BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Allergies & Colds Nasal spray addiction

It's easy to get addicted to nasal sprays, such as Afrin and Neo-Synephrine. After all, they promise miracle relief from congestion if used properly for just 3-5 days. The problem is some individuals fail to read the warning on the label, use them more than prescribed and become addicted. If you are addicted to nasal sprays, you can find relief. Read the latest post, "Nasal Spray Addiction," on the Allergies and Colds page at http://bellaonline.com/site/allergiesandcolds
If you have other suggestions on how to find relief from nasal sprays, please post them here.

Thanks Sheree, I have tried the withdrawal program your talking about from the book "the Sinus Cure" With NO luck at all.
Now I'm trying something on my own, My congestion is so bad, but I'm still trying to beat this nasal spray addiction I've had for sooo long. I have started using nasal spray in ONE nostril only. and only at bedtime. I'm hoping once i can breath on my own through that one unsprayed nostril, I can stop using the nasal spray in the other. I,m desperate to be rid of this addiction.

I hope what you're trying works for you. Keep us posted on how you're doing. If you end up needing other options, you might want to consider yeast syndrome. This problem should be suspected in anyone with chronic sinus and upper respiratory conditions and allergies, runny nose, postnasal drip, mucus in the throat, itchy ears or chronic sore throat, according to C. Orian Truss, a physician, who wrote �The Missing Diagnosis.� Read more about it in my article, "Missing Diagnosis," at http://bellaonline.com/site/allergiesandcolds

Great Article,
Well its a week today that i stopped spraying BOTH nostrils, Only spraying the right one at bedtime. Now the left side with NO spray is only congested now n then. I find myself breathing much better when its not congested or as much congested "am i making any sense"
There still is congestion in the left side but unstuffing more on its own. It hasn't been easy, so many times i wanted to give in and get relief with just a spray. "away" But i haven't given in. I'm still not breathing clear enough to stop spraying the the right side. But i have hope And i will continue with what i'm doing for a while more. I'm trying to help myself, The nasal sprays are so harmfull. And i have a long time addiction to them. Good luck to all who are trying to kick the spray bottle.

Great articles Sheree!

Thanks for sharing how you are doing. It offers encouragement to others.

Well, Its been since May 11th that i started using the nasal spray only at night and only in one nostril, I have to say its NOT working. I have finally made an appointment with a ENT doctor in July, guess i'll have to keep spraying till then. But at least i made the appointment I just want to be able to breath through my nose :o(
(ENT ear nose & throat)
Good luck to every one that is trying to kick the nasal spray addiction.

Ahhh, nasal spray addiction. I remember it well. You really do get worse blockage when you try NOT to use it. I gradually decreased using it by taking a decongestant, Sudafed or Actifed, interally and using Vicks, hot steam over the sink or just sniff the jar. Every once in a while I'd slip and give myself a blast or two but it did take a few weeks to actually STOP using it altogether. I didn't know I had the addiction until I ran out of it once. I went crazy til I go some more. The reason you get blocked worse while using it is called the "Rebound Effect".

Sorry you weren't able to get your nose unblocked. Hopefully, you will find the solution as you keep searching for answers.

I was "addicted" to nasal sprays for nearly 40 years before I found a way to kick the habit. I was using a bottle of Dristan or Afrin every week and would sometimes spray both sinuses as often as 3 or 4 times per hour (not 3 or 4 times a day), so here's what I did and it worked. I went to Wal-Mart and bought the measuring medicine cup/eye dropper set you would normally use to give kids cough syrup or other meds (cost was about $2.50). Then I bought a one oz bottle of Equate saline nasal spray. Then I started mixing the saline spray with my regular nasal spray. The first 2 weeks I mixed 90% nasal spray and 10% saline. The second 2 weeks I mixed 80% nasal spray and 20% saline. The 3rd week I went to a 60% - 40% mix and then a week later went to 50/50. Over a two month time span I slowly worked my way to a 90% saline and 10% nasal spray mix. After a week or two of that mix I went to 100% saline spray which I used about 2 times a day. Now a bottle of saline spray lasts me more than 2 months. I only use it first thing in the morning when I get out of bed. The really great thing I noticed right in the beginning was that the pain and severe burning in my nasal passages went away 100%. It's now been almost two years, I still carry my nasal spray bottle with saline in it, but I am completely free from the Dristan/Afrin nasal sprays and I've stopped pulling the bottle out of my pocket several times a day.