off this oxymetazoline B..@#$%!!
March 11th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Well I am now on 5 milligrams of prednisone and can breathe pretty good most of the time. I am 35 1/2 weeks pregnant now and am having an amnioscentesis done on the 17th of march so the OB can check fetal lung maturity. If he’s got developed lungs then I will be induced if not we wait another week. I am anxious to find out once delivering this baby if my congestion will clear since so many people have said it is hormonal due to the pregnancy. It would make sense since I have not used afrin since january 17th and am still suffering from congestion even with 8 weeks of prednisone therapy. I will keep you posted.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Like everyone else here I’ve been hooked on Afrin for about 1 1/2 years. I started using it when I was pregnant with our 2nd child because I had a horrible cold and couldn’t breathe. 2 weeks later I was still stuffy and went to the Dr. only to be told I was hooked on Afrin. Recently, I went to the ENT and he gave me some Nasonex and a prescription for Prednisone. I tried the Nasonex first. It did help. I was down to using Afrin just 2 times a day. Once in the morning and once at night. But, I was still using the Afrin. Today is day one of the prednisone. My nose is a little stuffy, not too bad. But, I know the afrin will clear it up. Only 2 more hours until another dose of prednisone. I’ll stick it out and see what happens. Maybe I’ll try some Nasonex to see if that will help. Hopefully this will clear up the addiction. What horrible stuff. Fortunately, the Nasonex really helped. I went from using Afrin 6 or more times a day and constantly sneezing and having a runny nose to just twice a day and no other side effects. Good Luck to everyone and I’ll keep you posted.
March 22nd, 2008 at 10:07 am
Well guys, I’m on hour eleven of “cold turkey”. I’m 100% blocked and have been since about midnight last night. My sinuses are pressing against my ears everytime I swallow, which is annoying, but not that painful and pretty easy to get rid of. I hate that I am on a weightlifting kick and I can’t breathe well enough to workout. Oh well, if I stick with it, I should breathe well enough on my own without the darn little white bottle.
I figured it was time to give up the stuff when it stopped working - I would have to use it constantly and it would only unstop one side of my nose at a time and only for (maybe) half and hour! So, last night, I poured it all down the sink.
Luckily, I was actually able to get about four hours of sleep. I had to constantly get up to get water for dry mouth. Word to the wise - brush your teeth constantly: saliva helps rebuild your teeth and prevent dental carries, if your mouth is dry, you’ll cause damage to your teeth.
I feel okay and, at least, I don’t have a headache (yet). So, wish me luck! I hear that the first three days are the hardest and SOME relief comes after day four with the real relief starting at day five and six. I hope that’s the case with me! I don’t think I can stand a full two weeks of this, much less a month.
I think I’ll try walking and maybe doing some push-ups later… I don’t want this to interfere with my life any more.
I’ll keep you all updated!
March 22nd, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I’m on hour 19 now and the only thing that can clear my nose is a walk! It works! I called my ENT and he says that it actually makes perfect sense:
1. The gravity allows the sinuses to drain and the blood doesn’t pool in one are
2. The body doesn’t know the difference in walking for recreation and walking away from danger, so it considers the blood demands of the working muscles above that it uses to re-supply the nose passages
3. The shock from the feet hitting the pavement can help break the congestion
I’m going for a walk before bed!
March 23rd, 2008 at 2:36 am
So true about exercise!! but the more vigorous the exercise the quicker at unblocking.
2mins of kickboxing will do me!!
March 24th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
I’m at a little past 68 hours off now and today is much better than yesterday, but this morning was aweful. I have faith though. I’m getting a little better and clearer each day. I can’t wait to sleep totally clear. It’s funny, but I feel that, if I can get past this without any extra help, I can get past anything. I guess I know what drug addicts go through. To hell with anyone that says this isn’t an “actual addiction.” It has all the symptoms and it’s physically addicting. You build a tolerance to it. When you don’t have it, you go through withdrawl and panic attacks. This is pretty serious. But, like I said, if I can get through this… Next, I want to loose 25 lbs.!
March 25th, 2008 at 2:58 am
The best way to get off OTC is to use it in conjunction with steroidal nasal spray for a few days then stop the OTC and continue the steroidal for a week or two.
March 25th, 2008 at 7:22 am
Shaun, I hate it for you and wish you the best.
However..why torture yourself?
My last post was 8 days ago and I am free of afrin!!!! YIPPEEE
And, it was painless and easy. I did the Nasonex for a week and had gotten to the point of only using Afrin 2 times a day, morning and night. Then I started the prednisone and it took a few days for that to kick in. I was still using Nasonex / Afrin combo 2 times a day. Then I was able to go 15 hours without Naxonex / Afrin. The next day I would go 20 hours. Now it’s been 2 days. No Afrin, Nasonex and I’ve been off prednisone for 3 days. Very Very Very slight stuffiness. And I mean very slight. It goes away after about 5 minutes. I’m good!!! Don’t put yourself through the torture. Go see an ENT and get off the stuff. I bet you could do it with just the Nasonex and only use the Afrin when you really really have to. Or extend it out by an hour each day until you don’t need it anymore.
Daniel’s post above talks about using Flonase..same thing as Nasonex I would assume. It does work.
Good Luck to everyone!
March 25th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Thank you all for your well wishes, but I am doing wonderfully today! For the first time, I can breathe 100% out of both sides this afternoon. I’m looking forward to being like this more. Now, I’ve gotten this thing beat.
Honestly, cold turkey isn’t that bad. After the first day and a half, it’s gravy! The panic attack goes away after the first day and the first night is the worst. To be honest, I think Western culture centers too much upon being “comfortable” - that’s what got me hooked on nasal spray in the first place. Not to wax poetic, but after all this suffering has passed, I have a new perspective on life. I mean, people die of terminal illnesses everyday and millions of others suffer; who am I to complain about not being able to breathe out of my nose for a few days because of something that was my own fault? The suffering will pass… I’ve never been so happy at such a small thing as being able to breathe. It’s really wonderful - so much so, I went for a run today for the first time since I got hooked. Cold turkey’s the way for me.
March 30th, 2008 at 11:42 am
I too have been addicted to nasal sprays and I went to a doctor and I was put on prednisone and veramist. I have just past my 3rd week of being off the nasal spray and I was wondering if it is normal to experience alternating nostril congestion? I am currently taking Sudafed 12 hour, singular, and saline nasal spray. How long will it be before I can be able to breathe out both sides of my nostrils?
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:51 am
Hi all.
Glad to see so many more people kicking this awful addiction.
Just wanted to post a word of warning though, and set straight a few things too.
I’m a bit concerned at the number of people who turn to other kinds of nasal spray to help relieve the addiction to the decongestant spray. There have been many many new studies to suggest that the preservative in nasal sprays (benzalkonium chloride) is as damaging to the nasal passages as the active ingredient itself, that is to say, that if you took only the preservative alone it would still cause rebound congestion. If you look at the ingredients on the ‘replacement’ sprays e.g nasonex, other steroid sprays, even some natural saline sprays, this is an ingredient. This may be substituting one problem for another - please ensure that any spray you use does not contain this preservative or you could be prolonging the initial problem. This preservative destroys the cilia ~~(tiny hairs) in the nose and stops them from working.
Secondly, oral decongestants DO NOT cause rebound congestion - there have been no studies to indicate this at all, rebound congestion is only caused by topical decongestant sprays. Oral decongestants are safe to use long term if you are generally healthy with normal blood pressure etc (read the box), although they do have systemic effects (irratibility, insomnia, raised b.p etc), but they are helpful in kicking a nasal spray habit.
Hope some of that was helpful!
Louise
x
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:07 pm
I didnt use anything to help, no other OTC or prescription meds, I thought it would just hinder the process and I have recovered and it wasnt that bad. YOu dont need em just stop taking this crap, it wont kill to be congested for 24hrs.
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Hello all and the greatest luck for all of you who try to kick this horrible habit. I have been using nasal spray every single day since i was about 15.( im 20 now ) I took me 13 days to cure my nostrils completely. Here is how i did it; You must first throw away all your nasal sprays immediatley. This is an very important psychological procedure as this unables you to being able to cheat at any time during the healing.
I then used the neti pot 3 times a day ( morning , after work ,before bed ) The pot doesnt help much with congestion but it helps to keep the nostrils clean of bacteria and shit that can slow down you healing process. I then bought some peppermint oil wich i smear in my nostrils right before i go to bed. ( this helps with the sleeping ) The rest is up to your will power. The first 3 days i was so blocked that i couldnt breath at all with either nostril. Then the 4 day i felt some improvement during the day but the night was still awful. ( at this point i would have used nasal spray if i have had some at hand , this is why it is very important to throw away all bottles you can find ). Then the 5 day i had some major improvments during the day , i could breathe freely through my right nostril but my left was still very blocked. This then improved every day and by day 11 i could sleep and breathe better than i have in the last 5-6 years and boy what a feeling it was. Im now completely free of that shit. Wont ever again fall for that crap.
April 21st, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Well, I delivered a healthy baby boy on April 7th. I continued taking my prednisone 2.5 mgs for a week and now I’ve been off of it for a week and I am clear 90% of the time. Maybe it was mostly hormonal after all. I still have a septoplasty and turbinoplasty scheduled for May 8th just cause my septum is so severely deviated and I still have some swelling in the right nostril so they are gonna shrink that bottom turbinate also. I have never had surgery before so I am pretty nervous and the worst part is that the ent/surgeon wants me to use Afrin for 4 days after the surgery because after the nasal splints are removed I guess you get really congested. He knows I was previously addicted to afrin and I just don’t even want to use it at all again because I am afraid I will be addicted after only a couple of days and I haven’t used it since January. Isn’t that like giving a recovering alcoholic a beer? Now I am bummed because today is the first day I was told about having to use afrin after the surgery. Maybe if I continue to clear up on my own I will just cancel my surgery but like the doctor said-no amount of medication will help me breathe out of the left because the problem is anatomical with the septum being so crooked.
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:20 am
Well, it’s 2:18am, and I have to get up with my daughter at 6a. Fun. Why am I up? Because I’m on day 1 of trying, again, to kick this stupid Afrin/Vick’s habit. I got a bad cold and shouldn’t have even let it in the house…nooo….of course, I thought I could just stop, and here I am 4 months later. Why so frustrated? Because I’ve done this twice in the past before! I am trying the “only in one nostril” trick tonight, which clearly isn’t working well, but better than feeling like air is being choked out of me.
April 24th, 2008 at 9:15 am
A National Morning Show is looking for somebody who has been addicted to nasal sprays for many years and has been unable to break their addiction. We will be offering help from an expert on how to end the cycle! You will be needed on Friday (4/25) as well as Monday morning (4/28). Please respond to this posting asap if interested!
April 24th, 2008 at 9:15 am
A National Morning Show is looking for somebody who has been addicted to nasal sprays for many years and has been unable to break their addiction. We will be offering help from an expert on how to end the cycle! You will be needed on Friday (4/25) as well as Monday morning (4/28). Please respond to obs28@aol.com asap if interested!
April 28th, 2008 at 11:34 am
I was addicted for 28 years - I used it everyday and of course, every night to sleep. I quit two months ago by phasing down the dose, then no spray but I took 24 hour psuedophedrine at night for a week, then I just agreed to suffer through it for two more weeks. The first 7 days were rough, then it became bearable. I also agreed to suffer and sacrifice some sleep during this process. So when I would wake up congested, instead of using I would move from the bed to the couch and sleep sitting up as best I could, eventually allowing the sinuses some relief. It cost me some sleep and a lot of discomfort but it worked, and I haven’t used at all for two months. How wonderful to not have a runny nose, sneeze attacks, midnight panic about breathing, full Eustachian tubes, and all of the other awful symptoms of nasal spray addiction and rebound congestion. What a terrible product.
May 24th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Well, I am on day 2 of no Vicks. The ENT put me on a 12 day predniSONE pack and gave me 2 weeks worth of NasacortAQ. Of course I am blocked up and have been all day. When quitting, keep some chapstick on you as all the breathing out of the mouth takes its toll. I have a feeling it is going to be a long night but I really want to kick this. I am so tired of having to have vicks beside the bed, in the car, and at the office. I hope I can break this habit! Cheers to anyone else out there stuffed up tonight.
Chris
May 25th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Started using Afrin in 1968. Doctor assured me it would not be a problem. Twice a day became three times, four times, and eventually every hour or so. In 1985 congestion resulted in loss of hearing. Doctor drained both ears and started me on a regiment of Sudafed and Robitussin. Took time, but worked. In 1995 started a runny nose that lasted six months. A doctor finally tested fluid running from my nose…it was ceribral spinal fluid. I was diagnosed with CSF Rhinorehhea. Something had eaten through my cribiform plate separating my brain from my sinus cavitiy. I will never touch AFRIN again!!!
May 27th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Well I had my surgery (left septoplasty and right inferior turbinate reduction) on may 8th and it went well although I was miserable for a few days with about 6 feet of gauze up the left nostril and 4 feet in the right along with nasal splints.
I couldn’t nose breathe at all and to top it off I had to wear gauze padding over my nostrils and upper lip to catch the intermittent oozing blood. The ent wanted me to use afrin after removing the gauze and splints 4 days after the surgery for 5 days because he said your nose gets congested after all that is removed.
Of course I absolutely detested to use afrin due to a previous addiction (which was partly why I needed the turbinoplasty)!
The congestion after the gauze, etc. was removed wasn’t bad at all compared to having 10 feet of gauze shoved up your nose for 4 days. The worst part of recovery was trying to sleep. The splints had tubes in them to allow you to still breathe but of course mine became blocked with blood clots on my first post-op day so I was 99% blocked the rest of the time.
Ya know for having nasal surgery-my mouth and teeth hurt more than my nose. I assume this was due to being intubated and then totally mouth breathing for 4 days and nights. And to add to the oral pain-the prophylactic antibiotics also made my tongue raw.
