Bad experience using "Afrin"

Cliff · Post by **Cliff** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:27 pm

Last night I used Afrin to clear my sinuses, because I was having a hard time breathing with my nasal mask.

I alway's get a moment of "wow" after I use the product, but last night that feeling lasted 45 minutes. I certainly could not wear my mask during that period because the air made it worse, so I got up and watched tv until the sensation went away.

Not sure what happened, but I'm certain it was not normal. Any ideas?

Cliff

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 1:23 am

As I am sure many here will say.... Afrin is NOT a good choice. Using it more than occosinally can lead to rebound effects where it will get to poiint where you can't hardly breathe without it.

If you have sinus issues... you should seek out and ENT.

You might try nasal saline rinse... and in place of Afrin... you might try NasalCrom.

oceanpearl · Post by **oceanpearl** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 5:55 am

Having been addicted to Afrin I would say to stay as far away from it as possible. You may want to try something like a saline rinse.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 6:16 am

[quote="Anonymous"]As I am sure many here will say.... Afrin is NOT a good choice. Using it more than occosinally can lead to rebound effects where it will get to poiint where you can't hardly breathe without it.

What is weird is that I have only used Afrin perhaps 4 times in the last three months. The discomfort that follows (what I described in my original post as the "wow" effect), is normally very immediate and short in duration. My last experience was so disturbing, had it lasted much longer I would have considered calling the doctor.

roster · Post by **roster** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 8:59 am

Cliff, What do you mean by "wow" experience? Often if someone says "Wow", then I want to try it. It doesn't sound like that in your case.

robbieh · Post by **robbieh** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 9:46 am

Hey Cliff

I use Afrin, but very carefully. I found a way to decrease that "wow" feeling right after spraying. I dilute my Afrin 50/50 with saline. I also use it an hour before bed so my nose isn't so cold feeling. You can also spray one nostril one night and the other nostril the second night. Rebound is dose dependant so if you use one spray (instead of two) in each nostril, alternate nostrils and use diluted solution, you have much less chance of having problems with rebound stuffiness or dependance. I try never to use it two nights in a row. I have a nasal mask and a full face mask for difficult nights.

Using Nasal Crom daily also helps reduce nasal allergies as well as Flonase.

andyomega · Post by **andyomega** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 10:33 am

YUCK !!! afrin is awful.... it works okay for the first day then the second day it feels like someone filled my nose up with concrete.

sleepyWI · Post by **sleepyWI** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:26 am

On the other hand I use Afrin occasionally with no ill effects. Just avoid using it every day. You might have just dosed yourself to high ...

Vader · Post by **Vader** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 3:42 pm

robbieh wrote:Hey Cliff

I use Afrin, but very carefully. I found a way to decrease that "wow" feeling right after spraying. I dilute my Afrin 50/50 with saline. I also use it an hour before bed so my nose isn't so cold feeling. You can also spray one nostril one night and the other nostril the second night. Rebound is dose dependant so if you use one spray (instead of two) in each nostril, alternate nostrils and use diluted solution, you have much less chance of having problems with rebound stuffiness or dependance. I try never to use it two nights in a row. I have a nasal mask and a full face mask for difficult nights.

That is pretty much what I have done also (except the 50/50 dilution)

I have found that maybe twice a year, I feel I *need* the Afrin, but Afrin can potentially be very problematic, so I would use very cautiously as suggested by many here.

WearyOne · Post by **WearyOne** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 5:16 pm

I've used 4Way for years, off and on, and then tried Afrin. I only use it on one side at a time and only use one spray, and don't use it but maybe once or twice a week, if that much. It will cause rebound if you use it too often. Since I've started using a steroid nasal spray, I don't need the the Afrin/4Way type sprays as often.

Pam

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