Why Do People Get Addicted
With the use of nasal sprays, the nose becomes decongested but at the same time, more nasal congestion is created as a result. Once a person stops using the spray, the nasal congestion worsens. As a consequence, they believe they need to use the spray more often and for a longer period of time than recommended.
What Is A Nasal Spray Addiction
The active ingredient xylometazoline makes the nasal mucosa thinner. This makes the stuffy feeling in the nose disappear. Because the active substances also dilate the blood vessels, the nasal mucosa becomes thicker again. As a result, the nose closes again after a while. The consequence the nasal spray user continues to use the nasal spray to get rid of the stuffy sensation in the nose. If you keep using the nasal spray for too long, a dependence occurs. Without xylometazoline, the nose will simply remain closed. Not breathing freely through the nose is annoying. As a result, many people continue to use the nasal spray. This creates a nasal spray addiction.
Myth : You Can Get Addicted To Nasal Sprays
This one is partially true. Decongestant nasal sprays can cause rebound congestion or rhinitis medicamentosa. The rebound effect is when your congestion can worsen when you stop using the decongestant nasal spray after long-term use, and its relatively common. In one study, half of the almost 900 participants with nasal congestion used their decongestant sprays for longer than recommended .
The reason behind rhinitis medicamentosa has to do with how these sprays work. Many over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays work by constricting blood vessels that cause inflammation and increased mucus production inside the nose. When the blood vessels shrink, so does the inflammation and runny nose .
The effects of decongestant nasal sprays dont last long when the medication wears off, the vessels swell againand the runny nose returns. You have to use the nasal spray again to experience relief. Some research shows this can create an addictive pattern in some people who feel compelled to continually use more and more of the medication to get the same relief .
While scientists dont know the exact mechanism of rhinitis medicamentosa, they hypothesize that using decongestant nasal sprays long-term can lead to changes in your nasal mucosa and its blood vessels, contributing to rebound congestion. Also, some people may need a higher dose of the decongestant for it to work because the nasal mucosa gets used to it .
- Increased congestion between doses
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Myth : Nasal Sprays Take Weeks To Be Effective
A common misconception is that all nasal sprays take several weeks to provide any lasting effect. However, the actual time itll take largely depends on the type of nasal spray used.
Saline nasal sprays are the most fast-acting type of treatment because it works by gently flushing mucus and other irritants out. The downside is that the effects are short-lasting, and the process has to be repeated to clear additional congestion.
Antihistamine nasal sprays are designed to provide relief quicklysometimes in thirty minutes or less. The same goes for decongestant nasal sprays that provide extended relief for several hours.
Steroid nasal sprays can take two to three days to help symptoms, but it can take a couple of weeks to feel full relief. For best results, people who experience allergies should use their steroid nasal sprays daily throughout allergy season .
Though nasal sprays can effectively alleviate allergies and cold symptoms, they arent always the right choice for every person or every ailment. Its best to speak to your healthcare provider to discuss your symptoms and which type of treatmentnasal spray, oral medication, or otheris the best option for you.
Can You Get High Off Oxymetazoline
People are usually surprised to learn that nasal spray addiction is common and very serious. The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction as a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences to the individual that is addicted and to those around them. Drug addiction is a brain disease because the abuse of drugs leads to changes in the structure and function of the brain.
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What Happens After Long
After continuous and frequent use of nasal sprays, people can develop rebound nasal congestion . Symptoms of rebound nasal congestion and dependency on nasal spray may include:
- becoming congested again soon after using the spray
- having the sensation that the spray doesnt work anymore
- wanting to use the spray more often than the sprays guidelines recommend
- relying on the decongesting spray on a daily basis to breath normally
Kicking Nose Spray Dependence One Nostril At A Time:
Q. I became dependent on decongestant nose drops some years back. My doctors solution was to use the drops in a single nostril until the dependency passed and then totally discontinue nose drops. Its not a perfect solution but it worked for me.
A. This is a sensible approach to overcoming nose spray dependence.
A pharmacist agreed with you:
I have been a pharmacist for 55 years and discovered this treatment years ago. After the need to use decongestant nasal sprays for congestion associated with colds or allergies has passed, overcome rebound congestion by continuing to spray only one nostril. This allows the other nostril to adjust back to normal. When the un-sprayed nostril opens, discontinue the decongestant spray.
I had a full blown addiction to nasal spray before it was commonly known that it could happen. 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 5-7 days for each to clear.
