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risk for adrenal gland suppression (HPA axis suppression)and are at greater risk for inadequate levels once therapy is withdrawn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).

Oh, to be able to breathe through both nostrils at once again! I've tried so many nasal sprays but have given up. They just seem to make me worse. Same with eye drops. I've had allergic reactiongs to them as well, even prescription ones.

Hi Melwyn:

What does your doctor say?

Any solutions?

Oh Rosie, I am so very sorry to hear about what the nasal sprays have done to you. That is just so awful!

Two autumns ago I used one - not Afrin, but another one. I only used it one night while I had a mild flu, and after it wore off I was so miserable. I felt like my sinuses had swollen up to 10 times their normal size! I couldn't breath through my nose for two days! It was worse than the flu I was recovering from!

I read an entire memoir where someone lost their sense of smell permanently from using Zicam nasal spray.

I don't touch the things.

[quote=Angela J. Shirley]Hi Melwyn: What does your doctor say? Any solutions? [/quote] -------------------------- Actually, my doctor blames it on LPR (Laryngopharyngeal Reflux) - which can cause post nasal drip and sinus problems. The LPR is confirmed, so perhaps there's some truth in that, because no anti histamines have ever helped me. The LPR is under treatment, but it's a long haul, as this is a hard condition to control. Melwyn.

Why don't my quotes come out the way the previews do? Mystery glitch! Melwyn.

Yikes Jilly, that is not good. We need to get the word out. I firmly BELIEVE in learning from others and also sharing what I have experienced. This is the ONLY way changes will be made. LOL, it is like, sometimes it takes the "media" to embarrass some corporations before they do what is right.

Hugs,
A

--------------------------



I am so GLAD you know what you have and working on a solution. If you feel up to it, no pressure, can you keep us posted on how you are doing?

If not, I totally understand and will not be mad with you. Here is hoping you feel BETTER soon

LOL, it has to do with getting used to the forum. We have all been there - it will get BETTER soon and you will be showing other folks how to use the forum

[quote=Angela J. Shirley]LOL, it has to do with getting used to the forum. We have all been there - it will get BETTER soon and you will be showing other folks how to use the forum :) :) :) [quote=Melwyn]Why don't my quotes come out the way the previews do? Mystery glitch! Melwyn. [/quote] [/quote] I click on QUOTE4, then type message, and when I click the preview it looks fine, but doesn't post that way. what am i doing wrong? I just clicked PREVIEW POST and this one is as it should be. See what happens when I click SUBMIT! Dash it! it' did it again! Melwyn

LOL Melwyn, do you know HTML?

If yes, the tags have to stay in place in order for stuff to cooperate.

If you don't know HTML, don't worry about it - I can see exactly what you mean't to do.

If you want, I can teach you about the HTML tags - just let me know.

With me being the ex-editor for the Walking section on this forum-I have learn't alot. I still visit even though some days are far too busy - that was the reason for resigning - but like to help out when I can. Believe me, I had a lot of folks helping me out when I first joined this forum.

Hugs,
A

[quote=Angela J. Shirley]LOL Melwyn, do you know HTML? If yes, the tags have to stay in place in order for stuff to cooperate. If you don't know HTML, don't worry about it - I can see exactly what you mean't to do. If you want, I can teach you about the HTML tags - just let me know. With me being the ex-editor for the Walking section on this forum-I have learn't alot. I still visit even though some days are far too busy - that was the reason for resigning - but like to help out when I can. Believe me, I had a lot of folks helping me out when I first joined this forum. Hugs, A [/quote] It says on the side that HTML and UBBCode are disabled. How do I fix that so I can post quotes properly? Many thanks for your help! Melwyn.

Melwyn, I am trying to remember, but i think yuo have not posted enough times to have that privilege yet?

Ah, Got it! I thought it must have been something, because I double checked my preferences, and saw nothing wrong there. Thanks Jilly! I just have to be patient! (grin!) Melwyn.

It might be 50 posts. I think you become an amoeba at that point, too.

Jilly to the rescue - much appreciated - mystery solved.

Melwyn - Keep posting and before you know it, 50 posts will be behind you.

Hugs,
A

As we say in Australia YOU BEAUT! Melwyn.

We like you, Melwyn. It would be nice to see you become an amoeba.

U so FUNNY Jilly

So you are from Australia Melwyn - awesome!!!

I was born in Jamaica, West Indies.

Hugs to you both,
A

I'll get there, ladies! Never fear! I expect to be around for a while, until I go on holidays for three weeks at the end of January. Off to the ocean blue! Melwyn.

Three week holidays. Oh jeez. I soooo live in the wrong country.

Come on over! You'd be most welcome! Melwyn.

than kyou!

It's just so right and civilized to honor people as more than worker automatons the way our society does.

Why are we like this?

LOL, have no idea Jilly