Addicted to Afrin

MrRandom · Post by **MrRandom** » Sun May 04, 2008 5:07 pm

Are you sure it's Flonase and not some other brand? I'd sure like to know which is fragrance free.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun May 04, 2008 8:12 pm

I have never noticed any odor either from the regular or the generic Flonase. Now whether it works or not is another matter!

I do feel for the OP. I have been addicted twice to Afrin. The first time I went cold turkey as I was admitted one night to the hospital and couldn't get it. (I couldn't very well say, hey I'm addicted to Afrin, gimme some NOW!). The next time I diluted it with something that I found online after a google search. I forget what it was, sorry, but it was safe and worked. It was not as hard as the cold turkey withdrawal.

Good luck,
Margaret

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:09 pm

I think some people are more sensitive to the smell of Flonase than others. I personally didn't notice a smell when I tried it, but a friend of mine who tried it about the same time complained bitterly about the smell. Was a moot point for me, Flonase didn't work. I ended up on Rhinocort.

Pineapple

RonS · Post by **RonS** » Sun May 04, 2008 10:32 pm

Wulfman wrote: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.

IS THIS TRUE???

Why do people use heated humidity? What are the benefits that outweigh nasal passage swelling?

Perhaps I'll try cold humidity tonight.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sun May 04, 2008 10:45 pm

RonS wrote:
Wulfman wrote: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.
IS THIS TRUE???

Why do people use heated humidity? What are the benefits that outweigh nasal passage swelling?

Perhaps I'll try cold humidity tonight.

It's true for some people. Not so for others. Bottom line: it may be true of you, and you should try.

O.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 05, 2008 5:32 am

RonS wrote:
Wulfman wrote: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.
IS THIS TRUE???

Why do people use heated humidity? What are the benefits that outweigh nasal passage swelling?

Perhaps I'll try cold humidity tonight.

I consider being able to BREATHE a benefit.

I can feel my nasal passages start to open up within about a minute after my machine starts.

Den

RonS · Post by **RonS** » Mon May 05, 2008 10:42 am

So for some people heated humidity causes stuffiness and for others it relieves it?

Wow.

Without any I was getting dried out. It seemed that with heat I may have been getting stuffy.

I tried running cold last night and it seemed OK. I'll keep going cold for a while or until I get stuffed, so to speak.

Thanks!

This is a great site.

KansasRT · Post by **KansasRT** » Mon May 05, 2008 10:54 am

I would really reccomend trying the nasal wash. I was not a believer until my son was told by an allergy Dr to do it twice a day. I have tried it as well and now I reccomend it to all my CPAP patients. It really helps with nasal congestion. But do it before you use all your nasal sprays because it washes out the effects.

roster · Post by **roster** » Mon May 05, 2008 6:48 pm

[quote="KansasRT"]I would really reccomend trying the nasal wash. I was not a believer until my son was told by an allergy Dr to do it twice a day. I have tried it as well and now I reccomend it to all my CPAP patients. It really helps with nasal congestion. But do it before you use all your nasal sprays because it washes out the effects.

SoundlyAsleep · Post by **SoundlyAsleep** » Mon May 05, 2008 8:35 pm

Well, I thought I would jump in for my first post with both Afrin and Flonase insights...

I have quit Afrin several times, only to restart after some time... usually due to a temporary circumstance that went out of control. I find that cold turkey is the way to go and my ENT agreed with me. It's tough to do, but worth it in the end. Otherwise, the single nostril approach seems the best. I am off for a few months now, which I needed to do before my first PSG last weekend.

As for flonase/fluticasone... I notice the smell in both name brand and generic. It's exactly the same. Perhaps it's like smelling asparagus in your pee. Some people can smell it, and others can't. To me, its like smelling fresh flowers in a nose that has been clogged up for years now. I actually look forward to it.

Good luck with the Afrin.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue May 06, 2008 3:38 pm

I have found that some brands of fluticasone have a slight floral fragrance, and some brands don't. I don't recall ever using Flonase brand of fluticasone

RonS · Post by **RonS** » Tue May 06, 2008 4:01 pm

I just got a coupon for a 30 day trial of Veramyst. I won't use it long term because my insurance company requires first fluticasone propionate then Nasonex before authorizing Veramyst. But I'll let ya know if I smell flowers.

Veramyst is fluticasone furoate instead of Flonase's fluticasone propionate... the different carrier is supposedly a little less irritating.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Tue May 06, 2008 5:06 pm

[quote="rooster"][quote="KansasRT"]I would really reccomend trying the nasal wash. I was not a believer until my son was told by an allergy Dr to do it twice a day. I have tried it as well and now I reccomend it to all my CPAP patients. It really helps with nasal congestion. But do it before you use all your nasal sprays because it washes out the effects.

OldLincoln · Post by **OldLincoln** » Tue May 06, 2008 9:16 pm

Snoredog wrote:If you make your own saline rhino wash from distilled water and salt you have no preservatives to contend with. It will flush those allergens out and if done several times per week can keep you clear.

Is there a standard salt/water ratio or do it till it hurts?
Is this the same thing as the "nasal wash"?
And how does Nasonex figure into the picture? I have it but don't use it daily - is it bad?

Bonnie · Post by **Bonnie** » Tue May 06, 2008 9:22 pm

I got addicted to Afrin the first year of my treatment. I got a really bad cold lasting for weeks. Like an idiot I did not read the 13 page pamphlet on uses and warnings. When I went to my pulmonologist he just about had a fit that I was on it so long. He prescribed Flonase and I now only use it when I have severe congestion or hayfever. I never noticed a perfume smell. One reason I like the Swift II is that it blows enough air up my nose it clears out the congestion making the use of nasal spray minimal. I know, sounds gross but it works.