Anyone managed to stop Sudafed after long-term use for blocked nose?

[Saddaughter999]

Hello everyone!
Long story but looking for experiences.
Had Covid 2019 and after -my nose became my headache - always blocked, waking up multiple times at night, etc.
Was referred to Long Covid Clinic, however, still waiting 6 years later as my symptoms are "not that bad".
Tested privately for allergies, used every available in UK saline water, humidifier at night, fans, etc - the only thing that helps is SUDAFED. I'm pretty sure I became addicted to it, have to spray 4-5 times during the day. Had multiple GP appointments - the only thing they say- to stop use it. I tried. If I'm successful to reduce it to 1-2 times a day, then have a minor cold- and need it more again. I'm feeling like a fish without water, I even fainted recently because I was short of air.
Is there are anyone who had the same issue and stopped using Sudafed? Any advices? I know person who had very similar problem and doctors saw it on MRI - they said Sudafed causes sinuses infections if prolonged use.

I had this problem and managed to gradually wean myself off it after four years of daily use. It stops your body from doing its own decongesting but that is reversible. I just had to put up with a few nights and days of breathing out of my mouth which wasn’t pleasant but I stuck with it and once I got few the first three days of total cold turkey (having weaned down over a few weeks) it then got gradually easier. I do still use it now when I have a cold but not for any longer than it says on the bottle.

I bought a steam inhaler thing which helped along with Vicks nasal stick. It’s worth weaning yourself off, I’m so glad I did it.

I had the EXACT same issue. I was hooked on Sudafed for years.

The reason Sudafed works is because it restricts the blood vessels inside your nostrils. To give the feeling that it’s clear. It’s nothing to do with mucus or snot when you’re addicted to Sudafed.

When you stop using Sudafed - the blood vessels have “rebound swelling” which stops you from being able to breathe through your nose.

I successfully weaned off. You can buy OTC steroid nasal spray, anything geared at hayfever will help as it reduces swelling (not as effective as Sudafed). But get one of those and do one nostril at a time.

Continue using Sudafed in one nostril so you can still breathe. And use the steroid spray in the other nostril. After 3-5 days you’ll find that your nose is healing and it’ll regulate itself better with congestion.

Then you can move on to using the steroid spray in both nostrils.

After a week or two you’ll naturally find yourself using it less as you can breathe easier on your own. The steroid is incredibly easy to stop as your blood vessels would have healed from the need to swell.

This was me 18months ago, had a sudafed in my bag, by the bed and one in the kitchen. Was so blocked up if I didn't use it. Did a bit of research via Doctor Google and I switched to using Beconase which is a corticosteroid and within 2 weeks my nose was pretty much back to normal and I could stop using it.

Thank you for your replies! I tried multiple times to stop using it, however I never used steroid spray, will definitely try it.
I have Sudafed in every corner of the house, literally wasting so much money on it....

I was the same. One in the bag, one in the car, one by my bed, at my desk.

I once forgot it on a night out and had to walk around town half drunk looking for a late night pharmacy so I could breathe.

Defo try the steroid spray, one nostril at a time. It’ll change your life. Just stick with it.