Alternative to Biotene Nasal Spray

Hello! My CPAP is new to me, and one of the things that is keeping me from using it regularly is plugged nose. It has been suggested to me to use Biotene nasal spray, but it doesn't exist. Our pharmacist said it is not a thing, and we can't find it at any of the major pharmacies. Has anyone had this experience (used the product, maybe outside the US), or used something similar. We can't find out what the ingredients are as there is no label to look at. Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks!

It sounds as though whoever recommended this to you was confused. (There IS a Biotene mouth spray.)

My allergist recommended Flonase spray, which is available over the counter. It can take several weeks to start kicking in. I've just discontinued it (yay allergy shots) but I when I used it, I would use it about an hour before bed. She also recommended Azelastine (prescription spray), Montelukast (prescription pill), and regular use of NeilMed nasal rinse. But what would work for you would depend on the reason why your nose is stopped up.

One other thought. You may find that if you hang in there a little with the mask and machine, your nose will clear on its own. What's the longest you've kept the mask/machine goin?

Unless there is something similar sounding, I only know of Biotene as a product to aid in keeping ones mouth moist. I use Biotene mouth rinse just before going to bed and it helps keep my mouth moist while wearing the CPAP mask.
You might try a Neti pot nasal rinse system to unclog your nose. It works well for me when I get stuffed up.

like miss e said, flonase. it's regularly available at drugstores.

if you happen to be a member of costco, they have a cheaper house brand called aller-flo which works just as well and it's cheaper.

good luck!

I use PLAIN saline nasal spray. Some nasal sprays have a preservative but I find those irritating. Just plain saline spray is very soothing. I give it a few minutes, then blow my nose really well. You can also use a neti pot, but I find just a mist of saline spray is helpful for me.

At one point--when it was still a prescription drug--I tried Flonase, but it has a floral scent that makes me gag. Even when my husband uses it, the scent bugs me--I can smell it on him. A lot of people swear by it, I'm pretty intolerant to most fragrances.

I tried some nasal sprays, but got results only from the ones containing
OXYMETAZOLINE HYDROCHLORIDE.
There are even generics with this ingredient.

Janknitz wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 27, 2023 6:30 pm

A lot of people swear by it

but you swear AT it.

First time caller.

I just want to point out that if you're using Flonase, and you have decent insurance, it's MUCH cheaper with a prescription than over the counter. I only learned this recently, and I don't want to think about how much I've overpaid in the past.

Also want to add that the saline sprays are very helpful. I have allergies and I use a saline spray when needed in addition to Flonase. I use the Arm & Hammer saline spray. I highly recommend it.

In the past two weeks, I've had problems with waking up after a few hours from difficulty breathing through the mask, taking it off, then unable to fall back to sleep, and subsequently feeling miserable next day. Previous to the problem, would fall back to sleep after waking, and getting about six hours of sleep with mask on.

Fortuitously, a video about problems with tolerating CPAP by Dr. Vik Veer, a London-based ENT, showed up on my YouTube feed. He mentioned that nasal congestion with difficult breathing during CPAP can trigger your body to release adrenaline, which causes a stress response and inability to resume sleep. He recommended using nasal sprays, either steroid or decongestant (or both). I started steroid spray and Afrin spray, the latter which gave me immediate relief. Sleep was so much better, an amazing change.

Spring on US east coast is awful time of year for us CPAP users due to pollens coming on strong and wrecking your nasal passages.

Unfortunately, cannot use Afrin for more than a few nights due to tolerance and potential rebound congestion. Hopefully the steroid spray may be of some help, just have to wait and see.

Dr. Vik Veer has a lot of good YouTube videos about sleep apnea, and especially useful is one on how to correctly use nasal sprays.

GSJ wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 27, 2023 3:12 pm

It has been suggested to me to use Biotene nasal spray, but it doesn't exist.

Biotene or saline? Maybe someone misspoke.

By all means, use a saline rinse and if needed flonase or equivalent.

For beginning CPAPers, it is good to see an ENT for a consultation and examination of the airway. The airway examination (endoscopy) is done quickly and easily in the office on the first visit.

Did you have nasal congestion before you started using CPAP? Which setting are you using on your CPAP humidifier? Some report that a high setting causes nasal congestion. Trial and error is needed to find the minimum setting that keeps the nasal passages from drying.