Anxiety and Afrin nose spray

[Tfullington91]

So I have been having panic attacks for the past two weeks off and on. For the most part I have been functioning normal, with the exception of a few episodes here and there lasting about 20-45 minutes. After them I'm usually able to go to sleep. They have been awful, but my symptoms have gotten unceasingly worse the past three days. All of a sudden three days ago I felt like my anxiety went through the roof, but unlike a panic attack, it hasn't stopped. My heart rate has been going through the roof, I haven't slept at all, and I feel very anxious. I even went to the emergency room due to chest pain. I have been using Afrin nose spray twice a day for the past three days and stopped today. My symptoms started to clear up and I started to feel Normfal again. However, I took the nose spray this afternoon and within an hour all my symptoms came back. This led me to believe that the Afrin has to be causing this. I read some other forums that this has happened to other people. Are these side effects possible ? If so, how long will it take for this to stop ?

[Sthash]

I have used Afrin for nasal congestion. And to my ignorance, I was actually used it for several months when you were supposed to only take it for 3 days. After stopping for several months, severe anxiety attacks started to occur. I'm thinking now it might've been a rebound effect of Afrin. But I've read somewhere that Afrin is one of OTC medications you should not be taking(as a warning). Might be best to talk to your doctor first and foremost before using it. I wouldn't recommend using it at all.  As it caused my body's high blood pressure to shoot up too high, heart raising, paranoia as if i was about to have a heart attack, and feeling pins and needles on parts of my face and hands. It was one of the most horrible feelings I've felt in my life. So as a warning, if anyone has not taken this medication and is thinking about it, please don't or do not take it longer than it says(preferably only for 3 days, that's it!). If your allergies or congestion do not get better, please see a doctor!

[Profversaggi]

After consulting with the pharmacist, they suggested using benadryl to cope with the current episode, and then discontinue using the product.

[specialmom]

Afrin, unfortunately, really now should only be a short term use product.  Who would have thought a nasal spray could be that problematic?  Are they talking just otc benedryl for you?

[Profversaggi]

I can affirm the same result using affrin and will stop its use immediately.

[Paxiled]

I think you've already answered this -- when you stopped, the problem stopped.  

[AnxiousNoMore]

Have you discussed this with your doctor or the drug store where you got the nose spray? The Afrin site says to talk to your doctor immediately if you experience any mood issues.

[AnxiousNoMore]

Since you can take 2 doses per day it is likely that any side effects will disappear as well within a day or maybe less time. Since you had the panic attacks 11 days before starting Afrin there is something else going on, Do you have a history of panic attacks, and is there anything that you can identify that you are anxious about?