Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Is Flonase Addictive Like Afrin

How Does Afrin Compare To Other Nasal Decongestants

Flonase to beat afrin addiction

While Afrin uses oxymetazoline to relieve congestion, other brand-name nasal decongestants like 4-Way and Neo-Synephrine use phenylephrine hydrochloride, another vasoconstricting agent that decreases swelling and congestion.

Since both oxymetazoline and phenylephrine hydrochloride are vasoconstrictors, the difference between Afrin and other nasal decongestants is minimal to none. Some people simply prefer using Afrin over other nasal sprays, and vice versa, for various reasons such as price, effectiveness and availability.

Is Afrin Or Flonase Better

Afrin provides a faster response to congestion with an onset of action within 10 minutes. It is not recommended for use longer than three days, however. Flonase is slower to relieve congestion symptoms but can be used safely long term. Flonase is effective against other allergy symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes.

You Expected Claritin To Be A Decongestant

You might also be expecting Claritin to solve a problem it isnt meant to solve. Although congestion can be a common symptom for allergy sufferers, it isnt one of the symptoms that Claritin is supposed to stop. So if youre suffering from congestion, youll need to use another drug other than Claritin, or youll need to try Claritin-D, a version of the drug that also helps with congestion.

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How I Got Over My Nasal Spray Addiction

Although this method worked very well for me, it may not be the best or safest option for you. It is also important to note that decongestants like pseudoephedrine are not recommended for people with high blood pressure or other heart conditions. Discuss this and other options with your doctor so that you can find the best solution for your specific situation.

My final piece of advice is to find out what is causing your nasal congestion and treat that cause rather than just treating the symptoms. You can avoid getting stuck using nasal sprays by treating your problem correctly the first time around.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge and does not substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed health professional. Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.

Before Using Afrin Precautions

How To Wean Off Afrin Nasal Spray
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Afrin , or any other medications.
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking the following medications or have stopped taking them within the past two weeks: isocarboxazid , phenelzine , selegiline , and tranylcypromine .
  • Afrin is contra-indicated with monoamine oxidase inhibitor medicine used for the treatment of depression
  • tell your doctor if you have or have ever had high blood pressure, diabetes, difficulty urinating due to an enlarged prostate gland, or thyroid or heart disease.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while using Afrin nasal spray, call your doctor.

Pediatric patients

Children may be especially sensitive to the effects of Afrin . This may increase the chance of side effects during treatment.

Geriatric patients

Many medicines have not been tested in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information about the use of Afrin in the elderly.

Afrin and Pregnancy

Afrin and Breastfeeding

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What To Do After Three Days

If youre using an OTC nasal decongestant spray and still feel stuffy after three days, Marvin M. Lipman, M.D., Consumer Reports’ chief medical adviser, recommends switching to pseudoephedrine pills to lower your rebound congestion risk. Those drugs are often found behind the counter at most pharmaciesyou don’t need a prescriptionbut you’ll have to purchase the medication directly from a pharmacist.

Some people are sensitive to pseudoephedrine, which is known to cause nervousness, dizziness, or sleeplessness. These side effects are increased when too much of the drug is takenand in rare cases can even become life-threatening, so don’t exceed the recommended dosage.

Its important to note that if you have glaucoma, heart disease, high blood pressure, an enlarged prostate, or thyroid disease, check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any type of decongestant, even sprays, because they sometimes make those conditions worse.

What Are Nasal Sprays

Nasal sprays are medications inhaled into the body via a pressurized canister or spray bottle. Available both over-the-counter and in prescription form, nasal sprays are most often used to treat conditions that cause congestion or inflammation in the nasal cavities, such as allergic rhinitis or upper-respiratory infections .

The flu vaccine is also available in a nasal spray. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , people with certain medical conditions opt for the flu shot instead .

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Fluticasone Spray Helps In Breaking Nasal Spray Addiction

Q. I was dependent on OTC vasoconstrictor nasal sprays and had almost unbearable rebound congestion when I tried to stop. My doctor prescribed fluticasone spray. It took a couple days to go to work, and then I dropped the Afrin. The rebound was much more bearable for those few days. There is always some discomfort the piper has to be paid.

