nasal congestion and oxymetazoline hydrochloride

Dr. Mirkin's opinions about treating nasal congestion with antibiotics are not accepted my most doctors, and he even says in the last sentence.

However, this is controversial and not accepted by many doctors;

The reason is that your body is host to hundreds of different species of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms. Every part of your body that is exposed to the outside world--eyes, ears, skin digestive tract, nose, mouth and throat--has its own variety of microorganisms. You don't get sick from them because:

1. they destroy each other and
2. your immune system controls the numbers

Antibiotics destroy some microorganisms and not others, changing this balance throughout your body; and no one knows whether that's good or bad. But it's certain that the microorganisms in your body will become resistant to the antibiotic (antibiotics kill the sensitive ones, the resistant ones are left). If you later get a serious infection and need those drugs, possibly to save your life, they may not work.

After using the Oxymetazoline HCL for over interval period of over 2 months....(3 days in a row but only 3 shoots each nights on my right nostril sin this is the only one that is blocking) right after late shower before bed. I have no rebound and only 1 occasion of nose bleed when I was having cold during winter period (down under).

I decided to see another good doctor as many acknowledge he is very good and experience. He introduced me the Rhinocort 64um Once a day 1-2 shoots, which is a double the strength that need prescription to shrink the polyps or the thickening of the walls for better long term solution from the nasal congestion and blocks.

But lately last 3 weeks experience higher than normal AHI more than 5 and mostly around 7 or more. Few a bit dizzy right after meals and decided to see my GP after a light dinner and found out that my blood pressure was very high first sit down test 180/92....immediate was ask for second stand up blood pressure test and with second test the result is 160/84.

Next blood pressure test is same time next week for another conformation as asked by the GP.

Wonder why? Is the AHI, Weight gain over 5 kg during this very cold winter, Oxymetazoline HCL or Rhinocort steroid or 3-4 cups of cappuccino caused the high blood pressure?


Please help....

Mckooi

mckooi wrote:After using the Oxymetazoline HCL for over interval period of over 2 months....(3 days in a row but only 3 shoots each nights on my right nostril sin this is the only one that is blocking) right after late shower before bed. I have no rebound ....

If there is any rebound congestion it would be when the oxymeta is discontinued. Did you discontinue it and find no rebound congestion?

roster wrote:

mckooi wrote:After using the Oxymetazoline HCL for over interval period of over 2 months....(3 days in a row but only 3 shoots each nights on my right nostril sin this is the only one that is blocking) right after late shower before bed. I have no rebound ....

If there is any rebound congestion it would be when the oxymeta is discontinued. Did you discontinue it and find no rebound congestion?

This is the third day and so far slight rebound as before using the oxymetazoline hcl. As with the Rhinocort steroid also stop for last 2 days and seem much better than prior before using it at all. My worry is, Will this spray steroid cause me to gain weight later as I gain over 5kg this winter and back to where I cut down over the last 1 years plus of hard work?

Do you use any blood pressure machine? Any good ones?

Thanks.

Mckooi

mckooi wrote: My worry is, Will this spray steroid cause me to gain weight later

The dosage is extremely low, so weight gain should not be a side effect.

mckooi wrote: My worry is, Will this spray steroid cause me to gain weight later as I gain over 5kg this winter and back to where I cut down over the last 1 years plus of hard work?

I have asked several docs about this kind of thing, as it is a concern of mine. They've all said that there's no significant systemic absorption from the steroids of a nasal spray (much less chance of side effects like gaining weight than occurs with steroid pills) when used at prescribed amounts. Also, I understand that Rhinocort is not as effective as some of the newer steroid nasal sprays. However, the newer sprays may be more expensive. You'll need to balance your priorities here.

There's some accurate and good info here. One of the patient problems is the failure to use nasal steroids properly. The patient must blow his/her nose completely BEFORE using the nasal sprays, and avoid blowing the nose thereafter. Nasocort seems to be the most effective.

Also, Afrin® or equivalent works almost immediately, whereas the steroid (or precursor steroids such as Vancenase or Beconase) take days to weeks to work. Afrin and the anti-inflammatory sprays can be used concurrently.

Physician wrote:There's some accurate and good info here. One of the patient problems is the failure to use nasal steroids properly. The patient must blow his/her nose completely BEFORE using the nasal sprays, and avoid blowing the nose thereafter.

True, but people with heavy congestion and/or deviated septums and enlarged turbinates may have trouble clearing excess mucus from the nasal airway. In this case, use of a neti pot rinse immediately before the steroid spray can be helpful. Be sure all the rinse has exited before using the spray.

howkim wrote:

mckooi wrote: My worry is, Will this spray steroid cause me to gain weight later as I gain over 5kg this winter and back to where I cut down over the last 1 years plus of hard work?

/quote]

b]I have asked several docs about this kind of thing, as it is a concern of mine. They've all said that there's no significant systemic absorption from the steroids of a nasal spray (much less chance of side effects like gaining weight than occurs with steroid pills) when used at prescribed amounts.[/b]

Seems correct as the amount prescript for me is 64um which is double the normal one (oner the counter). Shall use it gain after next this Thursday after the second blood pressure test.

Also, I understand that Rhinocort is not as effective as some of the newer steroid nasal sprays. However, the newer sprays may be more expensive. You'll need to balance your priorities here.