Despite suffering from afrin addiction and 5 months of congestion and being on different meds and nasal sprays I am free of all the stuffy suffering!
Although I have overcome my addiction and congestion misery I will not forget all of you who have helped me get through this-you were all a true inspiration to me throughout this long haul. I will still be checking back on you all periodically and wish you all the best:)
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Horrible spring allergies started me on the spray. Ive tried every type of meds for the allergies and the only thing that remotely worked was Seldane, and that has been off the market for years now. I used the spray one bad allergy season ten years ago and before i knew it, i had a bottle of the stuff everywhere in the house, car, etc… After ten years, i built up a tolerance obviously until the spray didnt work anymore. This forced me to break down and see an ENT. After the initial exam he put me on a weak steroid and Nasonex and said surgery could help by straightening my septum and cutting down the turbs. The last thing i wanted was surgery. The first steriods didnt do the job so he jumped me to two rounds of prednisone. I did notice the pred. lessened the tolerance that i had built up and the OTC spray was working like it used to. But I was still using, still depending on it, just not as often throughout the day.
It has been around four days since going under the knife. I still have the splints in and for the first day can breathe through my nose about 10%. After ten years of continuous use, i havent touched an OTC spray since the day of the surgery. Hope i never have to touch that stuff again.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Horrible spring allergies started me on the spray. Ive tried every type of meds for the allergies and the only thing that remotely worked was Seldane, and that has been off the market for years now. I used the spray one bad allergy season ten years ago and before i knew it, i had a bottle of the stuff everywhere in the house, car, etc… After ten years, i built up a tolerance obviously until the spray didnt work anymore. This forced me to break down and see an ENT. After the initial exam he put me on a weak steroid and Nasonex and said surgery could help by straightening my septum and cutting down the turbs. The last thing i wanted was surgery. The first steriods didnt do the job so he jumped me to two rounds of prednisone. I did notice the pred. lessened the tolerance that i had built up and the OTC spray was working like it used to. But I was still using, still depending on it, just not as often throughout the day.
It has been around four days since going under the knife. I still have the splints in and for the first day can breathe through my nose about 10%. After ten years of continuous use, i havent touched an OTC spray since the day of the surgery. Hope i never have to touch that stuff again.
June 5th, 2008 at 11:31 am
At the beginning of this month I celebrated my first nose-spray-free year since probably 1971. So I thought I’d just check in to possibly give hope to others that yes indeed, it CAN be done. My previous entries here outlined the procedure that worked for me.
Evenings are still a little difficult since my nose tends to get a little stuffy at that time of day, but it seems to clear up once my head’s on the pillow.
Can’t tell you how wonderful it’s been to NOT have to think, “Now do I have my nose spray?” before going ANYWHERE, or to look for discreet opportunities to “shoot up” in public. Or to have to make the lame excuse of, “Oh, I have year-round allergies” to someone who caught me.
It’s do-able, folks, if you want it badly enough!
June 14th, 2008 at 11:19 am
I’m on my third day off of nasal spray, and it honestly hasn’t been bad at all. If I knew this was what it would be like, I would have gotten off a few years ago. I’ve been hooked 25 years or so, and the thing that finally woke me up and convinced me it was time to get off was this past winter, I developed some serious nosebleeds. Had to get my nose cauterized twice, which was not fun. Nor was bleeding like a stuck pig at work fun either.
I thought I’d share with others who may be reading this what has worked for me. Right now, I have no congestion. Zero. Zip. Nada. It’s awesome, and even better is the feeling that I don’t have to worry about having a bottle in my pocket or worry about trying to find a secluded space to score a hit. I used to have bottles hid everywhere around the house, in the car, at work, etc… No more. The wife and I cleaned out about 20 bottles when I quit, and threw them away. I feel so much better now.
Here’s the treatment I’m doing.
#1 Prednisone - An oral steroid that reduces swelling. Downsides include the munchies, peeing a lot, and flushed/hot face. Crank the air down because you will be hot on this stuff. Upsides include a massive amount of energy and a serious reduction in the amount of sleep you need. This stuff makes me run non-stop, which is good because the busier you are, the less you think about when your nose may clog up.
#2 Some type of antibiotic to reduce the risk of infection. Talk to your Dr. or an ENT to figure out what would be best for you.
# Simply Saline - Simply Awesome! You will want to have something to moisturize your nose, and this stuff works. Best part about it is that it has no preservatives which may cause more problems for you. The only downside is that the bottle is not really pocket-friendly. It’s a little on the large size
#4 Some type of nasal irrigator. The Neti Pot seems to be the most popular, but I prefer two others. NeilMed Sinus Rinse is a cheap ($12-$15) product you can pick up at Walgreen’s or order online. It’s a squeeze bottle that gives you more control over the flow. If you’ve never used one of these, it’s not weird at all, it actually feels pretty good and helps flush stuff out of your head.
I also really like the Sinupulse Elite Nasal Irrigator. It’s a motorized unit that is about $100, but works really, really well and seems to have the most endorsements going for it. See a youtube video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YrG_KJJpC8 of the product in action.
#5 Vicks Vaporub - You will clog up from time to time, but it’s not that bad when you consider you’re changing your life for the better. Throw some of this under your nose around your nostrils and it helps with the congestion.
#6 Exercise - This may be the most important of all. Moving around, whether it’s walking, running, working in the yard, etc… gets the blood flowing. And if it’s flowing, it’s flowing away from your swollen sinuses, reducing the swelling and allowing you to breath.
Some have recommended steroid sprays such as Astelin, Rhinocort, Omnaris, Veramist, and others. I have not tried them, nor do I intend to as one of the side effects for all that I’ve researched is nosebleeds, which I’m trying to get away from. So I can’t really speak to their effectiveness.
In summary, it’s working for me. I will be interested to see what happens when I get off the Prednisone in a week or so. I’m hoping that the rebound congestion will be subsiding since I will have been nasal spray free for over a week. If not, I may try another cycle and give it a little more time. I’ve got my fingers crossed.
The inside of my nose, which has been a tangled mess of blood vessels and skin that is as red as a baboon’s butt is already looking better (I think) since I’ve eliminated the chemicals that caused the mess. I’m hoping that it will heal, but I have read that sometimes the damage is permanent. I hope like heck that’s wrong.
You can do this. But I recommend getting some help from your Dr. or ENT. I’m not sure cold-turkey is the way to go. Good luck to you all.
June 24th, 2008 at 11:29 am
18 years. 18 years of being hooked on this crap. At the age of 40, I had my wisdom teeth taken out. The doctor prescribed prednisone and an antibotic after my surgery. About 4 days later I realized that I hadn’t used my nose spray all day (I usually use it about every half hour). I was thrilled! I finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel. I had resigned myself to using nasal spray until the day I died, but I have been off of it for a month now. I’m not always 100% clear. But I always have one side totally open and the other about 75% open, I can deal with that. Thank you everyone who posts here…reading your stories made me feel like I wasn’t alone.
June 26th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
This is a great site!! I’m so glad I found it.
Eight years ago when I became pregnant with my daughter, I developed a “stuffy nose” due to the pregnancy. I went into Walmart to try and find something that might help, and found this wonderful little bottle called Dristan that promised to clear my sinuses within seconds and last for 12 hours. Well, it did that and then some! I sang it’s praises for weeks, months - and then, suddenly found I couldn’t live without it when I decided it was time to stop.
Eventually, I went to an ENT who put me on a prednisone regimen to get me off of it, and that it did. I vowed to never touch it again.
However, I have TMJ, a deviated septum, terrible sinus trouble, etc. Every time I contracted a cold, it went straight to my sinuses, and I resorted to “the bottle” again for just a little while to get me through. Well, that’s been fine over the past 6 years, but 4 months ago, I contracted one cold on top of another, and here I am again - stuck in nasal spray hell.
After going to my doctor and getting basically nowhere with her, I have decided to quit cold turkey. It has been 27 hours since I had a “hit”, and what a miserable 27 hours it’s been. But, I am determined to kick this habit. It seems much worse this time than the last, and I found that when I went to use it for the last time yesterday, I was so completely blocked that I couldnt inhale it, no matter how hard I blew my nose and how quickly I shoved the bottle up there to try and take a haul. It just all came running back out in a stream, and all I could do was sneeze, wheeze and try to catch my breath. No more. I am determined.
If any of you are Christians out there, please pray for me, and I’ll do the same for you. For those of you who have quit cold turkey and are still “off the bottle”, let me know how long it took to get reasonably cleared out enough to be able to breathe even when you lay down at night.
Thanks guys!
June 29th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
The prednisone and antibiotics flat out work. Stopped using Afrin on June 12th, and within a week, well before the Prednisone ran out, could breath completely normal. This after well over 20 years of afrin addiction. Today, can breath completely clear a good chunk of the time. Little stuffy at night after dark, but never 100% clogged, more like 50% at the most.
It feels so awesome. No worries about carrying a bottle, using it discreetly, etc…
Piece o’ cake with the Prednisone. After 20+ years, completely free!
June 30th, 2008 at 8:57 am
I wrote about quitting old turkey last Wed. night. Well, I did it!
I had 2 night/days of complete congestion (miserable), other than if I was up and moving through the day, which brought a little relief.
A friend of mine gave me a small sample bottle of Nasonex which she never used. Although I vowed never to spray anything up my nose again, I figured “what do I have to lose since I’m so plugged up anyway?” On Friday evening, I decided to try it. Within 10 minutes, my left nostril had cleared, and withing 25 minutes, both nostrils were relatively free! I couldn’t believe it!!
Let me tell you what i think has happened. This is my 2nd bout with Afrin addiction. Since this bout has been way worse (both in the way of congestion, as well as the frequency of needing to use the nasal spray), I most likely have developed some polyps in the back of my nasal cavity.
When I researched Nasonex the next morning, I found that one of the biggest benefits of it is the reduction of swelling in polyps that may have formed. Other than that, it is mainly used for congestion due to allergies, and I know that’s not what has had me plugged up
I guess eventually, I’ll have to deal with the polyp issue, but for now, I’m so thankful to be breathing again! Yay!!
Hope this may help some of you.
July 7th, 2008 at 4:57 am
I thought I was the only one in the world addidted to nasal spray, otrivine in my case. It has been really great to read this forum with everyones different experiences and answers to the problem. Sometimes I have panic attacks when I get blocked or even sometimes when I think about what would happen if I did not have spray. I am fed up with the way this is effecting me and have started my programme to kick it.
I am trying the one nostril at a time senario, Saline spray in one nostril and still using otrivine in the other so that I can at least breath thu one nostril at night. The fisrt night (last night) was not too bad but sleep was not great but at least I got some. Today I have been spraying saline in one nostril while using otrivine in the other.So one nosrtil has been otrivine free for 27 hours.It is a bit blocked and need to keep using saline to keep moist, anyway it is early days yet and am feeling anxious about what will happen in the next few days. Leanne wrote June 26th You are a christian yay so am I,, lets pray for each other! write on the forum if you see this.. How are you going, I am 52 real old yeah and have been using nasal spray since Iwas 20 so thats 33 years,,thats so bad.I really must beat this. Any one else just starting on this journey? Lets help eech other cheers louise
July 8th, 2008 at 8:14 am
I have been addicted for about 15 years. In my case, I have several brands I use, throughout the day. Start off with Sixex 12 hr mist, then about 30 min later, Afrin Severe congestion. This works for about an hour, then I have to squirt the sinex again. And so on. At night I use the mucinex full force nose spray plus sinex. If I don’t do this, I have migranes and constant “silly putty” nose. (The feeling of having silly putty shoved up my nose and being unable to breath at all). I have not had a sense of smell in about 3 years. I thought when I quit smoking a year ago my sinus issues would clear up. NOT. After reading all this, I am going to call my doctor and try to get him to call me in a prescription for Prednisone. Will let ya know what happens!
July 12th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
I have been addicted for about 18 years. In my case, the brand is Otrivin. Went to Dr he just laughed at me when i told him about the nasal spray addiction. In Ireland what products can i get to help me here?
July 18th, 2008 at 6:11 am
To keep uupdted incase anybody isinterested I stopped using otrivine inmy left nostril and used saline instead. Its been 10 days now and still using only saline. Still get blocked up but saline clears it, Using otrivine in other nostril. HASNT BEEN TOO BAD SO FAR BUTI Guess the test will be trying to stop otrivine inboth. But for me anyway it has been surprisingly o.k. and I have been using for 30years I think partly its a mind thing .
August 4th, 2008 at 3:05 am
It’s wonderful to read comments from so many people who know what I’m going through! I’ve been addicted to Otrivin (in New Zealand - same as Afrin) on and off for about 16 years. I’m currently in day 2 of weaning myself off one side with a view to adding the other side in a few days. I have successfully used this method before, and this time I am DETERMINED never to use the stuff again. Hopefully this time will be different because I am booked to have sinus surgery next week (correct deviated septum, reduction of turbinate, FESS) and I’m hoping that fixing these physical problems will make a difference - they were present before I ever used Otrivin, and are probably genetic, as my father is still addicted to nasal sprays and has been using them as long as I can remember, and my aunt has had the same surgery.
I’m just wondering from anyone else who’s had surgery plus the addiction - I’m trying to get myself at least partly off the spray before the surgery, because I’m worried that going through Otrivin withdrawal at the same time as recovering from the operation will be hell. But on the other hand, it could be so bad it’ll make no difference, and I could accomplish both together instead of suffering now! Has anyone had sinus surgery while still addicted to nasal spray, and if so how did it affect recovery?
Thanks
August 5th, 2008 at 5:14 am
Jackie I can’t really help with your surgery query but I wish you well for your surgery next week. I live in NZ as well an.d am still trying the stop using otrivine. Would it be a disaster if you reduced otrivine as much as possible before surgery but if you HAVE to use it for recovery then o.k.. Then when recovered from that {a bit anyway} try to stop otrivine and use saline solution as you {and me} are doing now. One nostril at a time is the only way to go. This is such a great site. I just cant believe there are so many others with this problem.. I live in auckland. Good luck for next week Reply if you have time….Louise
August 5th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
I agree with Louise; good luck to you on your surgery and let us know how it goes.