When Id been off the Afrin a week, I stopped the steroid spray. I keep some fluticasone around for severe nasal congestion, so I can use that rather than reaching for something like Afrin.

A. Thank you for sharing your experience. Nasal spray dependence is common after allergy season, and others may benefit from your strategy.

Other readers have recommended different approaches to alleviating nasal congestion:

Capsaicin spray works wonders. Is not addictive and no side effects that I know of. Just have to endure the first 30 secs of crazy burning sensation upon using it. My kids love to watch my silly reaction when I first spray it!

Erin

Getting Rid Of Nasal Spray Addiction

Afrin Detox day 2: get those supplies!

Nasal spray dependency can be helped easily. One method is to quit usage of the spray cold turkey. This gives the blood vessels the opportunity to recover. The nasal membrane, in turn, swells up less and less. The sense of congestion also disappears. For most people, however, this method is far from ideal because they experience much discomfort during the recovery period.

Another method is to wean oneself off one nostril at a time. This method allows for easy breathing through at least one nostril. This will not work for everyone, however. You just want to be able to breathe through both nostrils.

If you suffer chronic stuffiness caused by sinus problems or allergies, neither method will be successful. Your dependency on nasal spray may be gone, but the symptoms remain.In order to fix nasal discomfort, try Capsinol.

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Afrin Vs Flonase: Differences Similarities And Which Is Better For You

Drug overview & main differences | Conditions treated | Efficacy | Insurance coverage and cost comparison | Side effects | Drug interactions | Warnings | FAQ

Nasal congestion occurs when blood vessels and surrounding tissues of the nasal passageway become overwhelmed by excess fluid. This creates a stuffy or plugged feeling in the nose, which may make it difficult to breathe. Nasal congestion may be accompanied by a runny nose, sneezing, cough, or headache.

Afrin and Flonase are each nasal sprays that can provide a relief of symptoms related to nasal congestion. Though they are both nasal sprays, the mechanism by which they relieve congestion is very different.

How Is This Medicine Best Taken

Use Afrin Nasal Spray ) as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

  • Do not take Afrin Nasal Spray ) by mouth. Use in your nose only. Keep out of your mouth and eyes .
  • Some of these drugs need to be shaken before use. Be sure you know if this product needs to be shaken before using it.
  • Some products may have different ways to prime the pump. Some pumps may also need to be primed if not used for different periods of time. Follow how and when to prime as you have been told.
  • Blow your nose before use.
  • Do not tilt your head back before using Afrin Nasal Spray ).
  • Put the cap back on after you are done using your dose.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

  • If you use Afrin Nasal Spray ) on a regular basis, use a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
  • If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
  • Do not use 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.
  • Many times Afrin Nasal Spray ) is used on an as needed basis. Do not use more often than told by the doctor.

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How To Stop Nasal Spray Addiction

Admitting there is a problem is the first step. Next, you should seek proper guidance, detoxify your body and commit to a nasal spray addiction treatment center. But it doesnt stop there. You should also make a dedication to your overall well-being and sobriety, and then stay fully committed to a recovery program.

Here are the possible steps you should take if youre seeking recovery from oxymetazoline abuse:

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Are Decongestant Nasal Sprays Addictive

Ear Nose and Throat

Yes. These sprays can cause a so-called nasal spray addiction in some people.

This often occurs when a person uses the decongestant nasal spray too frequently or for too long.

Strictly, this is rebound congestion and not an addiction.

With rebound congestion, a person may find that they need to use the spray more frequently over time, often several times a day or more. Each time they use the spray, the blood vessels in the nose narrow, causing the tissue inside the nose to shrink.

After the medicine wears off, the nasal tissue swells again. Sometimes it swells even more than before.

If the person continues to use it, this swelling can get more severe and lead to permanent swelling of the tissue.

Long-term use of these sprays can also damage the tissue, causing infection and pain.

Symptoms of rebound congestion or dependency on nasal spray may include:

  • feeling congested again shortly after using a decongestant spray
  • using a decongestant spray regularly but feeling that it doesnt work anymore
  • feeling a strong urge to use the spray more often than the instructions recommend
  • using the spray just to be able to breathe normally on a daily basis

To help people avoid this problem, the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology recommend using it no more than twice a day for only 3 days.

