BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Allergies & Colds Beware prescription nasal spray

There are many possible adverse effects to prescription steroid nasal sprays they can range from mild to serious
You can increase your risk from viral infections
Yeast infections of the nose
Lost of blood sugar- possible in diabetics ans others
Cushing's syndrome
Osteoporosis-increase risk with long term use
Long term use requires periodic evaluation for yeast infection of the nose
Children are in general at greater risk for adrenal gland suppression (HPA axis suppression)and are at greater risk for inadequate levels once therapy is withdrawn
Always check with your doctor about the risk and side effects
And good luck with your spring time allergies
Stay healthy

good information to consider - thanks

I second this but also add to beware of over-the-counter nasal sprays. They too have serious side effects and possible addiction. Read more about their adverse effects on the Allergies and Colds.

Sheree, I have been a long time user of over the counter nasal spray unable to stop my around the clock usage " I'm addicted"
Really
I have tried many times to stop and failed each time
Because of the problems i have created with my nose and breathing
I finally made the choice to STOP
It has been so far 35 hours that i am nasal spray free
I am miserable my passages are so blocked i get no air at all
Can't even use a neti pot because the water can't flow through
I am completely blocked up
Right now my passages are throbbing inside i have a head ache and have not slept since Saturday night today is monday
I have come this far and refuse to start spraying again
I have started taking Prednisone this morning in hoping i can get some relief
I was up to using 2 bottles of Afrin a WEEK
I have thrown all of my nasal sprays away
I am determined to be nasal spray free
I have come this far not to turn back
Praying not to
My passages are damaged from so many years of nasal spray abuse
I pray i can do it this time no turning back
Thank for all the great info you post

I forgot to mention that i also would buy store brand nasal spray to mix with the Afrin to get more
I last used Nasal spray on Dec 3, and today is the 6th
Yesterday I was able to breath from my nose for short times and then stuffed right back up again
It's not easy
Has any one else given up spraying

Day 4
Breathing through my nose, almost congested free
very little congestion
It wasn't easy but i think i have it beat
There is NO going back
I was miserable and it was very hard to not spray
I will NEVER retreat to nasal sprays again
Don't ever want to go use again
If your struggling to get off nasal spray DON'T give up no matter how uncomfortable it gets
Don't give up
And much luck to you

Day 5
Still experiencing some congestion just when i think i have it licked i stuff up again
But it still isn't as bad as it was, just annoying
I'm now able to use a neti pot
I'll beat this sooner or later
Good luck to any one else who has given up the nasal sprays
Let us know how your doing

Sheree, Thanks for telling me
I'll have to try that
It's day 7 for me still many periods of stuffiness
Still have the urge to want to spray glad i tossed them all out
Googled many sites of nasal spray addiction can't believe there are so many people dealing with this
Some are saying it takes up to 3 weeks to get rid of their congestion after stopping the spray
And so many fail because It's so much easier to spray then deal with how bad and long the stuffy nose stays, and just seems to get overwhelming when u can't breath especially when you try to sleep
Thanks for the info your very helpful
_________________________

On my 14th day off, I started using again
Just needed to sleep congested free
Now i feel I'm right back where i started from.
I tried so hard
Good luck to any one trying to get off a long time nasal spray use

Hi Rosie, is this a duplicate posting? I just responded to one that looks like this one(lol).