BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Allergies & Colds My Nasal Spray update

Finally I'm getting help to get off the sprays couldn't do it by myself
No matter how hard i tried
I now have a Nurse Practitioner coming to my place to treat me at home
She has put me on a antibiotic for 10 days
I'm on Fluticasone (Flonase)
Astelin
Sea Soft Nasal Mist
prescription Sudogest (Sudafed)
And Singulair
Praying this will work
And good luck to any one trying to get off the sprays
Let us know how you did it

Rosie i am so glad you are getting serious help with this. More people need to hear about your story.

Thank you Jilly, It's been really hard, And there are millions of people out there "hooked" on these sprays
My blood pressure was pretty high due to the sprays
I'm using my new meds and praying to never buy another nasal spray as lone as i live

Day 5 otc nasal spray free (and breathing from my nose)
I think i got this thing beat
Couldn't of done it on my own, I tried and tried
Good luck to anyone trying to kick the nasal spray "addiction"

Glad to hear of your progressive, Rosie. A nurse practitioner helped me get my sinus issues figured out. She also was the one who said nasal sprays should not be available OTC because of all the side effects and potential addiction. Good luck with what you are doing. Keep us posted on your ongoing progress.

Those nasal sprays are terrible. My ex-husband got hooked on Afrin nasal spray to help him breathe easier. The more he took the more he needed it. It took several months before we figured out he was addicted, and he was allergic to mold in our apartment at the time! The doctor never warned him of addiction when she told him to try the Afrin. He was finally able to get off the spray and use prescription allergy meds instead, which produced a much better result.

What is in these things that people get addicted to?

Stay strong, Rosie! You are doing awesome.

Thank you, It's been 13 days today
still on prescription sprays, but haven't used my Afrin
Believe me i am so tempted to spray
still uncomfortable
But hanging in there
I will (try) to beat this
While many people enjoy the immediate and long-lasting effects of nasal spray, some users become more and more dependent on it. Though you don't develop compulsive cravings or physical signs of addiction, your body can develop a tolerance to over-the-counter, or OTC, nasal spray, which leads to prolonged and repetitive use with reduced results. When you do become "addicted" to nasal spray, the effects are life-changing.
You can google " Nasal spray addiction" and find so many people with this problem
It's not medically called an "addiction" but a re-bound effect
Any one with this problem will surly call it an "ADDICTION" Good luck to any one trying to stop spraying
My best advice is to never spray in the first place or never go over the recommended dose which all say "Do NOT use for more then 3 days" From my own experience by 3 days i was hooked already. good luck in beating your Nasal Spray Addiction

Go Rosie! Go Rosie! YAYAYAYAY and a big old cheerleading cheer for you!

lol Thanks Jilly

Way to go, Rosie! Keep at it.

Thanks Sheree
23 days today

43 days today otc nasal spray free
Getting a new prescription today my nasal passages are still very inflamed The over the counter sprays did a lot of damage
Still struggling with wanting to spray, Still stuffy a little
And still haven't thrown out the Afin or other sprays yet
security reasons i guess
If any one else is struggling to stop spraying we would like to hear from you
And good luck
My blood pressure did come down from not using otc sprays

Oh by the way I believe it's been 76days I've been OTC Nasal spray FREE
I stopped using on Feb 16th
I'm still using 3 different prescription sprays and still sounding stuffy
My doctor said it will take several months
I hasn't been easy at all

Rosie, that is wonderful! Congrats!! You are being so strong. I think others with this problem must be inspired by you.

Thanks Jilly,
It's a long road, I hope to be able to encourage others
With out the help of my Nurse Practitioner (not sure i spelled that right)
I know i couldn't of done it by my self
I have come a long way
With still a way to go
Come to far to turn back

Thanks for keeping us posted. Glad to hear you are continuing to get better.

Rosie, do you know of others struggling with this new addiction?

Jilly, Just google Nasal spray addiction
or addicted to OTC nasal sprays
no many how you word it there are thousands of people suffering with it
Stories after stories

Wow. The drug companies. I wonder if there are any class action suits.

It would be very hard, because on the label it clearly states
"DO NOT USE FOR MORE THAN 3 DAYS"
believe me it's very hard to stop for many people I for one.
I sprayed for years around the clock Did a lot of damage to the inside of my nose
And I'm still uncomfortable I want to spray so bad

Even if it says that about three days, does it say anything on the label about it having addictive qualities? I think that is reason enough for a suit.

I google nasal spray law suits
otc nasal spray law suit
and a couple of others
there out there
I just hope people stay away from oct spray
or the companies take them off the market

You're doing really well keeping away from them!

July 16th will be 5 months NO OTC Sprays
Almost off all the prescription sprays
It's been tough
I've been tempted many time
I've come to far to start over
I still haven't thrown out the otc sprays
Hopefully I will some day
Good luck to anyone trying to stop using
Get help, I found out I could not do it alone
Don't ever want to go back there again
Thanks Sheree & Jilly for your support

This is good news! I'm so happy to hear that you are doing well. Your story should inspire others!

Thank you, I hope so

Well i started using(OTC) Sprays again this month After being off for 5 months
just got new scrips with refills so now i have to start allover again
Ragweed is all around me "sniffing" i'm so stuffed up again

Here we go again, Stopped the otc sprays on Sunday the 26th
Using only prescription sprays & short term predisone
I'm looking at it now that every day without otc sprays is a good day And trying not to get discouraged

I had no idea someone could get addicted to nasal sprays. I was using flonase for years and when I moved here to Miami I noticed I didn't seem to need it anymore so I didn't refill my RX. That was about 3 years ago.

In the past 4-5 months I've noticed my nose is constantly drippy. I was going to ask my doctor for a nasal spray, but now I think I'll reconsider it.

Jeanne, I am using Flonase, Azelastine, & Saline spray
I urge people not to start with the OTC Sprays
It's been so hard to get off them
I'm proof of that