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Original poster

Sudafed nasal spray

49 replies

halart45 · 07/12/2023 11:23

Has anybody been addicted to Sudafed nasal spray? I have been using it now for years, every day, about 2-3 hours every day and 4 times in the night to help me sleep.

I feel miserable. My sinuses are so bad and I can't physically breathe out my nose without it.

Has anybody else had this problem and managed to successfully withdraw? Please help!!! Enough is enough ☹️

OP posts:
Crikeyisthatthetime · 07/12/2023 11:27

I have chronic sinus issues. I can't tolerate sudafed spray at all, it's far too strong for when a single spray let alone for prolonged daily use. Speak to your doctor and get some advice, you must be doing yourself harm.

Heavymetaldetector · 07/12/2023 11:37

I accidently got addicted to something similar. Didn't realise it was a thing, initially uses some spray to help with completely blocked sinuses during a virus but then found within a week or a month the cold had goneut I still couldn't breath through my bloody nose without using the spray. Ended up needing to use it every half an hour as they would close up completely again soon after use. Googled it and was so shocked that nasal spray addiction is a thing! So I just stopped cold turkey, things returned to normal after about 3 days. Its mental that the sprays aren't even an over the counter thing! You can just pick them up wherever! But yeah they have a rebound effect which means every time you use them your sinuses reblock to counter them, not sure the reason why. Good luck with withdrawal! You will be fine after a few days going by my experience but may not be the same for everyone so might be worth talking to a gp

Original poster
halart45 · 07/12/2023 11:43

@Heavymetaldetector thank you! It's reassuring to hear yours went back to normal after 3 days. I'm so scared that as I've been on them for years, it won't be the case with me and I've done some serious damage. I have tried the steroid sprays but they really did not help.

I guess I can all but try and go cold turkey!

OP posts:
Nousernamesleftatall · 07/12/2023 11:44

Can you try a saline spray instead or a Neti pot?

mfhtoeh · 07/12/2023 11:49

Try just stopping spray in one nostril to start with then when it inevitably blocks you get a modicome of relief from the spray the other nostril.

Once the nostril you’ve stopped spraying clears, stop using the spray in the other nostril.

Good luck.

Grimmz · 07/12/2023 11:51

While weaning yourself off it, try doing some old-fashioned steam baths, eg fill a bowl with hot water, and stick you face over it with a towel over your head to keep the steam in. You could add some peppermint or tea tree oil to the water for a nice aroma Smile

Also - do you have someone whom you can talk to about this and who could support you in your desire to quit?

dementedpixie · 07/12/2023 11:52

I'm sure there was a big thread about this in the past. I have also had the rebound congestion associated with sudafed and now I'm really careful about not over using it

NearlyMonday · 07/12/2023 11:52

Only use it in your left nostril for a few days, you'll still be able to breathe on your left side, but your right nostril will then recover from the rebound congestion.

And then repeat the process on the other side. Doing it one nostril at a time worked for me.

Craver · 07/12/2023 11:57

I would second the advice to speak to your GP.
I was on a similar spray for a few months and found that when I tried to stop the congestion got worse. I spoke to my GP who advised a gradual reduction of the decongestant spray along with a steroid nasal spray (Beclomethasone I think), over about a month. He then advised a gradual reduction of the steroid spray from the initial dose of 2 sprays each nostril twice daily to one spray each nostril at night only over the second month. Hope that makes sense!
I now occasionally use a decongestant spray only as a last resort and only for a few days at a time. Good luck.

Rrg · 07/12/2023 11:58

I had the same problem with Otravine for years. I swapped to the childrens version, then watered it down to 50%. My big breakthrough was when I managed to clear out my sinuses with warm salt water. What came out was shocking. The mucus had dried into long strings of a cellophane like substance which I managed to gently pull out without breaking, plus large globules which were in the process of drying out. Sorry for the disgusting image. I knew I had to do something when I refused to give up my nasal dropper going in for a C section! Crazy, but not being able to breathe through your nose can be debilitating.

MissPolly6 · 07/12/2023 12:04

As per previous poster I had the same thing with Otrivine! I literally had a bottle everywhere I went, spares, would get really anxious if I didnt have access to it & had to use it every few hours for relief!

I went cold turkey when I started trying to conceive, I used plenty of saline spray, smelling olbas oil & snoring strips to try & hold my nasal passages open for some relief! But it was a miserable few weeks, it did eventually get better though. I’ll be honest though, my sinuses/nose has never been completely clear since & Im 5 years down the line from giving up! I always have some degree of mild, sometimes moderate congestion but have got used to it. I still use saline spray regularly & would never use anything like sudafed/otrivine or decongestants again!

Jsh125 · 07/12/2023 12:04

My husband definitely was - and I'm not being overly dramatic here. He would use it several times a day, panicked if he ran out & would drive wherever needed to buy some, first thing he reached for in the morning & claimed he couldn't manage without it. It was a viscous cycle as the more he used it the more bunged up he became so then needed to use it some more.

