Afrin use for extended periods of time

[Muse-Inc]

Cardio effects: rapid pulse, extra strong contractions (pounding)...scary rapid and scary pounding sensation, neither of which yield to relaxation techniques to damp 'em down. They continue for hrs. Like I said, if I use it too many days in a row, I get the cardio effects; if I continue with another dose (I never do this now, been there too many times), I get such restless anxiety it's impossible to sit still or lie down for any length of time; I used to blame this on nervous worrying about the heart effects...but, I also get an increased respiratory rate that at times has made me light-headed (hyperventilation). I've also gotten very dry nasal passages. Side effects from this are just plain evil...but you can breathe.

Both my sleep doc and cardio want me to never use it again, so I'm very cautious with it.

EDIT: Oh yeah, I forgot the worst -- increased systolic blood pressure

[Guest]

Den, I now only use Afrin when I am really desparate. About 2 a week. I will be more carefull with it this time.

Gary

I know that it is not good to use Afrin type sprays long term. But I would be interested in hearing from some people here who do use it nightly. I am curious as to how long you have been using and what if any problems you are having.

Thanks

Gary,

Are you still using that stuff? I thought you were trying to get off of it several years ago.

I've never tried it and from the horror stories I've heard, I never would.


Den

[georgepds]

FWIIW

I use afrin, almost every night.. one squirt in just the right nostril ( hey you only need one to breathe)

The alternative, for me, is not being able to use the CPAP at all, so I decided on the lesser of two evils, So far, one year into the lesser evil, no problem

[DoninOrlando]

FWIIW

I use afrin, almost every night.. one squirt in just the right nostril ( hey you only need one to breathe)

The alternative, for me, is not being able to use the CPAP at all, so I decided on the lesser of two evils, So far, one year into the lesser evil, no problem

My sleep doc told me if I had to choose between the 2, it was more dangerous to give up Cpap, than use afrin nightly if needed to continue Cpap. But I chose both, and all but gave up Afrin, and switched to a FFM. No matter how bad sinuses are I can use FFM. I try not to use Afrin at all now but use occasionallyy, usually only once a week. Unfortunately, I have not found anything that works as well or as long, other than equally bad equivalents.

[YawnGirl]

FWIIW

I use afrin, almost every night.. one squirt in just the right nostril ( hey you only need one to breathe)

The alternative, for me, is not being able to use the CPAP at all, so I decided on the lesser of two evils, So far, one year into the lesser evil, no problem

So glad I'm not alone!!

[Guest]

I hope they invent a spray that does what afrin does but without the rebound. Probably won't happen in my life time.

[Muse-Inc]

...Is Quecetin something that I can get without a script?

I take Solgar's Quercetin Complex and get it from health food stores. It's combined with EsterC.

[Guido]

I just use it when I have a head cold, or just stopped up. Typically if one nostril is open I will not use the afrin. So in the grand scheme of things I use it a couple of times a month. But if I have a head cold, I only use the afrin at bedtime, otherwise I fear I will become dependent.

[Husky Lover]

Misery loves company! I've been using various brands of oxymetazoline hydrochloride. Usually one squirt works for the night. I have a cold now and it's good for only about 45 minutes! I'm off to the local CPAP store and buying a full face mask. I can't take it anymore and have to try something else!

[SleepyBobR]

My doctor prescribed a spray called Avamys (GlaxoSmithKine) when he wrote the rx for my CPAP. It is a corticosteroid containing fluticasone furoate. He told me at the time that it wasn't absorbed into the system (whatever that meant). I was supposed to use it every day but I avoid medications unless they are required and I really haven't needed it. I use nasal pillows and congestion hasn't been much of a problem for me, at least not yet. I do find that keeping the humidifier filled and set properly is important.

I checked the side effects of this drug on the web and it looks pretty evil as well but is perhaps an alternative to Afrin for those with congestion that can't tolerate Afrin.

[ecocyber]

I would like to agree with all that said be cautions with the use of Afrin. I was addicted to it for more years than I want to admit. I just couldn't breath through my nose unless I used it. I tried to quit many times but the rebound was unbearable.