Why it may be hell to quit, you may want to conside quitting Otrivine while recovering. My assumption is that your know is going to be swollen from the surgery anyways so I wonder if you would notice any difference.
August 6th, 2008 at 4:04 am
Thanks for the replies Louise and Jim! Louise, I can’t believe you live in Auckland too! I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes next week - I’m quite excited to finally get it done.
The withdrawal’s going pretty well so far - I’m still very blocked on the side without spray, but have moments where it seems to be clearing up. I’m using saline and inhaling vicks, which is temporary relief only!
I agree this is a fantastic site, and I just cannot believe the extent of the problem with this stuff. I wish I’d never used it, and like many of the other posters think this should be off the market. These days of course they tell you not to use it for more than 5 days, but that’s easier said than done, and it’s too late for most of us!!
August 11th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I had been a slave to this addiction for about 3 years (nothing compared to some that I have read) but this is my second time trying to kick it. First time lasted about a year and I suffered with new found allergies (never had them before, and I succumbed to the ole bottle I was accustomed to.
I am on day 5 of being free from Nasal spray addiction. I went to my ENT on Thursday and got a prescription for Prendisone and Flonase. Using it along with Sudafed, thus far I am clear all day and a little stuffy when laying down to sleep, but nothing unbearable.
I appreciate all of the help I have found on this site, you guys are inspirations.
August 14th, 2008 at 9:48 am
I’ve been hooked on 4-Way nasal spray for at least 15 years. My sinuses are so messed up now. My Dad used it (still does) and I tried it to get over a cold and just never stopped. I need a toot about every 20-30 minutes or my sinuses will just slam shut. Im so sick of leaving my work area or leaving the table at restaurants to spray. My wife complains constantly about buying it (freaking 8 bucks a pop) and me using it so much. I am lost with out my bottle and must keep it close at all times. I do also think it messes with my heart. My blood pressure is already high and after I spay I can sometimes feel my heart flutter. I sick of this chain being on me. I gave up pot in my 20s and hardly drink, but this addiction is just too strong! I just cant stand not being able to breath through my nose.
I am so glad I found this blog of fellow spray users. Reading your stories has given me new hope that I can kick this nasty stuff for good. I am going to do the one nostril method starting NOW. Wish me luck! Thanks for letting me tell my story.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:25 am
Hi everyone. Chris, good luck with getting off the spray. Like you, I only just found this site and it is so great to know that there are so many other people going through the same thing, and hating being a slave to their spray. Jim, did you ever imagine that this thing was so big??
Aidan, to reply directly to your post, the experiences of many of the people on this website have been that the best way to get off is to go cold turkey on one nostril only, so you can breathe through the other. When the first nostril has adapted and is clear, you can then do the other. Using a saline rinse through this process will help a lot - I don’t know what brands are on the market in Ireland, but go into a pharmacy and ask for some advice. In my experience the rinses where you put a lot of liquid through work the best even though they feel weird. It’s supposed to take about a week to get over the ‘addiction’, and in the past that seemed to be right for me, although last time I was still congested after 10 days. It will go away eventually. If this is too difficult, some of the posters have had success with prescription steroids, so you might want to try around a few doctors until you get one who takes your problem seriously. It seems quite a few doctors are just unaware of how unbearable the rebound congestion is.
I am on day 4 following my sinus surgery, and I am relieved that it is finally starting to feel a bit better. Those first few days were awful, with complete congestion, plus quite bad pain in my nose. Some people told me the surgery isn’t that bad, but I thought it was really nasty and felt completely out of it for the first 48 hours, just trying to cope with the pain and having to breathe through my mouth which makes me really unhappy! And in answer to my original query on this site, about how important it was for me to get off Otrivin before the surgery, the answer is: not important at all! I only managed to give up one side before the surgery, as it was still congested, and post-operation, the congestion seems to be worse on the side I’d managed to give up on! I also found that they give you some solid squirts of Otrivin before the surgery (to open things up and reduce swelling!) then give you a nice bottle to take home with you so you can try to deal with the congestion and get some sleep. So looks like I’m on it again for at least the next couple of weeks, then I’ve got to start all over again! I’m saline rinsing 3 times a day and this is becoming more and more effective so I’m hoping to reduce Otrivin as much as possible while I still can’t tell the difference between rebound congestion and post-operative congestion!
I’ll write again in a few weeks when hopefully I can tell you that it was so worth having the surgery, as at the moment I still feel awful and would rather give birth three times over than have sinus surgery again!
August 15th, 2008 at 2:24 am
Hi everyone,
First of all Jackie.
Glad your surgery is over and hopefully the worst is over too. Good plan to try and fool you nose[and your brain} into wondering whether your using otrivine or saline//rebound or post-operative congestion????? etc
Would you REALLY rather give birth three times over rather than have sinus surgery..Take care and keep us posted.
Chris
I CAN REALLY relate to what you say. As I have said before Ihave used otrivine spray for 30 years and I did used to sometimes need to spray every 30min or so , I used to get really panicky if my nose got blocked and imagined sometimes that my heart was racing. I think now it was the panic and stress more than the actual spray.
Anyway I decided I had to do something about it so I made myself some saline[9gms of salt /1 litre boiled and cooled water} and put in a spray bottle. Just in one nostril I used saline the other one otrivine. First 2 nights were not good ,did not get much sleep even thi one nostrilwas clear[I REAlly hate being blocked at all}. From then on it got easier as the saline nostril slowly (unbelievably) started to clear (better during day when upright)..It has been 5 weeks and I am still trying to get the courage to use only saline in the other nostril as well, The nights are still not perfect but ok I feel quite happy that I have not used otrivin in one nostril for 5 weeks and it is amazingly clear..BUT I really must start on the other one.
So….. Give it a go .You may be really surprised at how well it goes..Use the saline as much as you like in the saline nostril
August 15th, 2008 at 2:35 am
to keep it moist. Let us all know . TWO more things.sorry
If you work try to start on a friday so you have the weekend if you dont sleep well or better still take a few days off work to give it a god try.
ALSO others have said the same on this site I think the otrivine nostril improves as the saline one adjusts as I am sure I am using less otrivine in the otrivine nostril.. Sorry I am raving now!
Have just read what I have written and I sound like a addict nutter Never mind will post anyway Good luck
August 26th, 2008 at 12:53 am
Great to find this site and can’t believe it’s taken so long with all the web-searching I’ve been doing.
I am not addicted to the nasal sprays but that’s because I’ve been so terrified of getting addicted every since I first discovered Otrivin when I was a young teen. I noticed everytime that after a the first week or so of the honeymoon period, I would then rebound with the stuffiness getting worse than ever. I’ve always had bad colds that have lasted up to 2 months before I finally went on antibiotics to clear them up. This always used to work…until now. A few months ago I flew with a bad cold that was developing into an infection. The ear, head and tooth pain on the flights was excruciating, and I had to get on another flight after the layover! When I arrived I was in such bad shape that two days later all I could do was lie down, with throbbing pain if I moved my head in so much as a 1-degree angle. I had to cancel my vacation to France cause I couldn’t face getting on another plane. Before leaving my doc at home prescribed antibiotics to take should things worsen. Though I had no fever I was so desperate I took them. Saw a doc on the trip and he clucked his tongue a bit at my having taken the antibiotics insisting I didn’t need them but prescribed a steroid nasal spray instead. With the spray, antibiotics and a lot of exercise, water, vitamins and oral decongestants it cleared up in about a week.
When I returned home my son got a cold and I was so terrified of catching it that I became obsessive about washing my hands everytime I touched him, not touching my face etc. Still, I caught it, and it’s been downhill since then. This time the cold progressed immediately to blocking up my nose with thick yellow/green mucous. I immediate started using my nasal bulb to irrigate (same as the netipot). The first time I did it, it seemed like a miraculous alternative to the otrivin. However I have to say that in many ways, it’s just as addictive and I am getting some unwanted side effects. While it’s great for clearing the mucous out, for at least half a day afterwards I walk around feeling water-logged and everyone comments on how congested I sound. I keep blowing out the saline and never seem to get it all out. But the worst is that my ears block up.
So I’ve now been on at least a month-long course of various treatments. My doctor keeps pushing the Otrivin but I’ve resisted. He’s had me on oral steroids that dissolve under my tongue, with oral decongestant. Then antibiotics, which did initially immediately start to clear the blockage. My nose could then breath (and I started to smell and taste and therefore eat again!) , but I had pounding headaches, ears that felt full of fluid, and some nausea, I think from the fluid in the ears. Finally he ’s prescribed what he calls the last line of defense: nasal steriod, plus oral steriod, plus Claritin (slow-acting decongestant). I can now breath out of my nose most of the time but still have blocked ears, and a feeling of a blockage higher up in the nose, which feels like it’s partially sealing off my upper sinuses and still giving me occasional headaches. Though I tried to stop the nasal irrigation in order to get all the fluid to drain/dry out, I’ve not been able to help myself, especially after my SunuPulse Elite arrived. It’s so effective in clearing out the blocked gunk, but again, it leaves me waterlogged and with fluid-filled eustasian tubes. Has anyone else experienced this? How long will this go on? Now my son has yet another cold and I’m started to blow out the dark yellow snot again! It seems like a vicious cycle and I dream of being well again. Where I have to summon up the will power is to exercise. Someone on this site stressed the importance of this for getting the blood flowing and thinking back, that may be how I cleared that last infection out so quickly. Thanks for all the advice and any more would be welcome, especially for how to unblock my ears.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:10 am
Yes, I am a nasal spray addict.
This night has been worse than others before, even though I have had several just like it. At around 1AM, I took a massive dose of Afrin because I hadn’t eaten all day and needed to be able to taste something before I could physically make myself eat. (call me high maintenance.) It worked and I had a typical “really clear” feeling for awhile. Took another dose before I went to bed around 4AM (typical cycling for me, every 4 hours) I believe I went to sleep, I’m not sure, it was very restless sleep if it was, in fact, sleep. And I woke up around 5:10 AM with the worst burning sensation ever in the back of my throat and in my ears. The histamines were also kicking in, so I felt itchy all inside my ears and my throat. I tried to spit some of the draining Afrin in the back of my throat into a cup, and almost tried to gag myself but no relief. I played Mario for awhile on the Nintendo DS, because I knew that the only way to help this is to give it time. I’ve had to ride out this ridiculous pain plenty of times. I began gargling water, and then coffee. The coffee did give me some relief. Now at 5:49 AM, I am feeling about 50% better, and feel as if I can sleep a little now. The nasal congestion is not as severe at this moment, so I am probably in the clear til about 8:30-9 AM. I am looking forward to going to the ENT doctor on monday, because I’ll do anything for relief. I have had an Afrin addiction off and on for about two years now. I am absolutely miserable, and have used it every 4-5 hours for these two years. I have probably purchased more bottles of Afrin than any other item, and I have developed very serious rebound congestion (Rhinitis Medicamentosa). Doctors seem to only make me feel victimized and ignore me, saying that it is not common and basically advising me against long-term use of Afrin. I am completely aware, thank you, but it is too late for that. My mother had a nasal cyst awhile back and went to this ENT and he helped her a lot, so I am hoping that he is going to listen to me and I am hoping the swelling in my nasal passages will go away with his help. It’s a funny feeling if you don’t know it. The fact that the use of these over-the-counter nasal sprays are made to get rid of congestion, but end up making it extremely worse after long time use. I can physically feel my nasal passages swelling, and they usually close up completely and I am unable to breathe without my Afrin. I have also used the Rhinostat System (made specifically for Nasal Spray “Addicts”) but I hated the dropper bottle it came in (i’m used to the pump mist sprays) and it did not give me any relief because the “you must dilute” method made the medicine run out much too quickly for frequent users of Afrin. Up until this point, I had completely accepted the fact that it is a possibility that I will be addicted to Afrin for the rest of my life. I can imagine ten years down the line purchasing Afrin in bulk from the pharmacy. A lot of people I know don’t realize this addiction because I try to hide it because I never thought much of it; I just considered Afrin use to be a normal part of my day, and did it routinely. But this has got to stop. My nasal passages have become more swollen day by day and I am ready for this to be over with completely. I cannot live victim to constant sneezing, insomnia, and extreme withdrawals. I cannot keep purchasing these tiny bottles and emptying out my wallet weekly. I am in A LOT of pain and am very very uncomfortable. “Treatment of RM is immediate withdrawal, with possible use of steroid nasal spray, perhaps combined with oral corticosteroids, systemic decongestants, and/or antihistamines.14-16 Some patients respond only with nocturnal sedation, steroid injection into the inferior nasal turbinate, and/or surgery.” — Whenever those things actually sound good to you, you are pretty damn fucked. I’d do anything for some relief. I want to taste and smell again like I used to be able to. I don’t want to be a victim of this stuff anymore.
Hopefully this ear, nose & throat doctor will fix me up completely. I’ll keep you posted. You all are inspirations, I really am sorry we’ve all had to go through this.
Love xoxo,
Rachelle
September 28th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I was lucky to find this blog thing about 7 months ago. I was addicted to Affrin for 2 years. As I began to loose my sense of smell and started having a dry throat because of the usage, I fugured it was time to stop.
About a year ago, I was given a nasal spray steriod called flocanase or something like that, which was prescribed to me by a doctor to stop my nasal passages from swelling when I wasn’t using the spray. He also prescribed an allergy medicine to help with the decongestion. I was supposed to take both at the same time… Well, it didn’t work AT ALL….
I read something someone posted about mixing affrin and saline nasal spray. I felt like that would be the most inexpensive path to try, so I tried it.
