Afrin, also known as oxymetazoline, is a decongestant spray that is intended only for short-term usage. Unfortunately, when people use it for longer than three days at a time, they can develop a dependence on it. In fact, it can cause rebound congestion. This means that your sinus membranes will swell, which causes you to feel congested again.
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What is Afrin (oxymetazoline)?
Afrin is available over-the-counter to treat nasal congestion. It can also be used to treat a bloody nose. Afrin’s primary claim to fame is that it begins to clear your congestion in mere seconds. This sympathomimetic medication results in vasoconstriction, which reduces fluid and boosts the size of the airway lumen.
Afrin is designed to be used for no more than three days in a row. Anyone who is at least six years old can take two to three sprays in each nostril. This process shouldn’t happen more than twice a day, and there needs to be a minimum of 10 hours between doses.
The Path to Dependence
It’s understandable to want immediate relief. However, you must be extremely cautious with Afrin. Otherwise, it can become really easy to take a third dose in a day, or to use this product for longer than three days in a row. Once this happens, you can begin to develop rhinitis medicamentosa, better known as rebound congestion.
In some cases, rebound congestion happens when you stay on Afrin for at least three days. Although it’s true that some people won’t develop rebound congestion at all, there are others who will have to deal with this condition only after several weeks of Afrin usage. Either way, the majority of individuals taking Afrin will end up with rebound congestion if they use Afrin for longer than recommended.
Once you’ve got a case of rebound congestion, you’ll find it harder and harder to get relief. Even worse, you’ll begin to feel congested without suffering from a cold or any allergies. As a result, you’ll feel the need to take even more Afrin. This becomes a vicious cycle, and your rebound congestion can get worse and worse as you continue to use Afrin.
Dangers and Side Effects of Overuse
Due to rebound congestion, it can be quite easy to accidentally overdose. Symptoms of an Afrin overdose may include:
- Slow heartbeat
- Drowsiness
- Fainting
- Dizziness
Additionally, Afrin may cause you to develop chronic nasal inflammation, along with damage to your nasal lining. It also increases your risk of sinus infections and can elevate your blood pressure.
There are also mental health drawbacks to an overdose. Not only can it cause you tremendous stress and anxiety but it may lead to social implications, including embarrassment and/or isolation. Once you’ve become isolated from others, you may have an even higher risk of overdosing again.
Differentiating Between Use and Overuse
Afrin can be a good tool to fight nasal congestion, but only if it’s used properly. Again, this means you must never use it for more than three consecutive days, and you can only take two to three sprays in each nostril twice a day. If you begin to use it for longer than three days and/or to use the spray more than twice a day, you’re in great danger of becoming dependent on Afrin.
There are several indicators that you’re slipping over the line into dependence, including using it more than recommended, increased bottle purchasing and feeling heightened anxiety when you don’t have any Afrin available.
Breaking the Cycle: Steps to Overcoming Afrin Dependence
As with any other drug, you’ll want to talk to your doctor about getting off of Afrin. Be sure that she or he understands you’ve developed a dependence, and you want to get your life back. The reason you should do this is that your physician knows the best way for you to quit, which can vary depending on your specific medical history.
Some former Afrin users turned to a steroid nasal spray such as Nasacort or Flonase to help them relieve their dependence on Afrin. This takes about a week, and it may reduce the symptoms of withdrawal. Of course, there are also potential side effects of Nasacort and Flonase, so only do this if your doctor recommends it.
Another way you can wean yourself off Afrin is by doing so gradually. One method is to spread out the time between doses. So, for example, if you’ve been taking it every 10 hours, try taking it every 12 hours instead. After a couple of days, go up to every 14 hours, etc. Alternatively, you can choose to use the spray on only one nostril. In other words, you’ll alternate between your left and right nostril when it’s time to spray, so you’ll only get half the medication.
Finally, you may choose to try a holistic method. People have found decent success using a saline nasal spray and/or a neti pot to get some relief. Plugging in a humidifier can help you, along with remaining hydrated. What will most likely help you the most, though, is avoiding the irritants that can exacerbate nasal congestion. For instance, eating dairy has been shown to cause congestion, along with any food that contains histamine and/or tyramine.
Prevention and Safe Use of Nasal Sprays
Nasal sprays definitely have their place, but you need to use them responsibly. This means always following their recommended guidelines, regardless of whether your issue is completely cleared up. Yet again, this means that you shouldn’t use Afrin for longer than three days.
Before you even take Afrin, you should consider trying non-medicated ways to get rid of congestion. The key is to ensure your nasal passages remain moist. You can do this by:
- Taking long showers
- Using a humidifer
- Drinking plenty of fluids
- Using a neti pot
- Using a nasal saline spray
- Putting a warm, wet towel on your face
- Avoiding chlorinated pools
- Propping yourself up at night
- Using a bioelectronic sinus device
The most important thing of all is to make sure you’re well-educated about the potential risks whenever you consider taking an over-the-counter medication. Take the time to actually read any warnings that come on, or in, the package. That way, you’ll be fully aware of what could happen, which should make you more cognizant of your actions.
Personal Testimonies
Several people have given personal testimonies of their dependence on Afrin and other nasal sprays on The People’s Pharmacy. Here are a few of the most noteworthy.
“I had a full blown addiction to nasal spray before it was commonly known that it could happen.” – Marilyn
“I got addicted to Afrin nasal spray. I couldn’t go any longer than 15 minutes without it.” – Unnamed
“I have been using Afrin Nasal Decongestant Spray for two decades. My mom started me on it when I was a kid with bad allergies and then I couldn’t stop.” – Unnamed
The good news is that all three people listed above are now free of their Afrin dependence. Marilyn said, “I sprayed one nostril only until the other cleared, and then stopped. As others have mentioned here, one nostril free breathing is tolerable. It took five-seven days for each to clear.”
Our first unnamed individual, who had such a severe dependence that she or he had to use it every 15 minutes, found a good solution. “It was a painful process to break the habit, but this worked for me. I would apply a hot compress to my sinuses… Then I would eat really hot green chili salsa, which would open up my sinuses.”
Our second unnamed person said, “I finally got off Afrin by using Flonase and diluting the last bottle of Afrin with saline. It took about a week, and though I am still a little stuffy, I am so glad to be off the decongestant.”
All three of these stories show that it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been on Afrin or how dependent you are on it. As long as you want to change, you can. It may be painful, but that pain will only be temporary.
Conclusion
It’s important to always remain aware of any over-the-counter medication’s potential for misuse. Most people are complacent with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, but just because you can walk into a store and buy them without a prescription doesn’t mean that they’re completely safe.
If you’ve developed a dependence on Afrin, or any other OTC medication, we encourage you to get help. Reach out to your doctor right away for expert advice on what you can do to get off the medication.
FAQ
Is Afrin addictive?
Additional Resources
Do you need help getting off of Afrin? The following resources may help.
- 24-hour helpline: (800) 241-4949
- Narcotics Anonymous
- Smart Recovery
- Dual Recovery Anonymous