I finally opted to have my ENT surgeon do a procedure called a septoplasty. I didn't get the newer balloon inflation type, but the old fashioned one with a scalpel. Basically what my surgeon did was to cut out (well, reduce in size) the three turbinates on each side of my nose. It has been two months now since I had this done and I feel great and I breath great ..........and I have not used Afrin since. I highly recommend this procedure.

[snoregirl]

I guess I am one of the lucky ex-nasal spray addicts. I used one in the 60's and 70's that is basically the same as Afrin. I just couldn't lay down to go to sleep without it. It finally got to the point it was hurting more than helping, I was constantly congested and constantly squirting and feeling worse for the squirting. I just had to go cold turkey and get off it. I was miserable, but I suffered and it finally got better. I did just about anything to keep my kids away from that stuff. It has been 25 years or so and I have not had a squirt since. CPAP actually seems to have helped my nightly congestion. I don't know why, but I am not fighting it.

[alljonz]

I was told about Afrin about 7 years ago by a friend. The first time I used it I was amazed at how well I could breathe. Never before had I been able to breathe like that due to structural nasal issues. So I began using it constantly and each time I would spray I would spray 3-4 shots or more in each nostril and I would do this 3-4 times a day. This made it work quickly. But I soon developed terrible rebound and life was worse than before. I went to an ENT who scolded me for not reading the label. He then prescribed Flonase. AFter about 10 days of cold turkey misery I decided I had to have atleast partial relief so I sprayed one squirt of Afrin in one nostril. That night I slept ok. I then began to experiment a bit. I finally came to something that works VERY well for me. Before bed I squirt ONE spray in each nostril of the Severe Congestion Afrin (green bottle). It takes a little while for that small of a dose to kick and I had to learn to be resistant of adding more. I have found that one squirt will do exactly the same thing as 3-5 if you just have a little patience. But one squirt in each nostril right before bed has not given me any rebound in about 4 years. No nose bleeds no smell issues etc. I modulate the Flonase as needed. It seems to lessen any rebound I might have even though I rarely have any rebound. Times I have had rebound has usually because I chose to spray afrin sometime during the day (in addition to night time)due to some real need....such as needing to be clear for some special event or having a congestion headache.
By the time bedtime rolls aroud again....I am just getting to the point were I am getting a bit stuffy...but nothing worse than how life would be without using anything.

So once again...ONE spray of severe congestion afrin in each nostril right before bed and thats it.

[Blindrage]

I am another sad story about years long Afrin abuse, and sever rebounds if I tried to stop. I did finally stop using it, and it took weeks to get over the rebound. I then spent years with virtually no ability to breath through my nose. Finally, I had the surgery, and spent the next three months regretting the decision. The things started to get better and better.

Today, 9 years later, I am very happy with the results. I use Afrin maybe once a year if I get a really bad head cold, and I can breath through my nose most days. I still use a FFM because my sinuses are partially blocked while laying down, but that is a small price to pay for being able to breath normally most of the day.

[ATOR]

I have been using Afrin on a need to basis but what I've found out is that sometimes you spray 1-2 in each nostril when you don't really need that much!
So what I have begun doing only 2-3 per week is getting a good brand cotton swab (No cheap ones being that particles may stay in your nose) adding only two drops
to the cotton swab and rubbing around nostrils. Now if you have severe turbinates <<<then I recommend a flashlight to look up your nose (If too much hair in nose you'll need to take out hair first-shave..etc.) and rub swab on side of turbinate 2-4 times up and down. This will give you same effect and you will have less of the side effects. I've tried it all and nothing has seemed to work. I just found out last week that here in Texas, I am allergic to pretty much all the trees... and also allergic to dust mites, cat hair...and a few more things. So I will get allergy shots....many people suffer from turbinates badly because of an allergy that they might not know...so I'm hoping this will help. Good luck to you all and I shall keep ya'll posted. God bless.....Prayer is powerful.