I bought an Affrin spray bottle, and used it like normal (which was twice a say) until I felt like it was halfway empty. And then I filled it about 3/4 of the way up mixing it with saline. I used it until it got back to 1/3 of being empty, and then I filled it half way up with saline spray. Every week, I would put some saline spray in there until I eventually was only using saline spray. It worked perfectly, with the least amount of side effects. So now I am PROUD to say that I am no longer an Affrin addict. I now only use the saline spray when I need to.
The only thing is that whenever I go to sleep at night, one side of my nose gets stuffed up, to where I can’t breathe out of it. Its only one side though, and I just spray saline in there to get it to open back up a little. I don’t even use it everynight. My nasal passage/throat still gets dry a lot from the heavy use of the Affrin, and I will never smell the same again. But I’ve been off of Affrin for 4 months now, and I’m happy about it!
So to anyone reading this, before you go paying for perscriptions try the affrin/saline mix. It worked for me…
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:23 pm
7 weeks post my surgery and things are a lot better. One side of my nose is now completely clear, AND I am not using any Otrivin at all in that side. The biggest test, I got a cold this week and no sign of sinusitis. This has shown me that there really was a biological basis to my problem, as I can now blow my nose far more efficiently than I’ve been able to in my whole life! So for those nasal spray addicts who haven’t been checked by an ENT, it may be worth going along to see if there is something which could be fixed. If so, it will make giving up the spray a whole lot easier.
The other side is still getting there and I am using Otrivin about twice a day at the moment in that side (much much better than before). Will wean myself off that side as soon as this cold is gone so I hope to be able to say I am Otrivin free in the next few weeks!
Good luck to everyone else going through withdrawal right now.
October 6th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I have been using a spray for 4 months, and am about to start to kick the habit…again. Tried last week but had to use again as both nostril 100% blocked, my ears kept popping and found it hard to swallow. I also find it hard to speak. Dr has given me a steriod spray but says will take a couple of weeks to see a noticable change. I am not looking forward to the night. I have a house rabbit, which I have had for 3 years no problems. Could I have developed an allergy or maybe hayfever. No previous history. I am driving my girlfriend, friends and collaeges crazy with my sniffing. Have been using salt water solution. When I blow my nose nothing comes out, just blocks nose even more. Does the using in one nostril thing really work. I thought it was all linked so what goes in one nostril will end up in the other.
October 9th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Since I started www.offafrin.com I have helped several people quit otc nasal spray. check it out.
October 11th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Jackie, I just read all your posts and burst out crying. I am having sinus surgery with turbinate reduction/deviated septum & the “balloon” procedure to clear out my chronic sinusitis (as well as a few other procedures i’m not sure of. all in all there are four procedures). As of a few hours ago, I tried to wean myself off using the one nostril only method and am already pretty uncomfortable. I have been using afrin for about six months now and really panic when i can’t breathe out of my nose. you’d basically completely recommend me to not begin to wean myself off until after surgery?
so, your congestion wasn’t fixed at all after your surgery until you completely weaned yourself off?
i am completely upset. i feel so helpless that i am so uncomfortable and i feel as if there is absolutely no fix for this. i was hoping that my surgery would definitely take care of it. give me something to ease my mind!
that being said, i am only nineteen and my quality of life has sucked for the past year. I’m ready for this to stop.
October 12th, 2008 at 4:36 am
Rachelle,
S. ounds to me like you need to get the surgery done first and get the deviated septum fixed as well as the other things that the surgeon obviouslt feels need doing THEN THINK about the nasal spray problem
I recommend the one nostril at a time ,I just used saline in one nostril and otrivine in the other (in New Zealand its called otrivine) But it takes time and pays not too stress just take each day as it comes. I have not even tried to give up on the second nostril and its been about 3 months. Am trying to reduce the nasal spray used in the “nasal spray nostril”.am doing it slowly./ as like you I
panic .
6 months is mot long to use afrin I have used it for 30 years so if I can get this far Im sure you can.. But get thru the surgery recover from that then think about kicking afrin…There are some good ideas on this site when your ready
All the best Your not alone . YOU CAN STOP USING IT.
October 12th, 2008 at 4:36 am
Rachelle,
S. ounds to me like you need to get the surgery done first and get the deviated septum fixed as well as the other things that the surgeon obviouslt feels need doing THEN THINK about the nasal spray problem
I recommend the one nostril at a time ,I just used saline in one nostril and otrivine in the other (in New Zealand its called otrivine) But it takes time and pays not too stress just take each day as it comes. I have not even tried to give up on the second nostril and its been about 3 months. Am trying to reduce the nasal spray used in the “nasal spray nostril”.am doing it slowly./ as like you I
panic .
6 months is mot long to use afrin I have used it for 30 years so if I can get this far Im sure you can.. But get thru the surgery recover from that then think about kicking afrin…There are some good ideas on this site when your ready
All the best Your not alone . YOU CAN STOP USING IT.
October 12th, 2008 at 4:36 am
Rachelle,
S. ounds to me like you need to get the surgery done first and get the deviated septum fixed as well as the other things that the surgeon obviouslt feels need doing THEN THINK about the nasal spray problem
I recommend the one nostril at a time ,I just used saline in one nostril and otrivine in the other (in New Zealand its called otrivine) But it takes time and pays not too stress just take each day as it comes. I have not even tried to give up on the second nostril and its been about 3 months. Am trying to reduce the nasal spray used in the “nasal spray nostril”.am doing it slowly./ as like you I
panic .
6 months is mot long to use afrin I have used it for 30 years so if I can get this far Im sure you can.. But get thru the surgery recover from that then think about kicking afrin…There are some good ideas on this site when your ready
All the best Your not alone . YOU CAN STOP USING IT.
October 20th, 2008 at 11:30 am
While waiting to have surgery for a bunch of different things that are wrong with my nose and sinuses (not just nasal spray addiction), I’ve been given a round of steroids (methylprednisolone.) They work amazingly with trying to give up Afrin. I used to use it every 3-4 hours, and with the steroids I honestly can go 12 hours without using it. But, you only stay on steroids a week, and once you’re off of them, it’s kind of just back to normal.
If I wasn’t getting “fixed” with so many surgeries soon, I would DEFINITELY work on weaning myself off of Afrin on this week with steroids. The relief is amazing.
October 29th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
At the beginning of Oct (Oct 6th, see previous post), I started my my cold turkey period, with the aid of a steriod spray, NASONEX, from the doctor. I am so pleased to say that after a tough week of not using my old spray, I am no longer blocked up, and can breathe ok. I stopped using the steriods as soon as, and am never going to stick a spray up my nose. Reading Aidan’s post I am glad I stopped using the steriods as soon as I did. I guess my dependency on spray was not as bad as many peoples, but I guess what I am trying to say is, there is hope and it is possible to give up. What I can’t understand is why these sprays are sold on the shelf of any drugstore/chemists, with little or no warning on the dangers involved. Mine cost me £1.49. I bought it thinking I had bad allergies. The spray worked fine, after that I was screwed without knowing it. Until I found this site in my desperation. It helped me realise what was wrong and your stories I read put the fear of hell in me, but also gave me comfort. So thanks Y’all!
November 5th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Is the stingting nettles and ginger still working for your stuffy nose. I have tried everthing. Can you tell me where you got the stinging nettles and what strength,name, etc. lisadrive517@att.net
November 6th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
I just want everyone to know that there is hope and relief. I was addicted to Afrin for about 2 months,and then I read on the internet about rhinitis medicamentosa(rebound congestion)which happens if you use Afrin longer than 3 to 5 days. The first thing I did was to throw out all the bottles of Afrin I had and decided to deal with it by going cold turkey. I stopped the spray completely, the first day and night was terrible and so was the second.I felt a little better by the third but on the fourth day I just couldn’t take it anymore. I was unable to breathe so I decided to go to my doctor. That was the wisest thing I did.He told me to use Allegra for about five days(he took me off Allegra D, use of too many decongestants he said would only worsen my condition).He also prescribed Nasacort which I used for about 2 weeks. After that I have no need for nasal sprays and can breathe freely through both my nostrils, THANK GOD. So trust me you can get relief too, first step is to get rid of Afrin and then see your doctor, I’m glad I saw your mine. Life is back to normal and I feel 100% free of Afrin and very very happy!
November 20th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Wow! I’ve never looked up anything on my addiction before. I’ve just dealt with it. Like other people have said, I also was laughed at in the past by doctors. They just tell you to stop using it. They obviously have never been addicted to this stuff before. I have lived with this since I was about 19 years old. I am now 37. I have had many waves of using it at least 30 times a day with no relief. I went through the sinus surgery about 3 years ago thinking this would help….that was the biggest lie. The ENT convinced me that it was my deviated septum that was the problem, even though I knew the nosespray was the culprit. However, I became so desperate. The recovery was miserable. Anyway, I am at least relieved to know there are others out there who understand how difficult this problem is. I will try some of the suggestions I have read from all of you. I tried using Allegra as a way to wean myself…it only made me very drunk feeling, and at night still completely miserable. I do use Nasonex….two sprays in each nostril. It definitely helps at night. The only problem is that is costs $75.00…and it lasts 30 days. So, when I run out, I may have to wait a couple of weeks to refill. But, this stuff does work so that I only have to use my 4-way once before bed and then when I wake up. I can get better sleep while using it.
November 22nd, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Here is my story. I started with Duration Nasal spray in 1985 when i had a severe cold and continued to November 19, 2008. I used some form of nasal decongestant every day. In 1990 I was deployed to Desert Storm. I bought up at least 3 month supply of duration and when I got down to my last 2 bottles I was writing back to the States to ship me more over to the desert so I could keep my nose open and breathing comfortably. I went up until 1999 before I sought help from an ENT. When he examined my\. He told me that I need to quit cold turkey. He gave me steroin shots/injections in both nostrils, Nasonex and an antibiotic. I was miserable for 2 weeks. cut the Afrin out after 2 days on the Nasonex, caught a cold and relapsed. Here I am giving this another shot at quitting. I will quit for good this time. I have given up all bad habits that I have had over the years to include smoking, alcohol and chasing wild women and this is the last frontier. I am at day 3 and have taken Advil Cold and Sinus which is helping with the swelling. I am ok during the day, but at night usually around 10pm. I get congested in both nostrils. I used to panic when this happened and reach for the Afrin, but now I know that given a little time it will pass and at least I will be able to breath out of one nostril. I am going to put my (bitch) Afrin to rest once and for all and finding this site is helpfull in itself. It gives me support reading the comments and tells me that I am not some freak squirting chemicals up my nose. I am in the process of writing to my congressman to actually try to get the medical community to give some attention to this issue. It is certainly more of a problem than the medical community knows about and the general public.
Good Luck all.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Have had an Afrin Addiction about 15 years…. Kleenex addiction probably 30 years, and Afrin allowed me to actually live and breathe… I’d quit all the pill decongestants when I discovered Afrin… still remember losing my Afrin Virginity as i call it… WOW, I CAN BREATHE!!! I had oxygen in my brain, I wasn’t slow and stupid anymore. But then I couldnt leave the house without it, but it was my safety.
Now after 15 years, I wanna quit, but with a job that requires constant concentration, HOW do I go thru 2 weeks of not breathing? When I close up, I actually bump into things, I get forgetful, people say “HELLO!!! ARE YOU LISTENING?” I get really ADHD when I dont have it.
Is it possible just to have little solid nasal tubes implanted into the sinus that can’t ever close? I’d give up sense of smell easily just to have oxygen. Its a small price to pay never to be without air.
HELPLESS IN NORTH CAROLINA!!!
Chris
November 25th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Have sleep apnea and use a cpap machine. Started using spray to get opened up so I could use the machine, then started waking up in the middle of the night because the spray was wearing off. Over time this pattern soon had me totally depedant on spray if I wanted to get any sleep. I cant say i’ve just finished my first night without because I didnt sleep enough to call this night over. Dont know how long I can take this headache. Iwas wondering if anyone has heard of cpap machines leading to sinus and/or ear problems, I never used to have these problems before the apnea was diognosed. Also thanks to everyone for sharing, nice to know I’m not alone.
December 1st, 2008 at 2:35 am
I recently moved from Cali to Boston, developed new allergies and aquired 2 sinus infection. I had never used Afrin before and it was my saving grace. 1.5months later…and I am totally dependent on this little white bottle to breath. After reading this I am going cold turkey first this tomorrow am. I went to whole foods and bought the netti pot, some homeopathic nasal sprays and decongestant. Hope I make it. Will check back.
December 1st, 2008 at 3:10 am
Have read the website from start to finish and my thought is “WOW how can this be possible?!?” But then i know exactly how this is possible… had a cold about 2 months ago, went to the chemist who suggested Otrivin (I live in NZ), was amazed at how effective it was then after a week decided it was about time i stopped taking it and well… everyone here knows exactly what happened next! Actually the worst part was wondering what on earth was going on… lived my whole life perfectly able to breathe and now can’t go 8 hours without needing to grap that damm lil bottle, whenver i’ve forgotten to buy some (make sure that never happens now) the effects are quite unbelievable…and unbareable. It’s a huge relief to read this site today even if just knowing its a common side effect, though with that I feel so incredibly sorry for those ppl on here who have suffered for so long.. i can only imagine what it’s been like… your stories are very motivating if only just to see where continued use of the spray will lead.. i’ll be starting my own treatment today and will post back the results.. good or bad.
I’ve just read that there was a class action lawsuit in 2006, the company settled to the tune of 16 million dollars….but they still make the stuff, getting you to need 52 or more bottles a year is a marketers dream come true, what a perfect business product still can’t believe my chemist would actually recommend I use it without a least a heads up on what can happen… the original cold wasn’t even that bad!
December 3rd, 2008 at 9:19 pm
The worst part is that they keep coming out with new brand names for the same old addictive product. They like to use “trusted” names in the U.S. The latest are Sudafed and Mucinex sprays. But they are nothing but re-packaged Afrin or Otrivin. They try to deceive people into thinking that this is the solution to their problem, when in reality it’s only the beginning of their addiction. Beware!