Im not sure what it was that made him realise it was an unhealthy habit but one day he decided enough was enough. He'd been diagnosed with a health issue which several of his friends and myself suggested might have been caused by the use of Sudafed, he took it on board & looked at research around Sudafed & then decided to quit.

He mainly went cold turkey but used a saline spray for a bit mostly for the psychological aspect really. After a couple of months he got rid of that & has never reached for a nose spray again

Jsh125 · 07/12/2023 12:06

Just to add there was a definite period of time where his symptoms got worse as he got used to not having it, but it was short lived

Original poster
halart45 · 07/12/2023 12:42

Thank you all so much!!

I know the feeling of feeling anxious when you've ran out. And I am actually pregnant which is why I need to stop. I used it with my other child and he was fine but I can't take the risk again, it's not fair. I remember not being able to breathe for my first c section as they would not let me take it and that was so scary that I don't want to be in the same position.

The suggestion for doing one nostril at a time might be a good solution. I'll call my gp also but I doubt anything can be done / given until after birth. So for now, it's natural sprays

OP posts:
Imamastermind · 07/12/2023 13:04

I was addicted for YEARS! It was awful, I could not go anywhere without it and my sleep was completely dependant on it.
The thing that helped me was that I switched to Sterimar nasal spray. It's natural sea water and not addictive at all. First few nights I had to use it multiple times throughout the night but then slowly that reduced and then I only needed it before going to bed. After about a month I was able to stop using it completely.
I will never go anywhere near Sudafed (and similar) sprays ever again! Evil stuff!

Crikeyisthatthetime · 07/12/2023 13:54

I was just coming back to recommend sterimar spray. It's a saline solution in an easy to use bottle, much easier than neil-med and the like (more expensive but get a couple of the bigger containers).
It soothes all the nasal linings - and washes out a lot of grot if you're lucky. It will help while you're giving up the sudafed.
There are a couple of different steroid sprays. Talk to your doctor, he will be able to recommend an alternative if one doesn't work.

thedementedelf · 07/12/2023 14:03

I've been addicted to nasal spray for 10 years. I use it multiple times a day. I've tried steroid sprays from the dr but nothing works as well as otc nasal spray.

Original poster
halart45 · 07/12/2023 15:16

@Imamastermind this gives me so much hope!! Do you still get blocked?

Thank you for those who have recommended sterimar. I have bought some this afternoon :)

OP posts:
Imamastermind · 07/12/2023 15:58

halart45 · 07/12/2023 15:16

@Imamastermind this gives me so much hope!! Do you still get blocked?

Thank you for those who have recommended sterimar. I have bought some this afternoon :)

Not anymore, only when I get a cold.
If I do get a cold and get congested I use Sterimar and also Neil Med sinus rinse which is great at clearing out sinuses (which is also natural, no nasty drugs!)

Good luck!

febbabies2023 · 07/12/2023 16:02

I also used one for years! I used it throughout my second pregnancy although I tried very hard not too - I just couldn't do it. I also have a deviated septum which doesn't help. And I didn't use it as much but at the time the relief outweighed the risks.

After having her, I decided I needed to stop using it. I felt that anxiety when I was getting low, needed to know where it was at all times.
One night I just decided not to use it. I put it in a drawer away from where I slept. I opened the window for fresh air which helped.
And I haven't used it since. The first week or so was AWFUL because I just felt like I couldn't breath and had the driest mouth ever. But after that it got better! She's now 10 months and I haven't used it for about 8 months

I can breathe so much clearer now, and I don't think about using it. I'd still use it if I had cold / flu but yes all clear now.

You can do it, I didn't realise how addictive they are! It's never spoken about is it

Original poster
halart45 · 07/12/2023 17:49

@febbabies2023 I have a deviated septum as well, I had surgery on my nose about 10 years ago for it - it's this that started the use of the Sudafed, so I know that definitely doesn't help!

That's amazing, well done you. Think I just need to grin and bear that the next couple of weeks are going to be horrible. Spent the whole day already feeling miserable because I've not been able to breathe at all, dreading this first night!

OP posts:
RenegadeMrs · 07/12/2023 18:02

Good luck, not being able to breath through your nose is miserable, but hopefully it will be temporary.

I feel like a dodged an addition. I had been using if for about a month but was still feeling awful so went to the doctor. She gave me a fairly stern telling off, making it clear that Sudafed nasel spray shouldn't be used in the long term. Made me stop it immediatly and gave me a different spray on prescription, with very strict instructions about how to use it and when to stop.

Since then I try and steer clear of anything but the saline stuff.

Flamango · 07/12/2023 18:05

Yes! Been down this road, kicked it, back on it now but will try and kick it again soon
Doc told me to keep going in one nostril and on the other switch to Beconase two pumps twice a day in the other. When one nostril was done I did the other, then weaned down the Beconase. It was actually pretty painless in the end.

Crikeyisthatthetime · 07/12/2023 18:07

I had surgery on a deviated septum too. The results were great but since having covid the old symptoms are returning. Sterimar and antihistamines for me, with a steroid spray when I need extra help (sometimes helps).
Best of luck for getting through tonight.