Is Afrin really that safe?
While Afrin can be very effective, it comes with quite a few side effects. It can cause temporary burning, stinging, dryness, runny nose, and sneezing. However, one of the main side effects is rebound congestion, also commonly referred to as nasal spray addiction.
What is the difference between Nasacort and Afrin?
- Changes in the nasal septum Long-term use
- Decreased wound healing Surgery or trauma to the nose or sinuses
- Reduced immune system Exposure to immunizable diseases (chickenpox and measles) Exposure to tuberculosis
- Glaucoma and cataracts Long-term use
How much can Afrin raise your blood pressure?
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Tachycardia, palpitations, increased blood pressure [ Ref] The most commonly reported side effects were discomfort or irritation in the nose, mouth or throat, and sneezing. [ Ref] Very rare (less than 0.01%): Insomnia, nervousness, tremor, anxiety, restlessness, irritability, headache [ Ref]
Can Afrin cause permanent damage?
We even have a special name for Afrin or decongestant abuse:rhinitis medicamentosa. Not uncommonly, long-term addiction to Afrin and other decongestant nasal sprays can lead to permanent damage in your sinus system. Sometimes, the damage done even begins to resemble a chemical burn or a lifetime of sinus infections inside your nose.
Why is Afrin so bad for you?
However, their overuse can lead to a serious medical problem called “rhinitis medicamentosa.” These sprays contain a chemical that causes the blood vessels in the nose to shrink, thus reducing the swelling in the nose and the stuffy sensation.
Can Afrin damage your nose?
Nasal spray addiction is not a true “addiction,” but it can lead to tissue damage inside the nose. This can result in swelling and long-term stuffiness that leads to further use and overuse of the spray. In some cases, a person may need to undergo additional treatment, and possibly surgery, to correct any damage.
Why can't you use Afrin more than 3 days?
Afrin nasal spray should not be used for more than three days at a time to avoid the development of a condition called rebound congestion (or rhinitis medicamentosa).
What are the side effects of long term use of Afrin?
Oxymetazoline may also cause some other unwanted effects if used for long:Temporary burning, stinging, and dryness in the nose.Runny nose and sneezing.Slow/fast/pounding heartbeat.High blood pressure and lightheadedness.Anxiety and nervousness.Trouble sleeping and dizziness.Tremors and visual disturbances.
Is it OK to use Afrin everyday?
IS IT SAFE TO USE AFRIN EVERY DAY? Do not use Afrin products for more than three days. Frequent or prolonged use may cause nasal congestion to recur or worsen. If you still need a nasal decongestant after using Afrin for 3 days, please consult your healthcare professional.
What can I use instead of Afrin?
Sudafed Congestion.Sudafed 12-Hour.Oxymetazoline nasal.Claritin-D.Sudafed PE Congestion.Saline Nasal Mist.
Is Afrin or Flonase better?
Is Afrin or Flonase better? Afrin provides a faster response to congestion with an onset of action within 10 minutes. It is not recommended for use longer than three days, however. Flonase is slower to relieve congestion symptoms but can be used safely long term.
How can I unblock my nose?
How can I get rid of a blocked nose?Be gentle when you blow your nose. ... Aim to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day. ... Hold a warm flannel to your cheeks. ... Dial-up the humidity. ... Try a nasal rinse with warm salty water. ... Use menthol ointment or oil. ... Ask a pharmacist about treatment options.More items...•
How do you wean off Afrin?
STOP the nasal decongestant spray use immediately (more rarely, one can try to wean off the afrin by diluting the concentration with saline by 25% on a daily basis) High dose prednisone starting at 60mg tapered slowly over ~2 weeks. Start steroid nasal spray AND anthistamine nasal spray use.
Does Afrin affect your heart?
Most topical nasal decongestants (e.g., oxymetazoline, phenylephrine, and naphazoline) also carry the warning against use by patients with heart disease and high blood pressure, due to the possibility that some of the chemical might be absorbed and reach blood levels that would endanger their health.
Can Afrin cause brain damage?
A nasal spray can limit damage to the brain from a seizure disorder called status epilepticus, a study in animals shows.
Can you become addicted to Afrin?
Over-the-counter nasal sprays don't cause the physiological cravings that mark an addiction. To prevent rebound congestion, use over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays for no more than three days in a row, with as few doses as possible each day.
What Is Afrin?
Afrin is a popular nasal spray used to temporarily relieve nasal congestion due to colds, allergies and sinusitis. Afrin contains water and a chemi...