December 11th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
After 2 weeks breathing is free and clear, however I have alot of nasal “stuffyness”, like a dull headache in your forehead that wont go away. Getting on a plane in 2 days for 7 days at disney maybe the warmer moist air will help. The first 4-5 days were pretty rough but I have to say it was worth it. Good luck to all. Smoking and nasal spray all in the same year(wonder how long before those little bottles and smokes will pay for my trip).
December 13th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I’ve been heavily addicted to this stuff for almost 8 years now, I don’t even remember how or why I started. Recently I couldn’t go more than 3-4 hours without a dose, and everything seemed to revolve around when I could sneak off to take some puffs. At first it was a joke with my friends and family, they’d call it my nose candy, but eventually I became embarrassed that I was so dependent on it, so I was always trying to hide my usage. I’d get panicky when I’d get blocked up and couldn’t sneak off, had to take my purse everywhere with me so I had it on hand. Horrible stuff! Sad but funny, I’d even dream about nose spray, to wake up and be all blocked up. I was sure I was going to be stuck with it for life (8 bucks a week!), but then I read here and elsewhere that it’s not permanent, and the congestion does go away! I had had enough, so I decided to quit.
I took a half empty bottle of spray, drew a line on it in permanent marker to the height of the liquid, and every day I’d fill the bottle back up to the line with saline. Slowly but surely, I was using the spray less and less, all the while remaining uncongested as my nose got used to the more dilute doses. It’s been about a month now, and I can live without spray! I still get a little stuffy at times, but totally bearable. I’m still partially congested at night, usually one nostril is blocked and the other is clear, but hey, one nostril is enough to breathe.
There’s hope out there for all the addicts! I’d definitely recommend the “dilution method”, it takes a bit longer but eventually you get off the spray without living through the days of complete horrible stuffiness. And what’s an extra few weeks to quit when you’ve been addicted for so long, right?
Good luck to all the quitters, you can do it! Life is so much better without the spray
December 31st, 2008 at 11:51 am
Well, I see I’ve finally found a home. I haven’t read through all the post yet, but I certainly have a lot in common with most of you here. I too am a nasal spray addict (in recovery). And, like many of you, my situation is complicated by the fact that I’m a long-term sinusitis sufferer.
I suffered from addiction for almost 20 years. My day of reckoning came in December of 2003 when the left side of my nose refused to open no matter how much spray I attmepted to use. The right side was hardly any better; I was mouth-breathing. In a panic, I headed straight for the emergency room.
It wasn’t until the spring of 2004 that my nose opened up so that I could breathe normally. Until then, I had to gradually withdraw from the spray with the help of a steriod that was prescribed by my doctor.
It was a nightmare. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. Bedtime was especially horrible. If I was lucky, I might have gotten 3 hours of sleep a night. It got to the point when I actually dreaded to see the sun go down.
One day, during the spring, my nose “popped” open and it was the first unaided breathe I’d taken since December. Of course begin and allergy/sinusitis suffer I must always be on-guard. Nasal Spray Addiction is always there, lurking in the background.
I just wish that more non-sufferers would take this problem seriously. Anyway, I’m glad I found this place. Thanks for listening.
Reg
February 18th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
My name is Robyn and I am addicted to nose spray. Sounds funny, but its true. I have read all these posts about going cold turkey, only problem is that I use CPAP. If my nose isn’t clear at night, I will sufficate in my sleep. Although my ex wouldn’t have a problem with that, I for some reason find it scary.
SO what should I do. I use a humidifier on my cpap and add vicks liquid to it ( half a dropper full with hot water). It helps some, but usually I spray before bed and like clockwork wake up 4 hours later needing a fix. During the day I sound like I have the worst cold of my life and half choke to death trying to eat and breath out of my mouth at the same time due to the stuffiness. I lierally cannot get air through my nose. I noticed now when I blow my nose, i get streaks of red bloody mucus.
I will try the one nostril thing for a while and see if it helps. Great site to vent.
February 18th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
In your case, Robyn, I think I’d talk with my ENT or physician. Sleep apnea complicates the situation. Good luck!
February 24th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
All I can say is wow this sucks. I did’t think that my white bottle crutch was that big of a problem. I have just been so used to my nose blocking up, and then releaving it with Afrin. Repeat 4 hours later. This started 10 years ago. I guess it’s off to the doc for an ENT appt.
February 28th, 2009 at 2:46 am
Its unbelievable that so many people share the exact same problem, and everything that the majourity of people write on this board mirrors 100% my situation. I was never a believer in AA type programs, but it honestly really helps to hear that other people are going through the exact same situation. Sorry if at any point I run off on a tangent, but as you can tell its 3 in the morning and I aint sleeping because, surprise surprise, there is a lack of OXYGEN going through my nose. I am please to say though that I am two weeks nose spray free (Claritin D nosepray) and I will get to the route that I took to make it thus far.
I am now in the midst of my 3rd year in university, and my nasal spray addiction began half way through my first year
Like many of you, it started when I had major nasal congestion due to a sinus infection. The doctor put me on some antiobiotics, then reccomended Otrivin nasal spray to aide in the recovery. Of course in a few days my sinus infection was gone, and 3 years of misery was about to begin. I first realized this was an issue when a couple weeks after my sinus infection was gone, I dreamed that my feet were cought in seaweed and I was drowning in a lake. I woke up at 5am from the dream with a mouth as dry as the sahara, a nose completely clogged, and a chest and head pounding from lack of oxygen. That sums up my sleep for the next 3 years with intermittent quitting of nose spray and relapsing in between.
Anyways fast forward to a couple months ago when I finally decided to see an ENT. I tell him my quality of life is nil when I try to quit nose spray cold turkey, ive been using the neti-pot to try and quit etc… first thing he sais, “The Neti-pot is a piece of trash”. I look to my left as he sais that and see a neti point on his desk with “I suck” written on it with black marker lol Im sure many of you nose spray sufferes out there can attest to the fact that the neti pot does diddlysquat to aid in rebound effect!
My ENT then proceeded to book me in for a NASAL SEPTOPLASTY surgery to reduce the swelling of my turbulytes. Apparently what nose spray does is increase the swelling of the tissue membrane that is your turbulytes that reside in your nasal passage, thus, blocking off the airway passage through your nose. The whole surgery revolves around a lazer that burns down the turbulyte and reduces its size. Now I am making you all aware that this surgery did help because just a day after I was able to breathe unassisted by nose spray for the first tme in a while.But be aware of options if you consult your ENT about this, as the procedure is extremely painful. However it does work and if any of you fellow spray addicts out there consult an ENT, bring this up, and see what they say…always good to have this option too.
It has now been officially two weeks since the surgey and the congestion has been reduced alot, however it is still not gone. The main point im trying to drive across with this is see an ENT IMMEDIATELY once you suffer from rebound affect, they know exactly how serious it is and are definately not naive enough to just say “O your just gunna have to quite cold turkey” with a smirk like some doctors. I just wish there is more media attention about this issue as it really does affect so many lives. Other people have alluded to it before that there friends and family will joke around if they break out nose spray out of nowere and get a quick fix. Its easy too laugh it off at the begginingg but it does get serious. I got to the point were I could not write an exam without spraying immediately before hand, and having a bottle in my pocket during just in case. I got to the point were my dreams were manifested with chasing after a bottle of nose spray, or drowning, and then waking up early in the morning in sheer misery. I got to the point were if I went out somewere for more then a few hours (i.e to play golf) and I didnt have a bottle of nose spray with me, I would have a terrible anxiety attack. It got to the point were my girfriend would not sleep in the same bed with me at night because my breathing would progressively get so loud as the spray wore off.
Back to were I started, its been two weeks since my surgey and my last hit. I can ultimately breathe through my nose, but nowere near the level I was at before this ordeal began 3 years ago. Serious action needs to be taking on a public level about this problem. It literally effects almost every facet of life and seriously reduces quality of life when trying to kick the habit. All I know is that when I have kids and I give them a lecture about smoking, or doing drugs, I am going to chalk nose spray right up there with crystal meth and crack.
SOrry about the rambling but it feels amazing to get this off my chest to a group of people that truly understand. I tell friends or family this and it seems I immediately lose credibility as soon as I mention i am addicted to nose spray lol I just hope that everyone in this forum immediately visits an ENT if they havent already done so, and bring up the nasal septoplasty surgey if you do go. For those of you in the Living in the States I feel really bad, thank god for OHIP here in Ontario.
Good Morning and good luck to everyone, fight the good fight!
February 28th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Robyn, for about a month now, I have been suffering from sinusitis as well as a nasal addiction. It all started with allergies that developed after moving from the bay area to the central valley. I started having runny noses so I resorted to my sinex nasal spray. It started making my nose bleed so I switched to the 4-way nasal spray. I started needing it more than I should to open up my nasal passages. I was in denial that my constant nasal blockages were caused by the nasal spray, but as I researched more about it…I realized that I became a nasal spray addict. I really hated waking up in the middle of the night searching for my nasal spray. There was this time were I woke up at 4 in the morning to search for a 24 hour drug store. I started going through a bottle of 4 way a day…As a college student, I do not have much money so I realized that this was causing a problem. From research, I already new that I needed antibiotics and a steriod nasal spray to cure my sinusitis and nasal spray addiction, so I went to see my physician. She told me everything I would know and prescribed me some medication. I already knew it was going to be hard going “cold-turkey” because I needed a nasal spray to breathe every night. Yesterday was the first time I quit using my nasal sprays. At first, I was skeptic to throw away all my nasal sprays so I just kept them around. Then, my boyfriend’s sister told me about her sinus problems due to allergies and told me to take clariton-d. She happened to have hers in her bag so she let me try one. Amazingly, my nasal passages cleared up and it has been for the last 10 hours that I have used it. However, I am only planning to use it only when I start feeling nasal blockages again. That way, my steriod nasal spray and my antibiotics can kick in and clear up up my nasal passages instead of using another drug that contains an addictive ingredient. Hopefully, clariton-d does not have a “rebound” affect as a nasal spray does.
March 2nd, 2009 at 6:13 am
Hey all.
Still nasal spray free although I did have a bad cold a few months ago and used it once at night on the worst day of the cold (in one nostril only) to allow me to get some sleep. It worked well enough and I did not get sucked itno using it again.
Just wanted to reply quickly re. septoplasty operations. They might be the answer for some people but PLEASE do your research before you have any work done on your turbinates. Just look at the empty nose forum (google empty nose) on their website. It’s a condition caused by ENTs who resect too much of the turbinate tissue, resulting in a too ‘open’ nose that still feels blocked because the turbinates are what sense airflow in the nose - when they cut too much out, your nose doesn’t sense air flow and still feels blocked, but this is a permanent condition with no cure. Have a look at the site before you make your mind up to have surgery.
Anyway, hope you are all doing better.
Louise
x
p.s. clarytin D and other ORAL decongestants do not cause rebound congestion.
March 6th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Dealing with Sleep Apnea,Getting off Afrin using Prednisone,Steroid nasal spray and sinus rinse(netti pot):
I was on Afrin for about a year.I stated out with the little bottle and I’m not sure when I went to the big bottle but the past few months had become ridiculous.I was needing 5-6 sprays in each nostril so many times a day I couldn’t keep count.I would wake twice a night to use it.I have sleep apnea and use the CPAP machine so if I can’t breath through my nose at night I can’t use my CPAP(I have a nasal mask not a mouth one).If I can’t use the CPAP…well..life is crap if I can’t use it.
So anyway…with that said..I also was doing what I have heard a lot of others saying..sneaking off so people wouldn’t notice I needed it so much and going through 1-2 bottles a week at $9.00 a bottle.I just have had it.
Thanks to this website and a couple of others.Last week I went to my doctor and asked for Prednisone.
So he put me on 12 days of it
Day 1 morning 40mg and Day 1 night 30 mg
I took those doses Monday(today is friday)The side effects for me were unpleasant to say the least.
At first I felt muscle weakness in my legs..but that passed.Most bothersome is the massive headache it gave me and not being able to take advil with it.(Tylenol is the only pain relief option which has never worked well for me).I had anxiety and off and on a racing heart…with a slight feeling of “not knowing what to do with myself”.I am on ativan..so I took an extra one of those ..which did seem to help with the anxiety and then at night I took Ambien and was able to sleep.
I COULD tell a major difference in the amount of Afrin I needed all day and then I used some at about 3:00 am before bed and slept the entire night with no stuffiness..and on top of that..once I woke I didn’t need it right away..I was able to go until 3:00 pm. 12 HOURS!!!
That is an amazing start.
However…once I woke I had very flushed red hot cheeks.
My dosing for this day(Tuesday) was supposed to be morning 30 mg and night 30 mg.
I took the 30 mg and then called my doctor about the cheeks ..long story but I couldn’t get my doctor that day so I went to the pharmacy and they recommended not to take anymore until I spoke w/doctor.
So..I skipped my PM dose still doing better with the Afrin at this point except later this day I started getting the typical congestion again.I suffered through it though until bed and then used three sprays in each nostril.Slept through the night again and didn’t wake up congested really.
Wednesday..nurse called back so late in the day that I missed my AM dose and then didn’t take the PM dose either because she needed to ask the doctor what I should do
(I requested a smaller dose of the Prednisone)..so had none this day.Still way less Afrin usage.Used a little before bed and slept through the night again.
Thursday morning I woke up with puffy face and hands.Nurse called about hot cheeks and new dosing instructions and I told her about the puffiness.
They changed my dose to :
One 10mg pill 3 times a day for three days,then One 10 mg pill two times a day for three days and finally One 10 mg pill once a day for three days.
So Thursday I took the one pill in the morning after the phone call and then took another about 6:00 pm by the time for my 3rd dose I decided not to take it..(the side effects for me a more than I can explain..but I really dislike this drug except that it is super helping me with the Afrin).
