Addicted to NASAL SPRAY

[kitkat77]

Many years ago I had a bad cold and decided to try Otrivin. I loved the stuff and did not heed the warning written on the label about rebound congestion. Well, that cold never went away.

I finally went to the doctor after someone asked me why whenever they saw me, I was holding kleenex. He knew what it was but sent me for allergy tests and whatnot, to be sure. Turns out his initial thought was correct - I developed vasomotor rhinitis, brought on by overuse of decongestant nasal spray.

At one point in my life when I couldn't stand it anymore, he prescribed me prednisone which I stupidly thought was a cure. He told me there was no cure for this and told me the only thing I could do would be to move west, that the climate would help.

I refused to believe him and asked to see a specialist. The specialist was a surgeon who wanted to create scar tissue in my nasal cavity, and he claimed it would help. I was ecstatic, ran to my doctor and told him of my impending surgery. My doctor told me I was wasting my time and that I would be sorry. I told him there HAD to be a cure. Well the first surgery did nothing and the second surgery did nothing but alter the shape of my nose in a negative way. My doctor was right.

It's now 18 years later and I still have vasomotor rhinitis, and I never once used an OTC nasal spray again in all this time. Oral decongestants work better anyway - pseudoephenedrine is my best friend! I take them only on special occassions though - they are expensive and I don't want any side effects. Eltor 120 is a good one, also I really like the new Liberator by Claritin. Other than that I use Secaris Gel, which is a topical decongestant that is non addicting and has no side effects.

I always thought no-one elses nose was worse than mine either. I feel bad for you all and certainly understand your suffering.

[westhills2]

Man, I really know where everyone is coming from on this one, and feel sorry for anyone who has to deal with it. People who don't have congestion or allergies are SO lucky. My sister and I both have terrible hayfever and my brother is completely allergy free. Not fair!!!

I spent at least 5 years addicted to OTC nasal spray, mostly 4 Way and Afrin. The cure is worse than the disease. The rebound effect takes hold and won't let go. I got to the point to where I used them every few hours, no matter what, just to be able to breathe. And that was year round, and I claimed to only suffer from seasonal allergies.

One day, I just decided that enough was enough. I stopped, cold turkey. My wife was out of town on a business trip, and I had a few days off, and I decided it was then or never. The best thing I can say is get off it now. It was 4 days of nothing but pure hell, but after that things started to get better. Once you stop, don't ever use it again. I have fallen off the wagon a couple of times, and it's almost as hard to get over the rebound effect after two days usage as it was 5 years. Might have something to do with permanent damage done to the nasal passages.

I haven't had any surgeries or assessment of the damage done to my nasal passages. Now that I have read a lot on this board I might. I live in Wyoming and love to fish and hike and be in the mountains so having allergies and not being able to breathe is tough. I am now taking prescription allergy medication and OTC degongestants. Sudafed and Eltor 120 work well. But the lesson is, get off OTC nasal spray NOW!

[Titchou]

My sister was addicted to Afrin a number of years ago. Her doctor finally got thru to her about the rebound effect. She used Nasalcrom to do it...I believe she said that it was invented to get people off OTC nasal sprays. And I second the saline use! Good luck.

[gramma50]

Hello! I am new to this site (as of today) and am amazed at the number of postings of several situations that i feel apply to me. I have been suffering with ongoing illness for the last 10 months ~ i was the person that would go to a dr once a year, kicking and screaming, for a physical because i never was sick. In 10 months i have been diagnosed with pnemonia, asthma, COPD, and allergies. I have been hospitalized (for 2-3 days at a time) 4 times, and numerous trips to emergency. My dr (i found a new dr in Ontario ~ Yay!!) and I are almost like best friends, i've been to see him so often in the last while. I have had constant congestion since last August/04, and the only time it seems that i can breathe through my nose is when i am on prednizone, which i've been on 4 times this year already. I have tried the flonase and found it did work, and do use the saline spray as well regularly. The last visit to the dr i was told i had a severe ear infection and was given Biaxin XL. Infection cleared up, but now my hearing has been extremely muffled ~ i am constantly asking people to repeat themselves, need the television turned up full, can't hear the telephone ring. It's very frustrating. Yesterday i went to do groceries and was very nervous driving! I am taking oil of oregano (2-3 drops twice daily) and i have just started taking colloidal silver (1 tsp daily x 14 days). I really hope something works. I am getting so sick of being sick!!! I also don't want to be taking a lot of conventional drugs ~ i feel i have had too many prescriptions over the last little while. For my asthma i am taking Advair500 diskus 2 puffs 2x daily, and ventolin as required, which has been quite frequent these last few days here!! I would appreciate any feedback at all. Thank you!

[Vortex2999]

Hello all again - I posted earlier that I too am a nasal spray junkie. Well, I have been clean for 3 days now - breathing free as a bird. So, I want to pass along what has been working for me so hopefully it will help others.

I got a prescription for Methylprednisolone tablets (oral steroids step-down pack). You take 6 the first day, 5 the next, 4 after, etc. I also am now on Allegra-D and a nose spray called Astelin. I thought I was going to have suffer going cold turkey on the OTC spray and be miserable for days - but, literally the night I started the steroid pack (and had been using OTC spray even that day) my nose starting clearing up in a few hours! I went to bed that night OTC spray free and I couldn't be happier.

More good news - the steroid pack without insurance is only $15.99!!! I got the Allegra-D and Astelin for free from my doctor as samples. I don't know how much those normally cost but my doctor achieved Saint level when he gave me two bags worth of samples to take home.

My suggestion is to get the steroid pack and stop taking an OTC spray. The steroid pack is powerful and should shrink the swelling that the OTC spray has caused. I have allergies so I'm hoping the Allegra-D and the Astelin will help prevent me from getting so clogged to begin with. Hopefully this will help anyone in a similar situation. As Arlo Gunthrie said:

"And if you find yourself in a similar situation there's only one thing you can do: walk right into the shrink's office wherever you are and say, 'Shrink: you can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant,' and walk out."