Afrin Addiction

[morningstar11]

Hi everyone. I'm new to this forum and I have been taking afrin for 5+ years. I've forgotten when I started. I haven't gotten to read everyones questions yet so sorry if this has already been asked or discussed. Lately I've been noticing my heartrate faster than normal and it feels like it's really pounding sometimes. I'm in good health, I exercise 4 to 5 days a week with weights and cardio but this has started up when I'm just at home resting. I've read that this is a symptom of prolonged nasal spray use. I'm really concerned. Will symptoms get worse? What should I do? Thank you in advance for those who respond to me.

--johnny

[jennlynn]

Hi Johnny,

I've been using an Afrin-type spray for about 2 years. It's been almost 1 month since I've used any. While I was using it, sometimes I would get what I thought were panic attacks at night, so maybe it was a side effect of the spray. I've been using a lot of medicane to help with the congestion since I stopped using it, so even without the spray I'm kind of jittery. My advice would be to go see an ENT. I thought I could just stop using the spray by myself, but I was wrong. He gave me some oral steroids to take for 6 days and I've also been using Flonase and Astelin(antihistamine) and that combination seems to be helping a lot. Even if its not the spray causing the increase in your heart rate, you should still try to get off of the spray. It can permanently damage your nose. Good Luck!!

[jmf]

I also was an Afrin-oholic. It's so hard to stop especially when you cannot breath through your nose at all. I tried stopping so many times and would always have to take it just to get to sleep because I was so stuffed up. I would even get up in the middle of the night to go to the drugstore if I didn't have any. So anyway, my DR gave me Beconase and then Flonase and an antihistamine. Nothing cleared me out as well as Afrin, but eventually I got back to normal and don't need anything. I don't think people realize how addictive these nose sprays are. Good luck.

[vamp36]

anahistimines can increase the heartrate. SO can decongestants. be careful with them. Tina

[animus731]

I have been on and off of Nasal Spray for the past few years and am about to get off it forever. It is a scary process no question and sleep will be tough but it can be done. I used to use Nasal spray all the time, until it stopped working in the year 2000 (at least 15 years). It took about a month for me to clear up. I would think with less use you will clear out sooner. Go to a Dr. Get Nasacort, and an antihistamine, it will help. For me walks help in the cold weather. Good luck!