Nose Sprays Causing Bloody Nose

[dolysods]

I don't have severe allergies but mainly sinusitis. I usually use nasonex every night (helps with my morning congestion). With winter upon us i've had more bloody nose/snot this year than usual. I hate it..even if i blot my nose when eating hot foods i get a little blood. I tried laying off the nasonex a few days but i think i felt better with using it and having a bloody nose.

I have a log for various things..allergy symptoms, hormones/migraines. With the barometric pressure rising and temp dropping my face/sinus area just HURTS! of course the doc says if i use decongestants more than a couple fo days a week i'll have rebound congestion. Saline helps but only temporarily. I've even resorted to putting vaseline around the inside edges of my nose. Most of the time i can breathe fine, no real congestion just pain and dryness. I've thought of trying the irrigation but can't seem to get up the nerve to try it.

[gcsmithjr]

AMY26-

Don't know if you're still monitoring this post but thought 3 things might be helpful. First of all, you mention that Rhinocort worked for you and I wanted to make sure you know that they didn't take it off the market, they just reformulated it so that it's not an aerosol - Rhinocort AQ is still available (by prescription) it's what I use - I've tried several others and it definitely works the best for me. I too sometimes get some minor bleeding and just take a break for a day or two and that seems to work.

Have you tried Sudafed (the original with pseudoephedrine) tablets - those work pretty well for me also but I know they make some people really wired (I wouldn't bother with the reformulated Sudafed PE - there's some question as to whether the reformulated PE products work at all as a decongestant)

Finally, I saw the response below and wanted to clear something up - steroid nasal sprays (Rhinocort, Flonase, etc.) DO NOT HAVE A REBOUND EFFECT. The sprays that cause the rebound effect are sprays like Afrin that contain oxymetazoline. There is some question as to whether a preservative called benzalkonium chloride that is used in some steroid sprays and even some saline sprays can contribute to the rebound effect but it's somewhat controversial (and Rhinocort doesn't contain either, another reason I like it).

Originally Posted by Titchou

The problem with most nasal sprays for congestion only is that they have a rebound effect. In other words, after a while they bring on the symptoms you are trying to get rid of.

[Amy26]

Hey there... yea, I still poke around here.

Yea, I know they reformulated the Rhinocort... that's why I am mad. I needed the aerosal one. It was awsome having a nasal inhaler... it didn't bother my sinuses at all and worked well. They also made it no longer water based. The reformulated one does the same stuff to me that all the other ones do.

I've had to stop taking nose sprays completely now... I'm not sure why every single nose spray I try makes my nose bleed. I get bloody boogars... nose bleeds when I blow it... Astelin worked really well for me but it had so many side effects it wasn't worth the clear nose.

I have tried sudafed... it does make me loopy. I can take Mucinex and that usually clears me up but it doesn't last long...maybe 4-6 hours. I think I'm gonna have to have sinus surgury.

[gcsmithjr]

Bummer that the new formulation of Rhinocort doesn't work for you.

All of the steroid sprays shrink the tissues in your sinuses - which is good most of the time - but if your sinuses get dried out they can get little spots that bleed and the anti-inflammatory action of the sprays seem to keep those little spots from healing completely.

Does your ENT have you using saline irrigation to help moisturize and clean the junk out of your sinuses? That might help.

Before you take the leap on surgery please make sure they've tried all of the medical options, 'cause the surgery will only be a temporary fix if there's another underlying problem.

Good luck!