Nose Spray Addiction

[sparkie825]

So, I've decided to clean house.    

I've kicked my Soma addiction back in June, I am kicking my Hydro addiction this week (day 3) and now I want to.......kick my nose spray addiction.  Yes.  I am addicted to Afrin nose spray.  I have been addicted for probably 5 years or more.  Problem is I have BAD seasonal allergies.  From March to June I am a complete mess.  But, July through Feb I'm ok, but can't put the spray down.  I stock up on Afrin like it's the end of the world!!  Out of all my addictions, this one has to be the most....embarrassing.

Anyway, my question is.....have any of you on this board been addicted to nose spray?  I don't even know where to start to kick this bad habit.  How long did it take you to get better?  What was your method for recover?   What was your remedy?

Thanks!

[GoingToMakeIt]

Flonase can irritate if used too often. When your nose plugs up, do some pushups. It will open the nose up. Use a nasal rinse with 1 cup warm water and 1/4tsp plain salt (no iodine) I use a baby's nose syringe and gently rinse out the nasal cavities.

[sparkie825]

Wow!!  I'm not the only one!!!   You know what's the most embarrassing is feeling like I have to use it everywhere I go.  I've "shot up" in restaurants, at work, at family events, amusement parks, you name it.   HOW EMBARRASSING!  

So, I already have a prescription for Flonase....but need to get it filled.  I fell off the Flonase wagon.  Got tired of shooting two sprays in my nose.  lol  I will restart the Flonase and talk to my doc about possible steroid pills if she deems it necessary.  C/t SCARES me to death!!!  

Good luck to you too Shellbell.  

Coolio, I am so jealous!!!  lol   Tapering sounds smart.

[SHELLBELL79]

Good post! I have been addicted to afrin nose spay off and on for over 10 years.I too have bad allergies. I can't not stand my nose stuffed up at all. My grandpa , dad, and brother all have been addicted to 4-way nose spray. They don't seem to plan on stopping. I am currently using the afrin nose spray again b/c I got sick and had a stuffed up nose. I also can't sleep with my nose just a little stuffed up. The way to get off it is to go to your primary care or allergist or ear nose and throat doctor. They will give you a strong steriod shot and a steriod nose spray such as nasonex, rhinocort, or flonase....they have many more. The allery spray they have doesn't work for me. I use Flonase 2 puffs 2x a day. So I hardly use the afrin. If you do the steriod shot, steriod nose spray, it will get you off of it in about a week or so. If you can't take it , my doc told me to take a cu tip and put a lil afrin on it and put it up your nose to up at the top and I did that and I got off of it many times doing that. It's just everythime I get a cold with a bad stuffy nose I get hooked back on the afrin again. Im trying to get off again. I know its a pain and embarassing using the afrin...well it is for me. You can do it! ?Your primary care or the docs will know what to do. You will be fine. Oh and everytime the doc looks up my nose...lol....he's like omg its a mess but then it gets back to normal!
Good luck sweetie!
Shell

[Coolio Hernendez]

Wow....I had a problem with afrin too. It shrinks the blood vessels in your nose and so helps you breath.....The more you use it the more you need and then you have stretched the blood vesels out so much that (like and old pair of socks) they will not go back.

I went to doctor b/c my wife couldnt take the nose problems i was having and he said it looks like a shotgun went off in your nose. I snore real bad.

I have not used afrin in a long time and im not real sure why... I do know this...when i get a bottle i spray out like half of it and then add water. That seems to really help.
I think i kinda used this method to taper down. Its been about a year now.