Afrin - turbinates question

[sanufi]

I have very swollen turbinates. After using Afrin, I can visibly see my turbinates go right down and stay down for some 12 hours. Is it normal for turbinates to become so unswollen? I believe that turbinates should swell alternately to some degree due to the nasal cycle. Do turbinates in people without swollen turbinates look like those after using Afrin? Or does Afrin bring down the turbinates too much?

[justlearning]

Sanufi - the turbinates are paper thin bones found within the nasal cavity. They are covered by nasal mucosa and it is this tissue that is swollen. The Afrin works directly on the swollen tissue causing it to return to a somewhat normal state. Be careful about using Afrin for more than a couple of days for it is very hard on the mucosa and can cause other problems. My guess would be that these tissues are swollen due to allergies thus causing and inflammatory response. Have you talked to your doctor about this problem?

Best of luck

[buckeyered]

Afrin believe it or not is very addictive that's why it use to be by prescription only, when I had nose surgery I had to use it and my surgeon kept warning me about it's use.

[Snoredog]

I agree with the others, Afrin will cause rebound effect in as little as 3 days use. There should be a warning on the label not to exceed x many days use.

Prolonged use of Afrin or any OTC nasal spray can actually be the cause of congestion. As mentioned he turbinate membrane is over the bony structure which helps it maintain its shape, it is full of tiny blood vessels, when engorged with blood they swell up the tissue causing congestion. The inflammation can be from dust or pollen and other allergens. The purpose of the turbinates is to warm and add moisture to the incoming air you breathe before it reaches the lungs. With cpap pressure it can overpower the ability of them to warm and moisturize the incoming air. So adding a humidifier helps them keep up.

You might get a temporary congestion effect from Afrin but nothing will be long term. If you want long term relief use a saline only rhino rinse to flush out the irritants and it will have them back in shape in only a few days use.

If you don't want to make the saline solution yourself you can buy it or there is Ocean saline spray and an aerosol called Simply Saline with a neato applicator. These only have saline solution (Ocean has a preservative).

[Guest]

Actually, my allergist asked me to take them when I have a blocked nose. He said no more than 5 days in a row but didn't say how long a rest period between.

Problem is, I think I have a blocked nose ... all the time. Though sometimes only one side is blocked.