Blocked Nose Nasal sprays - Be Aware!!

[prettyrainbows]

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!!

I had that years ago. GP refused to prescribe anything and I had to just inhale steam 3 times a day (boiling water in basin, head over basin, towel over head) and once I was better I've not had a blocked nose since (and I've had very bad colds) basically if you let it be it sorts itself out.

Inhaling steam also helps your face by increasing circulation and softening blackheads making them easier to remove. Bonus!

You can get mini steam inhaler mugs which are a lot less faff. It’s worth putting drops of essential oils such as eucalyptus, lavender etc or a brand like Olbas as it helps clear.

They were just talking about nasal sprays for preventing colds on R4 - they focused on a Vicks and a Boots one. (Sliced Bread if you look on Sounds.) However, they made only brief reference to the range of sprays available and didn't mention any risks with others - the ones they tested were saline and caragheen mostly, which they said should be harmless, whether or not they really work. I imagine some listeners might extrapolate that to all nasal sprays without reading the info leaflet fully.

I just taste it. If you want it just for a general rinse, you want it to taste barely salty, as in physiological solution that our body is made of. If you have a bit of a blocked nose, you may want to have it a bit more salty as that dissolves the mucus. I personally prefer to use a normal kitchen salt but you may want to try sea salt too.

The ones I have used always have it written on the box, on the bottle and in the leaflet for how long you can used them. It varies depending on what it is. Not sure whether the leaflet always contains the info about the subsequent rhinits effect.

I'm just reviving this thread because I read through it when it first posted and thought now is the time.
I've been addicted to sudafed spray for 15 years, using it probably about 8-10 times a day. Would have the cement filled sinuses within 2 hours of using it. Take bottles and bottles of it on holiday in case I lose or smash any and can't get it.
Anyway. On Wednesday night I decided to wean off, and took it before I went to bed. Got up on Thursday morning and used Pirinase (steroid spray) instead and sterimar salt water spray. Told myself I had to wait until I got to work until I had sudafed. Took the sterimar again on my way in. Had that horrible panicky feeling of being blocked up but powered through and decided to wait till lunchtime for sudafed. The panic passed.
Won't continue to bore you with the details but I haven't actually taken the sudafed since that last one on Wednesday night. Thursday was hellish and very, very uncomfortable. Since then, I've been able to breathe normally through my nose almost all of the time. I'm not using the sterimar now, just Pirinase morning and night and will drop that soon too. I cannot believe that I continued for 15 years for the sake of one day of discomfort. I thought it would be weeks. God knows what long term damage I'm left with but fingers crossed I'm off it for good now. Hoping someone can take heart and give up with me.

Well done @LittleMachine Excellent news!

It does seem ridiculous doesn’t it… I once found myself on holiday with no ‘supplies’ and that forced me into weaning myself off… When it’s available, it’s so hard not to give in just for the sheer relief of being able to breathe freely.

That's brilliant news.

Haven't read the full thread, but got addicted to Otravine. The woman at the pharmacy praised me for realising what had happened, and getting off it. To this day, I won't take a nasal spray.

The small print needs to be really very large print.

Thank you 😊 The relief is enormous.

Wow, well done!! I'm really pleased you've managed to conquer this so quickly. I've also completely stopped, a few days discomfort but like you I powered through. I'm glad my post inspired you to face up to what was happening and I hope it has others too 🙏

I haven’t read the full thread so I’m not sure if anyone else has mentioned this. My nose got “hooked” on Sinex in my first year at uni, when I had a cold in the middle of end-of-year exam revision. This was the best part of 25 years ago.

Going cold turkey did nothing for me and I couldn’t breathe through my nose without it. I ended up having to get a laser turbinectomy done at some place on Harley Street (I’m a bit of a yokel so it was the first time I’d been on a train and also been to London!) and it’s been fine ever since. I still get congestion with colds, although probably not as bad as I used to, but I’d never touch one of those sprays again.

one is ok though isn't it? No nasties.

Mean this one

@CuriousMama I hope someone answers soon

Fortunately l have access to ENT Consultants so when l did the same he told me what to tell my Gp to prescribe. One of them was oral steroids. Can't remember the rest

Think this is perfectly safe @CuriousMama as the ingredients are totally natural. Do you find it works well?
It's the chemical substances like xylometazoline, which work quickly to reduce congestion, that cause problems.

It's horrendous, I've been dependent on nasal sprays since before Christmas from sinusitis. I've now been prescribed steroid nasal spray but takes about 6 weeks to work. It really affects day to day living. I'm trying not to use other sprays but it's so hard especially at night. I Hope you are feeling better now I know this is an old thread.

Yes it’s great. Just had Covid and I used 3:

• Sinuforce above
• Incarvexx which is salt water and iodine
• Xclear Rescue

I sort of developed incipient Sinusitis but it never managed to take hold I think use of the remedies. They really clear your nose.

You can wean yourself off a nostril at a time, so that you can always breathe out of one. It's weird but better than full cold turkey.

Also abstain from alcohol while you are detoxing off it as alcohol sort of makes your nasal tissues swell slightly. Dry January is when I decided to wean off it.

If you take nurofen whilst weaning off, it's an anti inflammatory so might help.

I don't personally recommend saline baths if the problem isn't snot - if it's rebound swelling, it just adds to the disruption. Let it settle on its own I reckon.

I've been really suffering recently. Have bought a neti pot but it just doesn't work as well as the nasal sprays.

I've been prescribed a steroid nasal spray too and have to use it for 3 months.

@pixie5121 go to your GP they may give you steroid spray. It doesn't give you any relief for a few weeks but what I found worked was bearing with the congestion for a day without sprays and it helped so much.