I know there have been discussions about this topic before but when I search, I get 12 thousand plus results containing the word "nasal" and don't have time the inclination to go through them all so will start a new thread.

I was addicted to Afrin nasal spray for around 38 years. It was prescribed for me by my doctor because I had a reaction to pregnancy which involved making my nose plug up so tightly, it felt like it reached the back of my head. As a result I had trouble eating because I was afraid I would choke and I was never a mouth breather so was uncomfortable all of the time.  Afrin was only available with a prescription back then.  It was a miracle drug for me. but as you can imagine, after nine months I was addicted. I believe I did stop using it eventually but got pregnant after two years and had to go right back to the Afrin. Through the years I tried to get off of it a few times and as soon as I'd think I was out of the woods, I would catch a cold and my nose would stuff up tight as a drum again so I went back to the Afrin. It was just so much easier to give in and go back on it.

I experienced some problems with allergy-like symptoms, suffered from constant rhinitis and would see an allergy specialist occasionally. If there is an ear, nose and throat doctor with a decent bedside manner, I would like to meet him/her. I was scolded by each of them for being a drug addict in my attempts to get off the Afrin. Allergy tests always showed nothing. Eventually I just stopped trying to get off the Afrin. I even took it with me to the hospital when I had my hips replaced. I made sure I used it before the surgery and made sure it was packed in my things so I would have it as soon as I was rolled into my hospital room.  I didn't experience any other serious side effects that I know of except high blood pressure which was more likely caused by over 50 years of untreated severe sleep apnea.

I had a check up with my physician recently, not the dr. that prescribed the Afrin but he knows about it and has periodically prescribed other things like allergy meds or other types of sprays but nothing ever worked. He finally stopped talking about it.  This time, though, he said to me, "You don't use that Afrin every day do you?"  I told him I used it every day and more than once. He didn't say anything but he looked stunned. So then I decided that I needed to get off the stuff once and for all.  I have not used it for five weeks and feel good about that. But I switched to Ayr nasal spray. It's a saline spray and the label says it's safe.  I found it really effective and didn't miss the Afrin much.  Then I read some articles saying that preservatives in saline nasal sprays can be just as addictive as sprays like Afrin!  I looked at the spray I was using and, sure enough, it had the preservatives listed in the article. So I was not curing my addiction, I was just creating a new one!

I trotted off to the nearest Walgreens and looked at all the saline sprays. There was only one brand that was preservative free! It's called Simply Saline and comes in a can thing which is too big to carry around in my purse.  Since I only seem to need help at night I bought the stuff.

Long story. I will get to the point. I can go all day without a problem with breathing. As soon as I have been lying down for any time at all, my nose plugs up. Usually it's just one side or the other so that isn't too bad but it still is uncomfortable sleeping with my CPAP with only one nostril cooperating.  I cannot breathe through my mouth, so I wake up in a panic because I feel like I am not getting enough air. The saline doesn't last long and is not that effective at night. If I use it too much, the rhinitis gets worse and I start coughing. I think it might be irritating my sinuses. I have tried irrigating but that doesn't last long either.

I am wondering if any of you have been addicted to Afrin for a long period of time and were successful in getting off of it. Does your nose eventually get back to normal and stop needing anything including saline sprays? Is the problem with my nose going to stay a problem? Is there any kind of medication or drops that would be more effective and not be addictive?  I am losing a lot of sleep but am determined to beat this. I am just hoping I don't get a cold. My doctor would let me try anything that I suggest as long as it's aafe and won't interfere with my other meds. I just don't know what's out there. HELP!
Thanks much.
Grandma


_________________
ResMed Quattro Full Face Mask
ResMed S8 Escape with heated humidifier
Pressure set at 11

I used Afrin for about a year, but then decided that I had to get off of that spray (due to the horror stories on the net). I had a tough time getting off of it and ended up using Breathe-Right strips. I have been using them ever since. In fact, after another sleep study, the Breathe-Right strips eliminated the mild UARS that was picked up on the sleep study before.

Hi Grandma,
I haven't had your problem with Afrin(never used it) but I have had sinus issues.  I was wondering would a sinus rinse help with what you have going on.  I use a neti pot with the NeilMed premade packets.  Its preservative free.  

CatJ


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Resmed S8 Elite II w/H4i humidifier
Mirage Quattro
Pressure 12
Started CPAP - July 2009

Grandma,

I am too swamped now to look for it, but somewhere on the Internet there is a protocol for withdrawing from Afrin.  It involved very slowly diluting it out with a specific buffered solution and gradually decreasing the dose over a fairly long period of time.

I don't think you can rule out using prescription meds. until your nose has completely recovered from your Afrin use.  Chronic use (and we are talking about a short period of even a week) of Afrin causes a rebound effect which means that when you stop taking it, your congestion will become worse.  So it is highly possible that the prescription antihistamines were effective, it is just that they could not overcome the Afrin rebound.

Vicki


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Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.
Marilyn Von Savant

That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

I will have to think about the Breathe Right strips. I tried them once, years ago and they felt really uncomfortable. What kind of adhesive do they have on them. I react to some types of surgical tapes.  

I do have a Neit Pot and use it off and on. I could try using it more often. but since the effect doesn't last long, I don't think I will want to get up a couple of times a night to use it. I do think it helps for a while and I have heard that using a Neti Pot will help get rid of germs that can cause flu. Is there such a thing as using it too often? My nose sometimes burns and I feel a little dizzy after I do it so I don't use it every day. I usually use half of a packet for each nostril.

Vicki, I suspect you are right about the meds. Since I have been off the Afrin for five weeks probably some of those meds. the dr. prescribed before might actually be helpful now. I do have to be careful about what I take because of my blood pressure medication.

Thanks all of you for your advice. My advice to everyone would be to stay away from nasal sprays like Afrin. Just don't even start. And it seems like most saline sprays and drops might not be as safe as we think they are. Watch out for those preservatives!
Grandma


_________________
ResMed Quattro Full Face Mask
ResMed S8 Escape with heated humidifier
Pressure set at 11