May I know what are the new steroid nasal sprays?

Thanks.

Mckooi

howkim wrote:...there's no significant systemic absorption from the steroids of a nasal spray...

Less than 2% migration to the body from the nasal area is the last I read.

howkim wrote:...newer steroid nasal sprays...

Do you mean the newer anti-histamine sprays, like Aszelastin and Astepro? If so, they have a different biochemical action. Nasal steriods are anti-inflammatories not anti-allergy; however, they do help reduce the inflammation that accompanies allergy reactions.

Physician wrote:There's some accurate and good info here. One of the patient problems is the failure to use nasal steroids properly. The patient must blow his/her nose completely BEFORE using the nasal sprays, and avoid blowing the nose thereafter. Nasocort seems to be the most effective.

Hi Physician,

That is what exactly I did, a good shower before bed to make sure the nostril is clear and clean...then 2-3 sprays of Oxymetazoline HCL and follow up by Rhinacort 64um with some good results BUT as of now stop for 1 week just to make sure that my high blood pressure is not due to these sprays. Will continue again with next message after this Thursday for 2nd round blood pressure test with the GP besides cutting all the coffee and back to normal exercise and diets regimes.

Also, Afrin® or equivalent works almost immediately, whereas the steroid (or precursor steroids such as Vancenase or Beconase) take days to weeks to work. Afrin and the anti-inflammatory sprays can be used concurrently.

Is Afrin equivalent to Oxymetazoline HCL?

Afrin and the anti-inflammatory sprays can be used concurrently

.

Am using Oxymetazoline concurrently with Rhinocort 64um....can these cause high blood pressures?

Thanks.

Mckooi

mckooi wrote:...Oxymetazoline...cause high blood pressure...

Yes, as well as rapid heartbeat, restlessness, anxiety, sleeplessness -- read the insert, scary. Now, that said, I used one spray each nostril at bedtime for yrs as instructed by my ENT without side effects...those were the days . Now, it's all those side effects if I use more than 1 spray each nostril for 3 days...ah well.

Muse-Inc wrote:

mckooi wrote:...Oxymetazoline...cause high blood pressure...

Yes, as well as rapid heartbeat, restlessness, anxiety, sleeplessness -- read the insert, scary. Now, that said, I used one spray each nostril at bedtime for yrs as instructed by my ENT without side effects...those were the days . Now, it's all those side effects if I use more than 1 spray each nostril for 3 days...ah well.

Can you please shoe me the inset, scary ...etc?
Thanks.

Mckooi

I have been using oxy for years and it does indeed have rebound; but have found that if I stop using it the rebound disappears after several days. The pulmonologist is sending me for a pile of allergen testing shortly and has me on steroid spray; 2 in each nostril at bedtime only. Doesn't really work worth a damn to be honest. And I wind up with a lousy night of sleep. So am going to await the results of the allergen testing to see what the story is there. I have had a stuffy nose on and off for as long as I can recall (25 years?) and have used Afrin-like nasal spray all that time except when I was on life support in hospital - and give you all this warning. If you are having rebound while they are trying to feed you oxygen via a ventilator you are going to wind up on a respirator intubated as I was. For about three weeks. Fortunately I was in lala land all that time except for about ten minutes when I woke up to ask what time it was and for a cup of Red Rose tea and prompty fell back into my blissful coma sans the Red Rose tea but knowing that it was ten p.m. And when I next awoke.... two weeks later, guess what the first thing I asked was?

torontoCPAPguy wrote:I have been using oxy for years and it does indeed have rebound; but have found that if I stop using it the rebound disappears after several days. The pulmonologist is sending me for a pile of allergen testing shortly and has me on steroid spray; 2 in each nostril at bedtime only. Doesn't really work worth a damn to be honest. And I wind up with a lousy night of sleep. So am going to await the results of the allergen testing to see what the story is there. I have had a stuffy nose on and off for as long as I can recall (25 years?) and have used Afrin-like nasal spray all that time except when I was on life support in hospital - and give you all this warning. If you are having rebound while they are trying to feed you oxygen via a ventilator you are going to wind up on a respirator intubated as I was. For about three weeks. Fortunately I was in lala land all that time except for about ten minutes when I woke up to ask what time it was and for a cup of Red Rose tea and prompty fell back into my blissful coma sans the Red Rose tea but knowing that it was ten p.m. And when I next awoke.... two weeks later, guess what the first thing I asked was?

Hi torontoCPAPguy,

two weeks later...the first thing you asked for "Afrin" ....gotta to be it?

Please give an update of the allergen test...when you cam my dear.

The Oxymetazoline HCL is working well for interval usages but due to high blood pressure testes last week I decides to stop for a week or so. Now, just using it as directed (2 puffs of Oxy HCL and 1.5 puff of Rhanicort 64mg) with the again few hours ago and the right nostril wide open and felling a bit dizzy but the blood pressure was down to 142/82 last few days. An trying to lose weight again since put on 5kg (27BMI over weight not obese) during this very cold winter in OZ land. During 85kg felt so much better...is spring down south here and good time to reduce and cut all the weight. I suspect the high blood pressure is mainly due to 4 cups of cappuccinos that push the blood pressure up to 180/92....then measure again down to 160/87.

Best Regards,
Mckooi