Sudafed Nasal Spray

[Sam82xx]

Has anyone managed to get off Sudafed Nasal spray after years of use? I have been to my doctors and been prescribed Nasonex, and I have cut right down on the Sudafed, it's only been a few days of using the nasonex but it doesn't clear your nose, the doctor said stop using the Sudafed if you can but it's not as easy as that, just looking for some advice really of anyone who has had the same issue and my doctor told me he sees at least 3 people a week with this problem

I don't have any experience of this but I do know that overuse can create a decongestant/congestion cycle. Have you considered something like saline nasal irrigation to take the edge off congestion? Totally natural and does provide symptomatic relief.

https://www.boots.com/neilmed-sinus-rinse-kit-10077009?cmmmc=bmm-buk-google-ppccPLAsAsHeroCompareareOTC--UKKSmartShoppinggOTC&gclid=CjwKCAiAx8KQBhAGEiwAD3EiP3nFsPEy3wAvqEHINtKZBrhLPSD5KAWH8-Ui-0L4MesiLNUmn3VwIBoCsDkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I used one for years and have been free for about 18 months now. The doc gave me steroid nasal spray Avamys and I use it every day now. It was hard to break the dependence on the other one but the steroid spray helped. I have to use it regularly as I have damage from the horrid sprays and get sinus issues

I truly feel your pain here

I started by double dosing the steroid and cutting back the other one, it's not easy and you do have to go through some congestion and sinus pain, but it definitely helps to minimise the withdrawal

Yes, I have. My nose was always congested and I was using the sudafed nasal sprays continually, much more than the recommended dose, approximately every hour to try and clear it. I had used them for years. The doctor said I just had to stop, not use at all and my nose would clear. It took about 2 weeks of my nose being completely blocked, but it did clear. I used the spray that the doctor gave me the recommended amount during this time, but it did nothing to actually clear my nose. This was about 10 years ago.

I now will used sudafed the recommended 3 days only when I have a bad cold and my nose is completely blocked, especially overnight, and if my nose is still blocked after the 3 days I use the saline spray instead.

@cheekychaplin

I started by double dosing the steroid and cutting back the other one, it's not easy and you do have to go through some congestion and sinus pain, but it definitely helps to minimise the withdrawal

Yes I have reduced the amount of Sudafed I use in the hope I can wean myself off of it, is that what you basically done?

Yes, I used it then an hour or so later I would use the steroid and although it doesn't unblock your nose it does work to prevent irritation and inflammation so was definitely doing something. It's a horrible feeling and you really do have to go through it, but if you keep using the steroid it works. I found it a gradual taper down with the other spay until I woke up one morning and didn't immediately reach for it.

I’ve had this before and what I do is just spray one nostril for a couple of days and when the other one clears I stop the spray altogether. Avimys spray is brilliant for long term use ( I get stinking hay fever). Good luck. x

Wow I thought this was just me. Years of using it. I need to stop though and have done before with just going cold turkey.

I've never used it for anywhere near that long, but when I was stuck in a cycle of using it for a few weeks I found that using it in just one nostril for a while helped a lot, as I could still breathe ok at night. Gradually that nostril adjusted and I was able to cut down and then stop quite easily.