is it okay to use saline nasal mist a lot? - Allergies Message Board

eatnow · 09-01-2006, 10:44 AM

I assume there is nothing wrong with using it a lot? I've been using an otc saline nasal mist by Ayr and was wondering if it is okay to do that and is it making my nose drier? It is suppose to be just salt/water, but the ingredients list a lot of stuff compared to other saline sprays and was wondering if that is a bad thing? Just concerned that i might be using the ayr salnie nasal mist too much since i go through a bottle of those every 3-4 days since the weather been really hot/humid lately in cailfornia (usually throw away the ayr saline nasal mist bottle once it is about 60% used up since it doesn't seem to give the same effect when its starts to get low) and that it is actually making my nose even more dry? I read that some people that the saline nasal sprays in the long run actually makes your nose more dry?

sneezydiva · 09-01-2006, 12:25 PM

I don't think saline dries you out. Immediately after my sinus surgery, I was told to use it constantly. If I'm not mistaken, Ayr is preservative free. In any event, since you use it so often, you want to make sure it is preservative free, as it is the preservatives that can dry you out an create problems.

Have you tried nasal irrigation? Actually irrigating your nose once or twice a day, would probably help you not need to use the spray as often.

eatnow · 09-01-2006, 02:33 PM

I do sinus rinse once a day or once every few days. Other than that, i use otc saline mist like ayr, ocean, etc. IT seems almost all of them list somethign like preserved with disodium EDTA and benzalkonium choloride (listed by ayr). Ocean otc saline spray list phenycabinol and benzalkonium choloride as preservatives. I think almost all otc saline nasal sprays include preservatives in it except Simply saline which mentions how its preservative free, etc. HOwever all the otc nasal spryas mention how their not habit forming, etc and how their non medicated. So i have no idea what those preservatives are in the otc saline nasal sprays

MountainReader · 09-01-2006, 08:55 PM

I am in a hot desert climate with low humidity so the nasal moisturizers are a must for me too.

Have you tried Xlear soothing and moisturizing nasal wash with xylitol. The ingredients are purified water, xylitol, saline, and grapfood seed extract. I am an Ayr user, but the last comple months I have been having some success with Xlear. I haven't found it at most of the local stores where I typically get the Ayr, but my pharmacist carries it.

eatnow · 09-02-2006, 10:14 AM

I'll have to look into that, but ihave found a brand called simply saline which is just purified water and .9%sodium chloride. I believe its the only brand that is perservative free, etc. I was just curiuos if all those otc saline sprays were non habit forming. It seems as though when i use ayr i tend to get moreaddicted to it. Just kind of afraid its like Afrin, where it causes an addiction. Or maybe its just in my head and its the weather which is making my nose more dry and i just need it more? I just want to make sure Ayr isn't habit forming even htough it mentinos how its non medicated, alcohol free and how you can use it as often as needed like all the other otc saline nasal sprays.