How Does Afrin Compare to Other Nasal Decongestants?
While Afrin uses oxymetazoline to relieve congestion, other brand-name decongestant nasal sprays like 4-Way and Neo-Synephrine use phenylephrine hy...
What Are the Side Effects of Afrin?
Afrin users rarely report allergic side effects. However, temporary side effects are common, especially if too much Afrin is sprayed into nostrils....
What Is the Rebound Effect Caused by Afrin?
Rhinitis medicamentosa is the clinical term for rebound congestion, a major problem caused by excessive and lengthy use of Afrin. This rebound effe...
Is Flonase Addictive Like Afrin?
Flonase is a nasal spray prescribed by doctors for relieving symptoms of allergies and sinusitis. Belonging to the corticosteroid class of drugs, F...
What Happens If You Can’t Stop Using Afrin Because of Rebound Congestion?
Your ability to stop using Afrin depends on how you can handle several days of a stuffy nose and being unable to breathe normally. Since the reboun...
What Is the Clinical Definition of a Substance or Behavioral Addiction?
According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, “Substance addiction is a chronic, treatable medical disease that involves complex interac...
Before Taking This Medicine
You should not use Afrin if you are allergic to it.Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take this medicine if you have other medical...
What Happens If I Miss A Dose?
Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to m...
What Happens If I Overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 if anyone has accidentally swallowed the medication.Keep this medic...
What Other Drugs Will Affect Afrin?
Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to use Afrin if you are also using any of the following drugs: 1. an antidepressant--amitriptyline...
How long can you use Afrin?
Rebound congestion is common with many nasal sprays and they are recommended for only 3-4 days of use in a row. With continuous use, Afrin can actually start to create the problems it’s used to relieve. Rebound congestion happens when the nasal linings swell up, creating congestion.
Why do people use nasal spray?
This leads individuals to using the spray more frequently to relieve the congestion, resulting in a vicious cycle and nasal spray reliance. Because vasoconstrictors constantly starve the nose of nutrients and oxygen, the body will compensate by enlarging the veins in the nose, which creates a daily cycle of congestion and dependence on the spray.
What is the name of the nasal decongestant spray?
These types of nasal decongestant sprays are called vasoconstrictors. While Afrin can be very effective, it comes with quite a few side effects. It can cause temporary burning, stinging, dryness, runny nose, and sneezing.
Can nasal sprays cause congestion?
However, one of the main side effects is rebound congestion, also commonly referred to as nasal spray addiction. Since this is such a common side effect in nasal decongestant sprays, the FDA and health care professionals recommend only using them only as directed.
Is saline nasal spray addictive?
Many use them every day, morning and night. Because a saline nasal spray contains natural ingredients, there are no addictive side effects to worry about. A saline nasal spray with xylitol, like the one from Xlear, helps keep the nasal linings moisturized, healthy and clean thanks to the addition of xylitol. Dangers of Afrin Nasal Spray.
Can you use a nasal spray with xylitol?
physician who took care of President Clinton’s allergy problems. Rather than using a nasal decongestant spray like Afrin, opt for a natural saline nasal spray with xylitol. A saline nasal spray is safe to use multiple times a day for as many days in ...
Is Afrin a good nasal spray?
Dangers of Afrin Nasal Spray. Afrin is one of the most popular nasal sprays on the market. Afrin and other similar nasal sprays work by stimulating the receptors in the smooth muscle of the blood vessels of the nose. It causes these blood vessels to constrict, which reduces nasal congestion.
How to know if you are allergic to Afrin?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Afrin and call your doctor at once if you have: ongoing or worsening symptoms; severe burning or stinging in your nose after using the nasal spray;
Why do you need to stop using Afrin?
Afrin (for the nose) is used for temporary relief of nasal congestion caused by allergies or the common cold. Stop using Afrin and call your doctor at once if you have ongoing or worsening symptoms, or if you have severe burning or stinging in your nose after using the nasal spray.
What is afrin for?
Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose). Afrin (for the nose) is for temporary relief of nasal congestion (stuffy nose) caused by allergies or the common cold.
How to spread a nasal spray bottle?
Blow your nose gently. Tilt your head back as far as possible, or lie down and hang your head over the side of a bed. Hold the dropper over your nose and place the correct number of drops into your nose.
How long should you keep nasal spray?
Do not blow your nose for at least a few minutes after using the nasal spray. Do not use the nasal spray more than 2 times in 24 hours. Wipe the tip of the spray bottle with a clean tissue but do not wash with water or soap. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not freeze.
