Addicted to Afrin

[racefan]

Well I did what I swore I'd never do. It started out with just a squirt of Afrin every now & then to sleep better. After a couple months I was using it 4 times a day just to breath.I finally went to a ENT Dr. & he put me on Methylprednisolone to get the swelling down & is trying Astelin & Omnaris nasal squirter's to see which works best. Astelin makes me REALLY tired, I mean sound asleep @ 6:00 pm tired (I also work 12 hrs a day) He said to but a 2"x4" under the bed posts to raise the head of the bed just a tad. That seems to help with am congestion. He did not say anything about nasal rinses. I have a follow up in 2 weeks.

[Wulfman]

If you're using heated humidity, try turning it down or even better yet, OFF ("pass-over" mode).
The warm air has the effect of causing the tissues in your nasal passages to swell and thus closing things up.


Den

[roster]

I have no medical training and have not examined your nasal passage, but I do have an obnoxious knee-jerk reaction about the treatment this doc prescribed. It is way the f@#$ over-medication!!!

Many people are able to get rid of an Afrin dependency by stopping the use of Afrin in one nostril. After that nostril heals, Afrin use is discontinued for the second nostril.

Using methylprednisolone for your condition is like using a 12-gauge shotgun to shoot house flies!!

Astelin is an antihistamine. Why the h@#$ is the doc using it?

The use of Omnaris to speed up the reduction of swelling seems reasonable.

Got that off my chest.

[Guest]

I am assuming that he prescribed methylprednisolone for a few days; it will help with the acute congestion during withdrawal, and a short course won't hurt.

If you have an allergy, Astelin will help, but if you don't have an allergy it is not needed.

Omnaris is a steroidal nasal spray decongestant, it will help you through the withdrawal and it is suitable for long term use if you need it.

If you do need to a use steroidal nasal spray long term, there may be a less expensive generic steroidal nasal spray that you can use, such as Fluticasone propionate (Flonase).

[Bearded_One]

I need to add something to my previous post (posted as Guest).

Steroidal nasal sprays take a few days or maybe a week to start working. An oral steroid such as methylprednisolone will help with the congestion until the nasal spray kicks in.

[racefan]

Wulfman- Thanks I'll try that.
Rooster- I literately could not breath out of my nose without major effort,hence the over kill?
Bearded_one-I do not have any allergies & he said I would most likely be on one fairly long term. Omnaris I would assume.

[roster]

.....
Rooster- I literately could not breath out of my nose without major effort,hence the over kill?
....

OK, if the fly is eating my babies, I might put them in the basement and go around the house with a shotgun.

Good luck and speedy recovery.

[Guest]

I wish you luck on your withdrawal from Afrin. I suspect that Omnaris is quite expensive for long term use; if cost is a factor, there are generic steroidal nasal sprays that also work very well.

[MrRandom]

If you do need to a use steroidal nasal spray long term, there may be a less expensive generic steroidal nasal spray that you can use, such as Fluticasone propionate (Flonase).

Note that Flonase, and its generics, reek of lilacs. I recently got an Rx for that stuff and returned it to the pharmacy unused. I pulled it out of the box and could smell it. No way I was going to spray lilac perfume up my nose. I have not determined an alternative that doesn't reek of perfume.

Also, if you want to raise your head up a bit more than a board under the bed, google for "bed wedge". They are reasonably affordable foam wedge pillows.

[tomjax]

Rooster replied:
I have no medical training and have not examined your nasal passage, but I do have an obnoxious knee-jerk reaction about the treatment this doc prescribed. It is way the f@#$ over-medication!!!
-----
Rooster, you usually make cogent and logical posts, but this time I think you are truly making an obnoxious knee jerk reactionj.
You are demonstrating nothing but your ignorance in this reply.

Methyl prednisonlone is as the STANDARD in afrin treatment along with the other parts of the regimen.

Stick to areas that you are reasonably knowledgeable so you will not mislead those seeking rational answers..

This doc is right on in the treatment.

[bap40]

If my nose is clogged and the saline isn't working, I head for the sudafed and that usually works. I am also using Nasocort nightly.

[roster]

Rooster replied:
I have no medical training and have not examined your nasal passage, but I do have an obnoxious knee-jerk reaction about the treatment this doc prescribed. It is way the f@#$ over-medication!!!
-----
Rooster, you usually make cogent and logical posts, but this time I think you are truly making an obnoxious knee jerk reactionj.
You are demonstrating nothing but your ignorance in this reply.

......

I gave you fair warning sweet TomJax.

[roster]

.....

Note that Flonase, and its generics, reek of lilacs. I recently got an Rx for that stuff and returned it to the pharmacy unused. I pulled it out of the box and could smell it. No way I was going to spray lilac perfume up my nose. I have not determined an alternative that doesn't reek of perfume.

.....

I have used Flonase and its generics on and off for years and never experienced any kind of perfume smell. Have they changed the formulation?

[snoregirl]

I was addicted to Neosnefferine (I can't spell it is obvious) for YEARS. I never let my kids use any of that stuff and I won't go near it ever again. I have been NeoS clean for 20 years now. Horrible addiction and basically suffered through withdrawl cold turkey.

I feel for you with the Afrin!!!!!

Hang in there.

[jsmythe]

.....

Note that Flonase, and its generics, reek of lilacs. I recently got an Rx for that stuff and returned it to the pharmacy unused. I pulled it out of the box and could smell it. No way I was going to spray lilac perfume up my nose. I have not determined an alternative that doesn't reek of perfume.

.....

I have used Flonase and its generics on and off for years and never experienced any kind of perfume smell. Have they changed the formulation?

No, I dont think they have changed anything, I have been using it for a long time and I notice absolutely no perfumey smell to it. Two sprays a day in each nostril. No smelly stuff there...