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Myth : All Nasal Sprays Are The Same
Imagine this scenario: You have a cold or seasonal allergies and head to the pharmacy to get a nasal spray to help clear the congestion so you can breathe. All nasal sprays are the same, so you can grab the first bottle you see, right? Wrong.
There are four different types of nasal sprays, each with a different purpose.
- : Decongestant nasal sprays alleviate congestion and a runny nose by temporarily shrinking the blood vessels in the nose . This type of nasal spray is typically sold over-the-counter with two main active ingredients, oxymetazoline and pseudoephedrine . Phenylephrine is now replacing pseudoephedrine in many products. Decongestant nasal sprays can be dangerous to use for an extended amount of time and that may cause rebound congestion .
- Steroid: Steroid nasal sprays contain corticosteroids that help stop the inflammation of allergic rhinitis and seasonal allergies. Steroid nasal sprays work by applying the corticosteroid directly on delicate nose tissues to stop allergy symptoms like nasal congestion. Steroid nasal sprays are available in prescription form and over-the-counter with active ingredients like fluticasone propionate and triamcinolone acetonide .
- Saline: Saline nasal sprays are an all-natural way to treat congestion and mucus build-up with a mixture of sterilized water and sodium chloride instead of medication. The combination helps loosen mucus and debris inside the nose to clear congestion and blockages.
Nasal Spray: Separating Fact And Fiction
Nasal spray is a catch-all term for over-the-counter and prescription medications that are inhaled through the nose. These sprays are typically used to help relieve the symptoms that come with seasonal allergies and colds. There are four main types of nasal sprays: decongestant, steroid, saline, and antihistamine most of these can be used continuously. However, some can potentially cause an addiction if used for more than a few days at a time. This is not a true addiction, but using decongestant nasal sprays too often can lead to rebound congestion.
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Does Flonase Really Work
Finally Relief I needed!
Flonase has surpassed all other products I have tried. It helps my symptoms and I get instant, all day relief. When my allergies start, my symptoms are usually the itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose and then I will have nasal congestion. The spray is so easy and convenient to use.
Im Addicted To Afrin Nasal Spray
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Myths About Nasal Sprays
Nasal sprays may seem like a no-brainer for alleviating congestion and minor pains that come with seasonal allergies and colds. However, long-standing myths about nasal sprays effectiveness and safety cause many people to opt for tried-and-true oral medications instead.
In reality, many of these myths about nasal sprays are exaggeratedor just plain false.
Should I Take Flonase And Claritin Together
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Can You Actually Be Addicted To Nasal Spray
An expert weighs in on how Kaley Cuoco chalks a recent surgery up to her nose spray habit.
After she Instagrammed a photo of herself recovering from surgery, rumors were buzzing that The Big Bang Theory actress Kaley Cuoco had gotten a nose job.
Cuoco had a little something to say about that, though:
Earlier this week, she appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to further refute those claims and expose the real culprit behind her needing surgery: “I was addicted to nose spray for years,” the actress says. “At awards shows, I would have to pick out the right clutch to be able to fit my Afrin in it, and I’d be under the table snorting it!” Here’s her explaining how her dependence on nose spray affected her health.
It begs the question: Can you actually be addicted to nose spray? For answers, we went to Joseph Han, M.D., professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School and director of rhinology and endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery. Turns out, you canand it’s something you should definitely be aware of.
“This is a very common problem,” says Han. “I dont know the specifics of Kaley’s story, but there is a disease called rhinitis medicamentosa in which a patient develops what you could call an addiction to nasal spray if they use it for a prolonged period of time. Eventually, if they can’t get better with medication, they might need surgery.
Is Daily Use Of Flonase Harmful
Intranasal steroid sprays are safe for long-term use, and there is little evidence to indicate they cause significant systemic side effects. However, patients with chronic rhinitis who might use them for long periods should be advised to use them only intermittently and at the lowest dose that controls their symptoms.
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Who Should Not Use Afrin
Afrin should not be used by children younger than 6 years, or by people who are pregnant. If you’ve used a type of antidepressant called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor within 14 days, do not use Afrin. In addition, caution should be exercised if you have the following conditions:
- Hypertension
What Is The Clinical Definition Of A Substance Or Behavioral Addiction
According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, Substance addiction is a chronic, treatable medical disease that involves complex interactions among genetics, chemicals in the brain, a persons environment and a persons life experiences. People with a drug addiction engage in compulsive behaviors that continue despite the person suffering harmful consequences as a result of their drug-seeking behaviors.
