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Original poster

Blocked Nose Nasal sprays - Be Aware!!

238 replies

prettyrainbows · 04/01/2023 19:13

I used Sudafed Blocked Nose spray over a year ago when I had a bad cold, but I obviously used it longer than I should have and now my nose is addicted to it 😬 and I have Rhinitis Medicamentosa (saw Dr this afternoon)
Basically I have to use it 3/4 times a day else my nasal passages are severely congested.
So, 2 points - has anyone else had this and how did you cure it (Dr said reduce down gradually- feel like a druggie 😳) I just wondered if anyone else had any other tips or had congestion issues from overuse of nasal decongestants.
And point 2 - please be vary wary if using these nose sprays as if used longer than a week your nose can be come dependant- as its cold/flu season I just wanted to warn others as I didn't even know this was a thing until now!!

OP posts:
Reugny · 04/01/2023 19:16

It says on the sprays not to use longer than 3-4 days.

If you Google you can easily find out why.

caravanbuckie · 04/01/2023 19:17

Did the doc give you a steroid spray?

I have the same issue and have to use one every night now.

To gradually come off the other spray go one nostril at a time and do it over a few weeks. I have been in and off these bloody things for years

Vallmo47 · 04/01/2023 19:18

Thank you for your word of warning. I knew they were addictive because my dad has been addicted to nasal sprays since I was a young child. He had to have nose surgery and something happened that made him constantly feel bunged up. He still swears blind the only thing that somewhat relieves is nasal spray - that is a true addict, 30+ years. Where he lives (Sweden) there are no restrictions to how many you can buy and no one ever asks any questions. When he visits me in England they always ask certain questions - how long have you been congested, are you on any blood pressure medication (he is!!) etc. They also advice you not to use for prolonged periods and won’t sell more than two. All of the above, I discuss with him every time he visits but it falls on deaf ears.

PickledWilly · 04/01/2023 19:18

I looooove the Vicks nasal spray! I too got addicted but weaned myself off just living with the congestion. I now treat myself to a few days worth of spray when I get a cold and have to be strict stopping as don't want to be hooked again lol

CharlotteRose90 · 04/01/2023 19:18

Yep I got addicted to them when I was 18 and had polyps. Ruined my life. Had to take the stupid sprays every day otherwise I sounded like I was on coke. Luckily I came straight off them after a while and gradually my nose got better.

dementedpixie · 04/01/2023 19:20

I had the same quite a few years ago and had to wean myself off it because of the rebound congestion.

Now I use it for a few days but make sure i don't continue to the stage of needing it all the time.

Pixiedust1234 · 04/01/2023 19:20

I'm sorry its got so bad for you but it does give this information on the inside leaflet. Same for antihistamine sprays like Beconase. Your nose becomes dependent on the spray very quickly.

Mykittensmittens · 04/01/2023 19:20

I believe it’s called rebound sinusitis. I was warned of this by my ENT after being referred following significant repeat sinus infections. In my case it wasn’t so (had never used them) but he explained at length why using sprays for more than a couple of days is really detrimental

dementedpixie · 04/01/2023 19:22

Vallmo47 · 04/01/2023 19:18

Thank you for your word of warning. I knew they were addictive because my dad has been addicted to nasal sprays since I was a young child. He had to have nose surgery and something happened that made him constantly feel bunged up. He still swears blind the only thing that somewhat relieves is nasal spray - that is a true addict, 30+ years. Where he lives (Sweden) there are no restrictions to how many you can buy and no one ever asks any questions. When he visits me in England they always ask certain questions - how long have you been congested, are you on any blood pressure medication (he is!!) etc. They also advice you not to use for prolonged periods and won’t sell more than two. All of the above, I discuss with him every time he visits but it falls on deaf ears.