So anyway…took two total 10 mg pills on Thursday and before bed used only two sprays in left nostril and one spray in the right.I was sleeping wonderfully until my son woke me up…I got about hours sleep(went to bed really late) took 1 prednisone abut 10:00am and still no Afrin yet.
It’s been about an hour and half since the prednisone and I am not experiencing any crazy side effects..maybe this is a good dose for me..
I think I will stick with two pills a day for the rest of these three days then go to 1 a day for three days and then 1/2 for three days.
Sorry for such a long post..and congrats to anyone who made it through to the end.lol
If anyone has anything to add concerning their experience with prednisone I would love to hear it!
ps..i have also been using a nasal steroid spray and CVS brand “netti pot” type sinus rinse.
March 7th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Ok…so yesterday I actually only took one prednisone and have decided not to take anymore.I really hate the stuff.I think it has helped me over the biggest hurdle with the nasal spray.I feel like I can finish on my own.Hope and pray so at least.
If anyone reading this is considering prednisone..I would def recommend it..at least try it..some people don’t have any side effects and if it weren’t for my side effects the drug is like a miracle for getting off OTC nasal sprays!
March 10th, 2009 at 7:21 am
Hi all,
I am going to chronicle my recovery here, mainly for myself so I can get off the Afrin and hopefully see some day-to-day progress, but also for anyone else going somewhat cold turkey.
This morning is day 1 and of course I can’t breathe a lick through either nostril.
I have been using Afrin Menthol 12-hour since I came down with a cold in November 2008 and of course it works less and less over time. I have to use it (many squirts per nostril) at least every 3-4 hours if not every 2-3.
I have been addicted before - back in the early 90’s I also used it for about a 5-month period when I became allergic to cats (never had been before so I didn’t realize it until I went to the doctor and told him about the cat and the Afrin use). So I’ve used Afrin over the years knowing that I could only use it for a few days, and I never had a problem.
This time I got sick with colds back to back (I now have toddlers who constantly bring colds home from preschool) so I kept using it even though I knew better.
Here I am 5-6 months later, totally addicted.
I am prone to high blood pressure so I know I need to kick it ASAP. Wish me luck!
I’ll be back tomorrow with the horror story of how my first night went. By the way, I took a Claritin-D non-drowsy (24 hour) this morning first thing when I woke up. Doesn’t feel like it’s helping any, but who knows. This stuff makes me jittery (and isn’t good for the blood pressure) so if I don’t notice any relief I won’t take one tomorrow a.m.
March 10th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Good Luck Cate!
March 10th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Thanks Cyndi, I have to say I am absolutely miserable at the moment because it is hard to swallow without pressurizing my ears…but I’m determined!
March 11th, 2009 at 6:40 am
Back this morning for day 2…
Yesterday was hellish except from 4:00 to 4:15 p.m. when I had 15 minutes of free breathing. Don’t know where it came from, maybe the Claritin kicked in again. I’m not taking it today because it made me to jittery yesterday.
I did have one nostril clear last night starting around 11 p.m. and I slept from 11:30 to 2:00 a.m., then woke up dry as a bone. It was a fitful sleep but okay until I woke up.
Was completely blocked from 2:00 to 4:00 a.m. and I thought oh noooo, no more sleep.
But then I put my head down again at 4:00 and one nostril opened up enough that I fell asleep and didn’t wake up until the alarm went off at 7:30!!! Yay me!!!
Oh, by the way, I did put some mentholatum under each nostril last night, at about 10:00 p.m. and again when I woke up. Don’t know if it helped but it was at least psychologically a little soothing.
I am definitely clearer this morning than yesterday. One nostril is clear enough to breathe through. Here’s hoping for a better day than yesterday.
March 12th, 2009 at 8:06 am
Day 3…
Yesterday (day 2) alternated between times of complete blockage, but most of the day had one nostril open enough to breathe through it. Day 2 was definitely better than day 1.
Last night, one nostril still open, slept from midnight to almost 2, woke up again very dry. Drank some water to help my throat and went back to sleep quickly, then slept until 8:00! (I work from home.)
This morning, one nostril open when I awoke, but now 2 hours later I am breathing pretty well through both. Hallelujah! Much better than the last two mornings!
I didn’t take any meds yesterday other than Advil (twice) to help with the headache.
March 12th, 2009 at 8:08 am
P.S. That six-hour stretch from 2 to 8 this morning was the longest I’ve slept without waking in over 2 months.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:06 am
It’s awesome that you are able to do this cold turkey!keep us posted.
March 16th, 2009 at 8:48 am
On day 7 now…
Days 4 and 5 were not “all better now” as I’d hoped, but small steps forward and still mostly clear in at least one nostril. I was able to sleep every night, waking up less and less each night.
I ended up with dizziness/nausea on days 4 and 5 (and a bit yesterday, day 6) so I was pretty miserable anyway - but at least I could breathe!
I am also quitting smoking at the same time so you can imagine how messed up my system has been. I can speak without hoarseness, swallow without dryness, etc. for the first time in 5 months.
So although one side (usually my left side for some reason) is still at least half blocked, it is getting better by the day and I hope to be clear altogether in another week.
Hopefully those who have only been “addicted” for 6 months or less will have the same experience - you can quit “cold turkey” and be a lot better off in just 3 days.
March 17th, 2009 at 12:45 am
It’s been about 10 days now since I stopped the prednisone early and I am still using the Afrin.But the amount I need is way less than before taking the prednisone.I was using Afrin at least every 2 hours(minimum of about 5-6 sprays on each side) before,sneezing,blowing my nose and sometimes THAT wouldn’t even work..complete blockage.
Since the prednisone…I have been using 3-5 sprays each side but only twice a day.At night before bed and then a few hours after I wake up.
I may try and suffer through the prednisone again in the next week or so to get completely off.
I wish I could do cold turkey but with sleep apnea I have to be able to breath freely through my nose while sleeping.
If anything changes I will update.
March 17th, 2009 at 7:45 am
Cyndi - I can only imagine how hard this is when you also have to worry about apnea. Glad to hear that you are having to use the Afrin so much less!
March 17th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Thanks Cate!
How’s your nose today?
March 19th, 2009 at 8:18 am
Overall much better. Mostly both clear during the day so that I don’t even think about it. Still having one side close up at night, not painfully so, just a little annoying, but I can sleep! I think I’ve gotten more “good” sleep in the past week than I had gotten in the previous 2 months combined.
March 21st, 2009 at 12:58 am
That’s wonderful to hear!I don’t know ya..but I am proud of you anyway!
Best Wishes this week!
March 27th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
I have been using OTC nasal sprays for almost 2 years. At first I only took it as directed but then before I knew it I needed it more & more. I have stopped using it in one nostril over 48 hours ago and decided I would try the other one (which is much worse). I tried a few weeks ago and ended when I had a horrible headache. I hope I can do this. I will try the saline sprays and sudafed too. I so glad to find such a great site with everyone’s experiences.
March 28th, 2009 at 8:13 am
I made it past the 24 hour mark. I started to panic yesterday when both nostrils were blocked and almost used the Sinex. I took a Sudafed instead and it helped a little. I have to break this habit not only for my sinuses but I have blood pressure and thyroid problems (guess I should have listened to the warnings on the sinex bottle). The sleeping last night wasn’t the best either from 2:00 to 4:30pm both nostrils were blocked. I felt as though I would sufficate. This morning I can breath out of one nostril so I guess that will have to do.
March 30th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Good luck Kris. I can tell you it is worth the pain and suffering because I am sleeping like a baby and both nostrils are clear all the time now. I feel SOOOO much better!
April 1st, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Thanks for the words of encouragement, Cate. I have now been nasal spray free for 4 days. I usually have at least 1 nostril open most of the time. I will never go back to nasal sprays. I thought my sinus problems were bad before I started to use the spray. I guess I was wrong. Thanks again.
April 8th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
well, misery sure does love company. i didnt realize so many people shared this addiction. ive used nasal spray all day everyday for 33 yrs. i guess to sum it up id rather deal with the perils of nasal spray addiction that the panic attacks caused by suffocating.
April 10th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Debbie- I hope things turn out for you. I know the panic attacks are bad but just remember maybe you can try one side at a time. Good luck with whatever you decide.
April 10th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
I became addicted about 2 years ago while suffering from a cold and it just snowballed from there. After finding this site while doing research on “kicking the habit”, I never realized what a huge problem this was. I was able to garner quite a few helpful hints and I’ve now been spray free for over 24 hours. I’ve found that the maximum strength Sudafed (the 12 hour behind-the-counter variety) helps me considerably along with Simply Saline, and a big dose of reminding myself that God is bigger than that white plastic bottle! Kudos to all those here that have taken back their noses!
April 13th, 2009 at 11:53 am
I have been using Afrin or it’s generic equivalent for forty (40)years. If you are young and a new user I would suggest you just suffer with your problem or try some other remedy, because once you get used to Oxymetazoline Hcl, you’ll be a slave to the drug companies for the rest of your life.
May 12th, 2009 at 10:50 am
The easiest way I’ve found to get yourself off any nasal spray is one nostril at a time. Let one of the nostrils become fully congested with rebound and use nasal spray in the other. It’s slightly uncomfortable, but only in one nostril. By using the spray in only one nostril, you can let the other side completely rebound and then open up on its own (and hopefully it will open up within 24-36 hours). Once the unsprayed nostril is opened fully, stop using the spray in the other nostril and let it rebound (again, 24-36 hours). Assuming there aren’t underlying allergy or cold conditions that are congesting you, you should be able to get off of the spray with this method. This is the exact method I use to stop using nasal spray after a bad cold forces me to use them. The addition is easy. Stopping can seem difficult until you do realize you can do it nostril at a time.
Good luck.
May 17th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
I’ve been using the nasal sprays like Afrin for 15+ years…so long in fact that I can’t remember why I started them, though my guess is due to my allergies I get in the fall (hay fever). It used to just be a sniff off the bottle before bedtime, then it progressed to a sniff every couple hours just to be able to breathe through my nose.
A couple days ago I did a google search for ‘addicted to nasal sprays’ and I got 183,000 hits…UNBELIEVEABLE. I ran across this site and read through a lot of the posts and it’s nice to see I’m not the only one that’s suffered with this. I got an idea from a couple posts to try and just sniff the stuff into one nostril and leave the other one alone until I can breathe freely through it without the use of the spray. Right now I’m on day 2 and it’s really not that bad, I just hope it doesn’t get worse as the days go by. When this is all said and done, I’ll never use the stuff again. It’s so frustrating to not be able to breathe through my nose without a sniff, as so many of you can relate.
May 26th, 2009 at 8:10 am
Just by way of update… it’s been just a few days short of 2 years that I’ve been off nose spray, and I couldn’t be happier about it. It was this website (see message 133) and the the titration method mentioned early-on that let me do it after 35 years. I’ve “shot-up” nose spray only 3 times in the past 3 years, each time when I had an extreme cold. Each time after the stuff kicked in I realized how absolutely easy it would be to get hooked on the stuff again. It takes will power, that’s for sure.
But here’s to all the people who’ve been to this site and are trying to stay off the stuff. I know your courage and determination!
And to those of you who think it’s impossible: it’s not. I, and dozens like me, are living proof that indeed it CAN be done. Just get past those first few days and you’ll be free of that demon forever. Fingers crossed for you all.
May 31st, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Awesome job Gerry! 35 years??? Wow, you’re inspiration to us all!
July 11th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
I’ve been reading this blog for about a year now, and you all have been an inspiration to me, since I have been addicted to nasal spray for about 15 years.
I used the “one nostril at a time” method. It took me about 1 month before the first nostril finally opened up. Then I quit on the other nostril, but my nose would still close up one nostril every night for another month or so, so I used the “breathe right” strips to help it open up a little.
After over 2 months, I can now breathe from both nostrils day and night, without any problem.
I will never go back to nasal spray again. Never!
To all of you that just decided to kick this addiction: you can do it. It takes patience and a lot of strength, but you can make it, and life is so much better knowing you don’t have to reach for that bottle again just to be able to breathe!
July 14th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
I’m 20 years old and I used to be an Otrivin addict. I began using Otrivin after I suddenly, and mysteriously, began getting extremely congested every night, causing me to lose a lot of sleep. Almost two years went by before I finally decided to quit. It was the day after my high school graduation when 16 years old. The severe rebound congestion did slowly dissipate, however, after about two months, the progress seemed to plateau and I was still left with congestion at night. Unfortunately, after being off Otrivin for about 4 months, I gave in and began using again. I ended up using for my entire first year of college, but decided to quit again when the summer began. However, like the first time, my progress seemed to plateau after about a month. My doctor referred me to an ENT, who determined that I had a deviated septum and large turbinates. In August 2008, over two years after quitting Otrivin for the second time, I had septoplasty surgery. After fully healing, I didn’t notice a huge difference in relation to my congestion problem. I began using Otrivin again, albeit very rarely and sparingly, for the next few months when the nighttime congestion was really bad. Fortunately, I avoided getting hooked by using so infrequently. After follow up appointments with my ENT, we set a date for turbinate reduction surgery, which occurred in May 2009. After healing, I still have some congestion at night. It’s better than before, but it’s still a little disappointing to know it’s not gone. I’m guessing that this is as good as it’s going to get for me, but I’d rather have it this way than being a slave to a bottle of Otrivin ever again.
Take care and good luck!
Angie
July 17th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Hi- I never new this website existed. It is amazing to see all these people that are in the same boat as me. Wow. I have been addicted to one or another nose spray for almost 18yrs now. I have gotten better over the last couple of years because instead of using about 2 bottles a week I generally go through about 1 every other week. But I do get nose bleeds, migraines, and loss of smell and taste very frequently. I think I am going to try to do the slow cold turkey, not the one nostril at a time because to be honest I have no will power. I have been somewhat overweight all my adult life and part of my teens and never had the will to loose it. So I am afraid I won’t have the will to push past this. Wish me luck.