The ASAM further states that treatment approaches and prevention efforts put forth by local and federal agencies are typically as successful as approaches and efforts used to treat chronic medical diseases.
The rebound effect caused by Afrin overuse is not an addiction to nasal sprays. Rebound congestion that occurs when you stop using Afrin doesnt require professional intervention by experienced addiction counselors. Nor does it require medical detoxification to rid the body of harmful drugs. Also, rebound congestion is not a medical disease involving the brain. Finally, people compelled to use Afrin on a daily basis dont engage in behaviors that severely compromise their jobs, relationships and general health.
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Dependency Vs Addiction: The Rebound Effect
The rebound effect occurs when you use nasal sprays, specifically decongestant sprays, regularly. After a few days of using this type of spray, your nose will become less responsive to the effects of the medication. You may have problems with your nasal congestion returning, or rebounding, once the medication is stopped. As a result, you may need to use more and more to combat the congestion.
Some people confuse the rebound effect with addiction, but Dr. Erdos said nasal spray addiction isnt a true addiction. Addiction is defined as a severe substance disorder that results in continuous and compulsive use of a substance despite that substance causing harm, she said. Over-the-counter nasal sprays, however, dont cause the same physiological cravings.
While the rebound effect of some nasal sprays isnt a true addiction, they can lead to negative consequences such as rhinitis medicamentosa , chronic sinusitis and other long-term problems.
To better understand the different kinds of nasal sprays and how to use them safely, heres a breakdown of the four different types.
How To Break Dependency And Reduce Risk For Rebounding
If youve been using a decongestant nasal spray for an extended period of time, it can be difficult to stop. You can quit cold turkey and expect to experience severe congestion and discomfort until your nasal passages have time to heal. Recovery typically takes less than a week and withdrawal symptoms are easy to manage.
We suggest seeing a doctor, who can examine your nose to check for damage or excessive swelling. A doctor will likely recommend a steroid nasal spray solution in addition to discontinuing the use of the decongestant nasal spray. This process will help alleviate discomfort as you break your dependency.
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Are Nasal Sprays Addictive
Addictions are physiological cravings and while over-the-counter nasal sprays can be addictive, they arent true physiological cravings. Therefore, they are not truly an addictive substance. However, they can be addictive due to the ongoing cycle of decongestion and congestion that they create.
Some common brands of nasal spray are
- Vicks Sinex
Why Do I Get Rebound Congestion With Afrin
The mechanism of how Afrin® works is to decrease blood supply to your turbinates and nasal lining . Once the spray is stopped, the turbinates and nasal lining respond by swelling even more. The patient then experiences even worse congestion than before use and is inclined to use the Afrin spray again.
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Causes Of Rebound Congestion
The reasons why rebound congestion occurs are complicated and not well understood. you may again begin to feel severe congestion, which is only relieved by the additional use of a nasal decongestant spray. Thus, a vicious cycle is set up. This is thought to be related to two possible causes:
- Use of nasal decongestant causes inadequate blood supply which causes swelling to occur in your nasal passages.
- Use of nasal decongestants causes nasal receptors that respond to decongestants to down-regulate which leads to congestion.
Nasal Irrigation Can Help Relieve Congestion
The purpose of nasal irrigation is to rinse out mucus and any debris from the nasal passageways. There are many ways to do this, but the simplest way is by using a Neti Pot they can be found in most drug stores and are typically used for sinus congestion, allergies, and colds. The Neti Pot works by flushing a saline solution through the nasal passageways, thinning the mucus so that it can be removed with the solution. This speeds up the process of mucus removal normally done by cilia, or small hairs, in the passageways. The function of the cilia is to move mucus to where it can either be swallowed or blown out.
I first heard about this method from both my father and my father-in-law, who have successfully used the Neti Pot to relieve their congestion. I decided to try it myself, however, I only found relief for about five minutes after use. On top of that, there is a slight burning sensation from the saline solution that I was not comfortable with. Overall, I did not find enough congestion relief from using a Neti Pot. However, it is a proven natural alternative to nasal decongestants that has worked for others. You can also try saline nasal sprays that are a little gentler and keep your nose hydrated.
Zyrtec-D combines an antihistamine with pseudoephedrine, a decongestant, to relieve sinus congestions and allergies.
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