You can buy them from the supermarket with no questions asked so there are no restrictions in the UK for the type of sprays OP is talking about

OnlyFannys · 04/01/2023 19:22

I started using them years ago and am addicted, unfortunately I dont know if I will ever be able to stop using them. My own fault obviously for not reading the labels but I cant turn back time unfortunately

Wren77 · 04/01/2023 19:24

Yes I've done this (a few times 😬) and cured it by basically going cold turkey! It takes about 3 days to get back to normal but it's really uncomfortable at the time

tweetypi · 04/01/2023 19:25

This happened to me although was only for around 4 months - I went cold turkey and it sorted itself out in a couple of weeks. Was a very unpleasant fortnight though and I really struggled to sleep - had to breathe through my mouth the whole time and my ears felt blocked up. Haven't touched them since!

IHeartGeneHunt · 04/01/2023 19:27

I used them for years, I knew it said three days use but didn't bother wondering why, stupidly. They can cause high blood pressure, which is what happened to me - stopped using them and it went back to normal. Now I use Sterimar saline spray which isn't as instantaneous but is very good.

horriblechristmas2022 · 04/01/2023 19:27

This is why I love mumsnet though

I have this problem but didn't realise it was a thing

bubblesqueak27 · 04/01/2023 19:27

Yes I've had this! I was using it for years - it's awful!!! In the end I went cold turkey and it was horrible for a couple of weeks then got so much better!

Echobelly · 04/01/2023 19:27

I didn't know that could happen, but I was aware you're not supposed to use them for too long - I try to stop ASAP but I'm really dependent on them in the early days of a cold! I generally find even if I'm still blocked up, you kind of get used to it after 4-5 days.

Needcoffeeimmediatley · 04/01/2023 19:28

Happened to me as well.

My nose was constantly blocked and I sounded like I had a cold if I didn't use it.

I just went cold turkey, think it took about a week.

Veryverycalmnow · 04/01/2023 19:31

Thanks for the warning, I sometimes don't fully read the info on stuff like this if I'm busy so it's good to have this pointed out if it's not in big letters on front of box! Sounds like a nightmare.

ColonelRhubarbBikini · 04/01/2023 19:31

I caution everyone I sell nasal sprays to about rebound congestion and overuse. A lot of people haven’t heard of it.

My pharmacist advises a saline nasal spray only as there isn’t the same side effects even with longer term use.

I suffer awfully with sinusitis but can’t take decongestants so I rely heavily on steam inhalation, facial massage and pressing a wheat bag to my face. While they don’t give the same sort of relief as sprays and decongestants they do help.

PickledWilly · 04/01/2023 19:33

That glorious feeling though when the spray clears it all... ahhh

BashfulClam · 04/01/2023 19:33

I know this as my boss had rebound congestion when she tried to stop then. I’m on day three if using one but I’m only using it at night to help me sleep better and dealing with the bunged up feeling during the day :( I’ll need to stop though so I don’t get issues.

HateTheFuckingWorld · 04/01/2023 19:39

Yep I did this after covid. Fixed it now though, I just suffered with mouth breathing (ugh) through the day and then only sprayed one side, I found I could sleep easily enough with one clear nostril. After about a week the non sprayed side had fixed itself so just stopped spraying.

Original poster
prettyrainbows · 04/01/2023 19:43

horriblechristmas2022 · 04/01/2023 19:27

This is why I love mumsnet though

I have this problem but didn't realise it was a thing

Me too. Obviously it's my own doing, I should have read the label/been more careful. I just want to warn others so nobody else ends up like me - its awful. I'm going cold Turkey. Wish me luck!!!

OP posts:
Violashift · 04/01/2023 19:47

I have had this problem. I found a good few hours walk helped with the unblocking. It was like getting blood to my face helped if fixed itself. Totally anecdotal but it helped me

CitronVert22 · 04/01/2023 19:47

I love those sprays though as they make a cold bearable. But I'm careful, and as the cold gets better maybe only use it in one nostril etc. Basically use as little as possible while still being able to breathe.