July 20th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
WOW. I thought I was the only one! Been on Otrivine for about 10 years. I have tried to go cold turkey in the past and its been hell. I was prescribed Nasonex by a great doctor, I didn’t think it would work when I first tried it, but I did manage to get off the Otrivine,then the Nasonex was easy. Unfortunately I developed a cold a couple of weeks later and was so blocked that I couldn’t even swallow. I went straight back on the Otrivine but it didn’t work! Once a real cold sets in the Otrivine was in effective but the addiction was back.
3 years later - here I am trying again. With all the swine flu around I wanted to kick the stuff to give myself a bit of a head start incase I get the H1N1. I am on day 4 and cant believe how easy it is this time. I just keep sniffing Karvel on a tissue. The only thing is a headache! Is this normal during withdrawal!! I dont trust the big Pharma companies anyway, but I now see that Otrivine have a new product especially for babies….. get them started early boys!!
July 23rd, 2009 at 6:38 am
A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE CREATOR AND MEMBERS OF THIS WEBSITE.
I didn’t think I was addicted to nasal spray…how can you become addicted to something that is so easily accessible at your pharmacy? Then this week, I started to notice that I was taking more and more of the nasal spray getting less and less relief. I brought it up to my Aunt, and she explained that she was addicted to nasal spray and gave me the grim future I would endure if I didn’t stop immediately. So, I think to myself, ok..I’ll just stop it. Yeah, that didn’t go so well. Yesterday was my first day off nasal spray. By noon I was 100% blocked in both nostrils and went to my pharmacist and told her I had abused the product and needed to get off it. She gave me the Netti Pot and Sudafed…first use, I actually felt relief..then no dice..blocked so bad that I actually stuck cutips up my nose to try and break through the mucus. (don’t try this, it’s painful and does not work).
So I spent the rest of the day and night reading this website..every single post. I have decided to try the one nostril at a time. My left one seems to already have improved, but my right one is still completely blocked (and I just sprayed it less than a half hour ago). So I added saline spray into my Sinex bottle to help dilute the solution in hopes that this will aid me in the weining off process. My problem is that I have multiple health conditions and the sudafed increases my heart rate to about 140-160. So I take Claritin. Does it help..no not really..but sometimes a little. My only hope is that I know my left nostril is adjusting but I’m worried about the right side. I have severely underdeveloped nasal passages to begin with…but I have decided that when I can’t sleep due to the pressure the ear aches and headaches, I will read through this website over and over. I can say that the Neti-pot is crap…for trying to get off nasal spray. Although, I think that once you are off of it, you should use it regularly to help keep your passages clear.
I am disgusted with this problem and feel for each and every one of you! I am going to look into what we can do as a team to fight these companies and get this stuff off the shelves, or atleast make the bottles come with only 3 days worth of spray. If you are interested in joining in my fight, please email me. I am a paralegal and currently layed off, I feel that me researching how to get these corporations to put huge warnings on these bottles and they should only be dispensed by a doctor, will help me combat my own addiction. I will wait for some replies to my post before I put out my public email addy. To make a change we will all need to band together. These products are not FDA regulated, and NEED TO BE! It’s worse than anything out there…honestly, I would rather be addicted to crack than this..at least I could go into rehab and get full time assistance to kick the bottle.
Thank you again, for being my shining light through this painful, distressing process…and I wish each and everyone of of you the BEST of luck!!!!
July 25th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Amanda, the people who make the Neti Pot also make a plastic squeeze bottle that uses the same saline packets. WalMart sells both. It works much better than the Neti Pot and is easier to use. You do need to have your nasal passages open to use these products, however. Get them open with the evil nasal spray (if necessary) and then use the nasal irrigation product right away.
Good luck in ridding yourself of this addiction.
July 27th, 2009 at 2:02 am
Hi Del, Yeah, I’ve tried that too..I think I’ve tried every home remedy available on the internet. I am totally blocked and have been for about 4 hours. I woke up and had total congestion (I had used the spray 2 hours earlier)..so I guess this is the time I just go cold turkey…nothing else seems to help..other than my wonderful nasal spray collection. But I’m going to try my hardest to not use it until 5 am today..and only 1 squirt. Gosh, that’s like saying I’m only going to smoke a little crack.This is the most difficult thing I’ve ever encountered. I give major thumbs up to any of you who have been strong enough to get past this!!!
My husband broke 2 toes last night…so I have to take him to the doctor..so I think I’ll make an appointment and see if I can get some other assistance to help me..cuz I really don’t think I can do this alone. I’m so tired and clogged..I could honestly say I would have my nose removed right now if it would give me the “quick fix” we are all so acustum to. But i do have to say if it wasn’t for this website..I’d be drinking the spray by now!!!
July 28th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Well I went to the doctor yesterday and I definitely F’ed up my nose. He said my tubes were completely shut. I didn’t even tell him I just squirted 30minutes prior to our visit. He gave me prednisone and steroid nasal spray..and I haven’t sprayed since 4am this morning!!!! I just kept looking at the clock and told myself, 15 more minutes..and here I am 9 hours later with NO nasal spray. No netti pot needed. He gave me Nasicort..and I think it’s really helped. I take OTC tylenol cold..because that’s all I can take due to a heart condition, and as long as I pop that pill every 4 hours, I’m ok. I hope you all are doing well, and I just keep telling myself Mind over Matter! Good Luck!!!!!
September 9th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Please help me get through this. I stopped the nasal spray two days ago. I have used it on a daily basis for at least 30 years. I don’t really remember when it began, but, now, it must end. My sinuses are sore and clogged, but, I am determined to end this habit once and for all. I need to know when it will get better. One week? Two weeks? A month or two or three?
I take Sudafed and use a saline spray. The first night, I slept three hours and then not again for four, followed by four hours. The next night was about the same. Sitting up is better, but, I can’t sleep sitting up.
I will persevere. I managed to quit smoking cold turkey seven years ago.
I just need a few words of encourgaement. Thanks a lot.
September 10th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Day Three just began. Last night was horrendous. I was up for most of it with one or the other nostril completely clogged. The only good thing is that if I switch sides, one nostril drains, leaving the other blocked, so, if I can get used to sleeping with one blocked nostril then I think I can manage. I resisted using the dreaded nasal spray. I will not use it ever again.
By the way, if any of the readers need help quitting smoking, go to my Blog and read how I did it. Quitting smoking is way harder than quitting nasal spray. I loved smoking. I smoked for 32 years and quit Cold Turkey.
I am approaching my 58th birthday. I guess it’s true that one gets wiser as one ages.
September 11th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
How I Quit Smoking ….
http://willpower-lauriem.blogspot.com/
September 12th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Hi All,
I just want to say that reading all these entries helped me a great deal.. I started using Afrin back in Jan/Feb timeframe.. I knew it was addictive so I purposely read the bottle in an attempt to be careful in using it.. The bottle said, not to use more than twice daily…which I didn’t.. After using this product for about a month, I noticed that my breathing was worse and I couldn’t stop using it.. I kept blaming my allergies for the stuffy nose and was completely blind sided when I read the very bottom portion of the directions that reads “do not use for more than 3 consecutive days… I knew at that very moment I had a BIG problem.
I ended up using the Afrin up to 5 times a day to try and stay clear but there were times even that would not work. I had the addiction for about 7 months total. I finally decided to see an Allergist/ENT to see what he had to suggest. Prior to that, I tried using a neti-pot, and I tried cold turkey to stop using the stuff in one nostril but it didn’t work.. I went to the Dr., told him about my addiction and he gave me a prescription nasal spray called Veramist. I quit the Afrin that day and used only the Veramist and Zycam on occasion. I was clear almost instantly.. I don’t know how or why but it worked amazingly for me. I quickly stopped using the Zycam and weaned myself down to just the Veramist, and then to nothing. I have been clean from Afrin for 6 weeks, and clean from ALL nasal sprays for about 2 weeks. No horrible rebound congestion and no sleepless nights. I sleep better now than I did using the Afrin.. My allergies are better and I am not using ANY nasal sprays. I don’t know that this combo will work for everyone but I thought I would share what worked for me in the event someone decides to give it a try. I will NEVER by Afrin or any other addicting nasal spray again!
September 12th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
I knew I could not be alone in this. I originally began using a spray contaning the evil Oxymetazoline Hydrochloride 0.05% over 4 months ago for allergies associted with my fiance’s cat. This prooved to be the only way to relieve that temporarily, but I noticed the usage kept slowly increasing. She would wake me during the night to say I was snoring VERY loudly, but having been married for over a decade previously I knew I did not snore. I could not sleep as it felt like I was drowning. I used the spray and it worked…until morning. I knew I needed to stop, but I could not as the swelling of the passages and lack of air was unbearable. Tonight is my first attempt to go cold turkey and I am 4 hours in hoping for the best. Here’s hoping!
September 14th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Well it has now been almost 48 hours of pain, and misery, coupled with a violent headache and bouts of vomiting. The good news is I can breathe again…at least better. Having a public speaking experience in 3 days I feared I would not be cleared up in time, and have to go for another “fix”, but luck may be on my side as I can’t wait to shed this demon.
September 14th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Well, if you are anything like me, I used for thirty plus years and last night, I was only stuffed for about a half hour without taking any Sudafed and only using Saline spray. It has been a week since I quit the spray. This was a lot easier than kicking the smoking habit. Hang in there!
September 14th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Laurie, you hang in there. I used for 30 years too. It’s something you can do! You won’t have to have bottles stashed everywhere you go. Keep it up and you’ll be clean. You’re almost there!
September 16th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Thanks Del … I still get up halfway through the night to try to clear my nose. I am really tired. It is getting better, but, just once, I would like to sleep a solid four or five hours. I will keep on, keep on.
September 17th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Last night was much better. I believe that the worst is over. Hallelujah!
September 18th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
or not.
September 26th, 2009 at 10:55 am
NO MORE AFRIN FOR ME I have high blood pressure and using afrin for a couple days raised my blood pressure through the roof,and that’s with being on blood pressure meds. I was close to going to the hospital for it. So, if you have high blood pressure don’t use Afrin, if not, keep an eye on your blood pressure. From everything I’ve read about Afrin I think they should take it off the market conpletely.
September 26th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Hang in there Laurie! I quit a couple of months ago after years of using the spray, and every once in a while I still get one clogged nostril at night, but most of the nights they’re both clear now.
It takes time, but eventually your nose will clear up and get back to normal. And the feeling of not having to reach for the bottle everywhere you go is wonderful!
September 27th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Thank you Rose … I still wake up at least once during the night with one clogged nostril. I use the Saline Mist then and it helps unstuff it. Usually, I am so tired that I fall asleep with the one clogged nostril before the Saline Mist gets a chance to “declog”. I must agree With Dan in that Afrin and all the others in the same category should be a Behind The Counter item. There should be a more serious warning placed on these products.
November 10th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Looks like I’ve got lots of company with nose spray addiction. I’ve been addicted on and off most of my life. Afrin no longer works for me…using Nostrilla now. I tried and tried to kick the habit last year….failure.
Doc prescribed me Medrol to try and kick the habit - which I havent tried yet.
I just don’t have the willpower right now to go through feeling like someone poured cement into my head. You really need to be in the right frame of mind to attempt to kick the habit. UGHHH.
November 10th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Jeff, this is the first time I’ve heard of Medrol being prescribed. If you end up using it, please come back and share with the group as to how effective it was at combating the rebound congestion! Thanks!
Jim
December 4th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I never did try the Medrol…as reading about the drug gives me second thoughts - and will probably toss the med out.
There has got to be SOMETHING (at least somewhat proven) out there to help kick the habbit. Quitting cold turkey just aint for me.
December 4th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Hi I’ve been using Mucinex Full Force Nasal Spray and it’s been great! I understand they just disontinued it in the summer time. I really only use a spray during spring and fall hay fever seasons but have had a cold this week and it really helped out a lot. I don’t seem to have any problem stopping use. Is this why the company removed it from the market because it wasn’t addicting?
December 12th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
This is miserable! I got sick so went to the doc. She told me to stop with the Afrin because of the rebound congestion. I didn’t tell her that I’ve been addicted to this shit for 4 years, I was too embarassed (but that was before I knew that there are others going through it too!). She gave me Fluticasone Propionate to help with the congestion. I took two sprays in each nostril last night before I went to bed. It hasn’t helped in the slightest. I slept 4 hours and have been in misery ever since. How long do I have to wait until I can freaking breathe? I’m dying here.
December 12th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Two suggestions for what it’s worth (works for me).
-Simply Saline plain nasal spray mist in aerosol can at Walmart. Red & White can. You can also put this into a rinsed-out nasal pump sprayer like the ones from Astelin for a finer mist.
-Vicks white greaseless cream in a tube (NOT Vicks Vapo Rub ointment). Walmart carries it, too. Take a very tiny amount and put it on your fingertip. Rub it on the outside of your nose on the side that is blocked.
Good luck!
December 17th, 2009 at 8:04 am
Well - I DID IT!! I am OFF the nose spray! Hard for me to believe after being hooked for over 2 years.
I really had no choice, it got to the point where the nose spray was causing me considerable sinus pain, repeated sneezing, and flat out didn’t work (I tried several including Afrin).
Two rough nights trying to sleep….
I did take the Medrol (tapered dose pack - I recommend it), which really helped with the tremendous sinus pressure. Side effects noted were fatigue, head ache, aches and pains. However I’m not sure if this was from the meds or withdrawal (maybe both). I felt weak and beat up, but didn’t care because that monkey was FINALLY off my back.
When you are ready to kick the spray - get something to help you survive (again Medrol worked for me). As most of you know, the sinus pressure alone after stopping for over 12 hours gets practically unbearable.
