Sudafed nasal spray addiction

[Bromleyboy]

Anyone else caught out by this stuff? On day 5 of having none and totally bunged up and feeling dreadful, any advice on how to kick it?

It's cold turkey I'm afraid. Rebound congestion is a bugger!

Try breathe right strips - they are amazing and harmless to use every day

Or try some Olbas oil on a tissue under your nose and trying to breathe some of the smell up through your congestion. Might help shrink down the nasal lining (which is causing the bunged up feeling you have). Also cold air outside can help temporarily.

I've done the same with Sinex.

You're already 5 days off, so I would plough on tbh...but:

I found switching to a milder decongestant first helped (Otrivine Junior). Then using only at night. Then using only on one side at night, and taking Nytol non-herbal so I could sleep in spite of stuffed up one side. Then other side, ditto. Then treat to say well done for getting off it.

Trouble is, a cold and bang - I have to start all over again

Was addicted to Vicks for years. Finally went to the doctor who told me I had to go cold turkey but prescribed a steroid spray (Nasonex) which helps to reduce the swelling. It helped quite quickly. I still have the odd puff of Vick on a Saturday night as it gives me a great sleep.

I am going through exactly this right now. If I don't use the spray, I get completely bunged up. I've managed to cut down a lot but not completely yet. Has anyone tried just stopping one nostril at a time? Would that work?

Yes one nostril can work. I have to do that if I use any of these sprays even for a couple of nights...and now I only ever use them at night (and only in desperation if I have a cold and can't breathe to get some sleeeep).

I alternate nostrils and then hope the last night I can get through with olbas oil on a tissue or something!

I needed to come off cold turkey but needed something as the medication I was taking caused a blocked nose so my GP prescribed Beconase which helped a lot. I'd reached the point where within 30 secs or so of using Vicks Soother my nose was bleeding. I can't use it ever again.

bit weird but I recently discovered nasal irrigation (look up neti pots or nosebuddy on amazon) I have found it really helps with my allergies and general congestion.

I’ve been addicted to Sudafed nasal for over a yr now using a bottle a wk it’s driving me nuts coz I’m feeling rough in myself and I’m sure that’s why any tips coz I’m sick of it but can’t handle not breathing wen I stop

Yes, 4 years ago. I had no idea that this stuff was addictive. I had been on it for 18 months and no clue that it was what was causing the exacerbation which of course led me to increasing the dose. My GP was horrified when I told him and said I might as well have been shoving cocaïne up my nose!

He too prescribed a steroid instead - equivalent of Beconase which is available over the counter-. If I remember well, it took about a week to start seing a slight improvement but really two weeks to kick out the habit and the steroids to start working. I was fully de congested about a month on.

It's been 4 years and no block nose issues since. I still take Sudofed very occasionally when I have a cold or allergies are at worse but never ever longer than 3 days and only maybe 3 or 4 times a year.

That period of coming off is awful but so worth it so keep it up. I am really amazed that although the information leaflet mentions risks, it doesn't make it clear how bad and addictive it can be.

Thank you I’m gona get some beconase and start it today I think because I feel terrible