How long does it take for a nasal spray to clear up?
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 3 days of treatment.
What happens if you spray your nose?
severe burning or stinging in your nose after using the nasal spray; chest pain, fast or uneven heart rate; or. severe headache, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, or feeling short of breath. Common side effects may include: mild burning or stinging of the nose; sneezing; or. runny nose.
Why do you use nasal spray?
Its main use is to reduce the congestion in the nostrils due to allergies, a runny nose, or sinusitis. It is available as nasal spray or drops to reduce the symptoms of nasal blockage and swollen inner lining of the nose. Dilated blood vessels inside the nose lead to swelling and fluid buildup in the tissues of the nose.
What is the name of the decongestant that is used to treat allergies?
Center. Afrin is one of the trade names of oxymetazoline. Afrin is one of the trade names of oxymetazoline. Oxymetazoline is a topical nasal decongestant commonly used in the form of oxymetazoline hydrochloride. Its main use is to reduce the congestion in the nostrils due to allergies, a runny nose, or sinusitis.
Does Oxymetazoline cause swelling?
Dilated blood vessels inside the nose lead to swelling and fluid buildup in the tissues of the nose. The action of the drug causes the blood vessel wall to shrink, reducing the blood flow to the nose providing temporary relief from nasal stuffiness almost instantly. However, long-term use of oxymetazoline may in fact result in increased nasal ...
Does Oxymetazoline cause nasal congestion?
Long-term use of oxymetazoline may cause the nasal tissues to permanently enlarge and not respond to medications. It may need surgical intervention to cure the blocked nose symptoms.
How long can you use Afrin?
In the case of Afrin, use for more than 3 days has been very strongly tied to addiction. In many cases, the spray will also stop working for the 12-hour period that it once guaranteed, making the person seeking relief spray multiple times throughout a typical day.
How long does afrin help with congestion?
What Is Afrin? Afrin is an over-the-counter nasal spray that’s designed to relieve nasal congestion for about 12 hours. By stimulating the smooth muscles inside your nose, your nose’s blood vessels will constrict, which in turn, reduces congestion.
Does afrin help with sinuses?
Unfortunately, Afrin has some serious side effects that make it less than great for people who need chronic sinus relief. As Afrin’s use began to increase, people began to notice that using Afrin would often mean having even worse congestion after a few days.
Can you get AFRIN permanently?
When you’re dealing with a doctor who specializes in sinus care, you can rest assured that the treatment you’ll receive will be as permanent as possible and will avoid the negative side effects that you would get through Afrin.
Can Afrin cause sinus problems?
Not uncommonly, long-term addiction to Afrin and other decongestant nasal sprays can lead to permanent damage in your sinus system. Sometimes, the damage done even begins to resemble a chemical burn or a lifetime of sinus infections inside your nose.
Does Afrin cause side effects?
Along with its needed effects, oxymetazoline nasal (the active ingredient contained in Afrin) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Does Oxymetazoline nasal spray need medical attention?
Side effects not requiring immediate medical attention. Some side effects of oxymetazoline nasal may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some ...
Why does my nose get stuffy?
That means a stuffy nose triggered by medication overuse. When people use topical decongestants such as naphazoline, oxymetazoline, phenylephrine and xylometazoline for more than few days, their noses adapt to the vasoconstriction. When the medicine is stopped, blood vessels dilate and create congestion that can be challenging.
Does Cromolyn sodium help with congestion?
These cells discharge histamine and other inflammatory compounds, but this spray prevents their release. It does not lead to rebound congestion. Q. I was on brand-name Lasix for over 30 years to treat lymphedema.
What Is Rhinitis Medicamentosa?
Rhinitis medicamentosa can result in people who use nasal sprays like Afrin for more than three to five days straight. Yes, using enormous quantities of nasal spray can indeed damage the sensitive nasal mucosa, in turn preventing the medication from doing what it is supposed to do — decongest your nose.
What Happens If You Get Rhinitis Medicamentosa?
If you go to the doctor and fail to mention your consistent overuse of nasal sprays but you do mention the resulting symptoms — a very blocked nose, swollen nasal passages, headaches, and coughing — your doctor will have a very hard time reaching the right diagnosis.
Can You Safely Use Nasal Sprays?
Are you scared of using nasal sprays after finding out that some people develop decades-long habits? Don't be. It is indeed safe to use nasal sprays if you suffer from nasal congestion, but the key is to use them as directed.