December 28th, 2009 at 4:14 am
I have has allergies my entire life. I also have a blocked sinus and have a history of sinus infections. A couple of years ago I got a really bad cold which later became an infection. I started using Nostrilla during this time to get sleep at night as I couldnt breathe. As time passed I found that I was using it more and more. As I write this I can’t breathe through my nose at all, and I am finally realizing that my allergies are not the only problem here,..as at first I thought moving to a new area may have triggered some new allergies. Now I can see that it is the nose spray. I am so thankful to have found this site. And so begins my efforts to break this cycle….thanks for sharing your stories everyone. I am hoping I have found a solution to my problem here. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
January 2nd, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Just an update,…because I am not working and do not have health insurance right now, going to the doctor is not an option. So I opted to try the cold turkey–alternating sides method mentioned above by others. I am on my fifth day. No spray in the right,…using spray in the left. I am taking a decongestion both night and day (Nyquil at night and non-drowsy sudafed PE for congestion and sinus swelling during the day). I have noticed less congestion already in the right side,…I can tolerate the discomfort so far,..as the biggest complaint is the really bad headache and sinus pressure. In a few days I will stop the spray on the left, continue with the oral decongestions and see what happens! Keep your fingers crossed! I’ll keep you all posted.
January 4th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Hi everyone! First off, I’ve been a nasal spray user (Sinex) for close to 15 years. I’d always wanted to quit, but couldn’t STAND being stuffy! It was miserable. I decided to try the Rhinostat kit as a last resort.
Surprisingly, it really did work for me! I was able to get down to 12% active ingredient before I suffered a major setback. I took a trip to Wisconsin…home of endless clouds of cigarette smoke. I clogged up and couldn’t get ANY relief with my dilution of Rhinostat. I broke down and added several drops of Afrin to my Rhinostat bottle. Since then, I’ve been continuing to dilute the kit and make progress. Rhinostat was even nice enough to send me an additional bottle of the saline free of charge so that I could continue my hard work.
I too find that Simply Saline helps during the day. I clog up the most at night when I lay down. When that happens, a few shots of Simply Saline works perfectly. I am continuing to use my Rhinostat kit, but very infrequently. I finally feel like I am close to being free of this stuff once and for all. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!
I’ve enjoyed reading all of your stories and hope that you all find a way that works for you. Nasal spray is nasty stuff. Here’s to hoping that we can all get off of it for good!
January 14th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Well,…so far my progress is good. I am down to one spray at night time before bed just on the left side. Completely done with the right side. This week I will stop the single squirt on the left side. I’m still using the antihistamines,..but that I will have to continue to use because of allergies. So far the worst symptoms have been the headaches. Even the stuffiness can’t compare to that,..and like some of you indicated the feeling of being really tired. But I am determined and will keep pushing forward. This will be my third week. I use to go through a bottle of nose spray a week, using it four to five times a day, 2-3 squirts per side of the nose each time (supposed to last 12 hrs.–yeah right!). So I am progressing obviously,….will keep you posted. This is insidious stuff,…you don’t know you’re addicted until it is too late. I can’t believe that the FDA hasn’t addressed this issue,..considering all the publicity over pain med addictions! Take care everyone!
January 14th, 2010 at 10:26 pm
I finally had a good night’s sleep in early October and it is fine now. So, in all, it took a month. I don’t miss it.
January 18th, 2010 at 10:00 am
It all started in the Navy in 1969 with a little bottle of nose drops to unplug my stuffy nose. Wasn’t long before daily use was required. After a long road up the spray trail with Neo-Synepherine, Dristan, and Vicks Sinex I ended up with what would be my constant companion, 4-Way Nasal Spray. Oddly, I had tried Afrin a couple of times but it made me even more stuffy.
I would not go anywhere without my little bottle, 24/7/365 it was either in my pocket or within arms reach for my almost hourly sniffs. I was constantly shaking the bottle and guaging if I had enough to last me until my next stop at the drugstore. Heaven was when I had a full supply of 2 or three full bottles standing by.
Like a hardened drug user, I kept my habit secret from all who knew me. I’d slip away before a meal to “wash my hands”. Or run back in the house before a trip in the car because “I forgot something”. It was shameful but I needed that “fix” in order to not be miserable.
Otherwise healthy and only slightly overweight, I’ve always been told that I had borderline high blood pressure. I’d sometimes see spots floating, hear swishing noises in my ears, red face, flushed feeling, etc.
Last year I started feeling weird in my chest. Not pain, just a fluttering kinda feeling that I immediately hoped wasn’t caused by my addiction. But I wasn’t about to give it up just to see if that was it, oh no.
Then on vacation (with a couple of spare bottles in my luggage), I had a heart attack. Not a typical heart attack caused by clogged arteries. My large right coronary artery developed a weak spot, semi-collapsed and clots developed behind it.
Angioplasy, a large stent to shore up the weak spot, and I’m good as new as far as no heart or arterial disease is concerned.
I had a long talk with a doctor friend and told him about my almost half-century addiction and could that have contributed to the weakening of my artery. Well, no one knows for sure but that combined with my blood pressure and smoking certainly wasn’t a healthy mix.
I have never smoked more than a pack a week but I have smoked regularly since my Navy days. I never quit because I had no reason to. I enjoyed it and there weren’t any outward signs that it was hurting me.
Now for the life changing, amazing part of this story.
After the stent was placed in my artery and I was in my room, I had an oxygen breathing tube on the end of my nose. My nose never plugged up once and after five days of hospitalization (with oxygen the whole time), I have not used nasal spray again - not even once. What’s amazing is, I haven’t felt as if I “had to have it” or be miserable. And I also cold-turkeyed smoking as well.
After a year of no spray, no smoke, my blood pressure is back to normal and I feel great.
I still sometimes find myself patting my pockets for the reassurance that little bottle used to bring . . . a residual of my 41 year habit, but otherwise I am fortunate to have had something like that change my life in a way that only those of you reading this can appreciate.
Good luck to you all and don’t give up . . the grass *IS* greener on the otherside of this fence.
January 18th, 2010 at 10:30 am
A-Bear, what a phenomenal journey! Very well articulated story. Thanks for sharing!
January 18th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Thank you Jim. One other thing I have learned over the years that may save someone else some grief . . . when using the spray bottle, be very careful not to squeeze it and *release* it while the tip is still in your nasal cavity. It will *suck* moisture from your nose back into the bottle making it very easy to end up with a nasty bacterial infection that won’t clear up as long as you keep using that *tainted* bottle.
February 13th, 2010 at 11:41 am
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February 16th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
I did it! I have finally put the nose spray burden behind me. And while it took a little time to kick this habit by going cold turkey,….it is defintely do-able! I no longer feel like I have a cold 24-7. And the stuffy feeling is no where close to what it was,…with allergies I expect to have some,..but now it is bearable. Thank you to this site for helping me to see the truth behind this ugly secret we all shared. I am so happy to have this behind me. This will be my last entry. Good luck to all of you and for you that are just now beginning your journey,…stick with it,..you can do it too!
February 16th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Great to hear Jen! Good luck to you, nasal spray free!
February 17th, 2010 at 11:21 am
Hey everyone, I have been held captive to the Vicks Sinex for 15 years. I never thought that I would ever need to quit using it. You see it wasn’t until about 6 months ago I started having severe panic attacks. I ended up at the emergency room and they told me that my Vick’s inhaler had increased my levels of anxiety and that i needed to quit using it. Well easy for them to say, I have tried and the pain is unbelievable. So I went to my doctor and he gave me prednisone, which by the way increases anxiety which I already have. I want to quit but I am so freaking out. I don’t know if I can take the prednisone when I am already having anxiety over the thought of it.
I have to say thank you to all of you who post. Without all of your stories I would never even attempt to quit. I know this is going to be the hardest thing I will ever have to do but each time I read one of the stories it pushes me to quit even more! Thank you!
February 17th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Hello, my name is Cristen and I am a nasel spray user. I have been a slave to this drug for over a year. I quit cold turkey today, now only 14hrs and 53min later I am in pain, my ears are pluged, my nose is pluged, and every few hours it begings to run. Im not going to give in though. I know this is going to be hard, but worth it. I will keep a day by day update of my progress. WISH ME LUCK!!!
February 17th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
Good luck to you Harmony and Cristen! You’re going to need it.
February 17th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
Thankyou Jim, Im sure im going to have a sleepless night. but I have a three day weekend comming up, I just blew my nose here at work and startled one of my co-workers.
February 17th, 2010 at 9:39 pm
Im still miserable, right now my left side is driping a white fluid, and the right is semi clear. The pressure has decreased a little. Im about to take a hot shower and take Sudafed PE maximum strength Sinus & Allergy, Im hopeing it will just take the edge off. I also got Breath Right Extra Nose Strips. My ears are poping back and forth, and I feel like some sort of retard with my mouth wide open, no pun intented. But I believe I got threw day one well. I do see light at the end of the tunnel.
February 18th, 2010 at 9:06 am
This morning is a little better, last night I slept good, mouth is a little dry, and the left side is still plugged, the right is in and out of plugged state. I never thought the first time I used nose spray would lead to this, it truely is a bad bad bad drug. I have nine hours to go here at work then a three day weekend. Hopefully by Monday Im not as stuffed up.
February 18th, 2010 at 10:13 am
Im annoyed, and tired. Its only day two. I am happy that i had about two hours of normal breathing this moring so I cant complain, but this is hard. Im beging to feel like this Blog is helping me though. I feel talking about it is the best thing I can do right now.
February 18th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Not as annoyed at the moment, the pressure has tremendously subsided and its alternating sides of stuffiness
Not bad for day two.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Keep going - you can do this, don’t give up! In a few days you will feel so much better and you will be rid of this!
Keep busy!
February 18th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Comming to and end of day two, breathing almost clearly threw my nose, left side is slightly plugged up. but not bad!
February 21st, 2010 at 9:04 am
Christen, don’t give up! It’s a very difficult habit to shake but you will be overjoyed once you get this “monkey” off your back. Read my post #393 - 41 years of almost hourly usage and I kicked it. You can too. Best of luck!
February 22nd, 2010 at 5:00 pm
DAY 6 and Im clear, little stuffed up, but so much better! Very Hard thing to do, but i did it. ahh its wonderful!
February 25th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
It as been one week and one day, Im nose spray free, but I still have a little stuffed up feeling in my left side, And the cold air hurts very bad, but other then that Ima doing great.
March 1st, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Hey everyone!
First of all I live in Finland (Europe) so my english is not so good. But I just had to write and say THANK YOU to everybody who has written to this site.
I have been using nasel sprays for about 15 years (I’m 31 now). Only 2 weeks ago I was thinking for sure, that I have to use them for rest of my life. Then I found this website and started reading all of your stories. After reading I decided I had to stop cold turkey. I dont have to say to you how hard the first two days were. Few times I had to stand in front of my mirror, watch my self in to the eyes and say to my self “you can do this, you can do this”. And you know what? It has been 11 days since I last used nasel spray, and I feel great. I can sleep 8 hours straight!! (before I woke up 2-3 times every night) Unreal… Just unreal…
I was the guy who had that little bottle with him everywhere he went for last 15 years. Every time I left my house I checked I had my keys, wallet, mobile phone and nasel spray. Thats behind me now. I will never use them again…
I’m crying right now. These are tears of happiness. Tears of sympathy. Tears of gratitude.
Thank you all. Keep on fighting.
March 1st, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Markus! Your english is excellent. We all had our little bottles with us. Now you are free! No more addiction. Congratulations on your new freedom. We are all proud of you.
March 3rd, 2010 at 5:31 pm
As a sufferer of hay fever, I became addicted to nose drops about 10 years ago. I would say I used them every couple of hours for 5 years. I had bottles all over the place, sometimes I would go out and forget to bring a bottle along so I would have to stop at the store to add another bottle to my collection. I would lay on my back and just shoot the medicine up my nose, the little squeeze a mist is pointless when you can’t breathe. Then I stopped cold turkey. I ate allergy medicine like candy to try and stay somewhat clear but after about 2 weeks I was free. I had a bad cold a few weeks ago and went back to the drops, was only on them a few days but seem to be stuck again. I think if you have been addicted before, you are probably a bit sensitized and can end up easily addicted again. So here I go again, Claritine-D and cold turkey…I’m not doing that 5 year thing again.
March 4th, 2010 at 1:54 am
Well its 140 in the morning and my head is going to explode and I have a mountain of toilet paper next to me because my nose won’t stop running. If I sniff it feels like in sniffing pepper which starts me sneezing. Since I’ve been up my right side has loosened up but the left is still locked up tight. I probably wasn’t very clear up above. What I meant to say was I had a cold, used the drops for a few days, and tried to stop but found out I was hooked again. I’ve been now using them for 2 weeks and already up to about 10 times during the day and 3 times at night. I’m hoping that this will be the worst of it since its only been 2 weeks and not 5 years like before. Look, if you come to this place and read these posts, you can do it. I was pretty much a closet sniffer like everyone else because it is embarrasing. I don’t even think my wife new the extent of my problem (which I am trying very hard here not to recreate) but quit using the drops, you are going to have a few bad days and worse nights, but believe me, it will be worth it after its over.
March 8th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
You can do it Scott, I know its hard, I know that your head kills ya, Just wait untill you dont have to wake up in the middle of the night! your going to love it!!!
March 9th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Thanks Cristen, I’m just a little stuffy now in the morning but the worse is behind me. I just take a antihistamine when I get up and I seem to be OK for the rest of the day. Luckily it was only a couple weeks use versus the 5 years as before. Be careful if you were addicted for a long time once, because it sure doesn’t seem to take long to get stuck again.
March 10th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
Good to hear, i can honestly say that the first three days sucked bad, and i beleve im three weeks in today. and its wonderful. im not stuffy, and i can breath again, and i can smell everything again, its wonderful.! oh did i mention food taste soooo good too! lol after reading so many bad things about nose spray i will never stick that up my nose again ever. the worst thing a heard was that it can detach the placenta from your fetus. now if that dont stop you i dont know what will. food for though right there!!