Those who have been using the spray more frequently should see a doctor. They will examine the nasal tissue to check for damage or excess swelling.

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Can You Become Dependent On Nasal Spray

Do you have the sniffles, a runny nose or nasal congestion? With allergy season, cold season and the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be a little extra cautious about mucous or congestionespecially when its your own.

It may seem like a no-brainer to reach for an over-the-counter nasal spray to zap the snot and stuffiness, but know that not all nasal sprays are created equal. In fact, with some types, you might get a little hooked.

While it may provide temporary relief, could you become addicted to your nasal spray?

Overuse of some nasal sprays is most often a result of dependency, said Kelly Erdos, PharmD, a clinical pharmacist with Banner Baywood Medical Center. People may become dependent to nasal spray because of something called the rebound effect.

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Thatâs because after three or four days of near-constant use, the blood vessels in your schnoz start to depend on the spray.

They start to swell beyond their normal size, because theyre waiting for the chemical hit, says Madeleine Schaberg, M.D., an ear, nose, and throat specialist at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. This vicious cycle of overuse and dependence can last for months, even years. Ive had multiple patients that have been dependent on the spray to breathe normally for 10 years, says Schaberg.

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What Do I Need To Tell My Doctor Before I Take Afrin Nasal Spray

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with Afrin Nasal Spray ).

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take Afrin Nasal Spray ) with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

Are Nasal Sprays Addictive

Detoxing from Afrin Nasal Spray

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

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Is Afrin Or Flonase More Effective

Afrins onset of action is 10 minutes, which provides patients with quick relief of nasal symptoms. Unfortunately, it is only recommended for use short term: three days or less. The full effect of Flonase may not be realized for a week or longer, but it is safe to be used long term. Flonase is also indicated to treat more than nasal congestion. It relieves multiple symptoms of the allergic response, including runny nose, sneezing, and itching eyes. Afrin has no effect on these allergic response factors.

One study looked at the concurrent use of oxymetazoline and fluticasone to determine if they could augment the response of each on congestion. It compared three treatment groups: placebo, oxymetazoline alone, and fluticasone with oxymetazoline. In this study, oxymetazoline was used for longer than the recommended duration of three days. Nasal air volume was significantly higher in the group using both oxymetazoline and fluticasone. It was also noted that rebound congestion was not present, suggesting that effect with oxymetazoline alone should be studied further. Your healthcare provider can help determine which product are best for you.

Can You Overcome An Afrin Addiction

Have you ever become addicted to your nasal spray? Millions of people do. Decongestant nasal sprays can be used safely for only a few days before they start to produce rebound congestion that can be quite uncomfortable. No wonder so many folks end up with an Afrin addiction, though any decongestant nasal spray can cause this problem. One reader found an unusual method to break the habit.

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How Much Do They Cost

Flonase, Nasacort, and Afrin are all available over the counter . You wont need a prescription from your healthcare provider to get them, but its always a good idea to discuss any new medications with them first.

Cost will vary depending on the specific product. Flonase Sensimist will generally cost more than original Flonase. Flonase tends to cost about the same as Nasacort since they are so similar. Afrin will usually be much cheaper because its for short-term use.

Getting generic versions of these medications with a GoodRx coupon can help you save. The lowest GoodRx prices for the generics are about half the retail price of the same-size brand version. Here are some examples:

The Physical Dangers Of Afrin Addiction

This is why your allergy meds have stopped working

Afrin is considered a chemical tourniquet. The longer that the nose is forced to constrict the vessels, the more it will be deprived of nutrients and oxygen that it needs to thrive. The constant reduction in blood flow can manifest itself through physical damage to the nasal passage.

  • Your ears may feel stuffed or clogged.
  • The nasal regions may become engorged with blood after the Afrin wears off.
  • There may be structural damage, such as saddle nose deformity, and septal perforation.
  • Saddle nose deformity is when the nose bridge collapses due to thinning of the bone or cartilage in the septum.
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    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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