Does your doc seem concerned?! A. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'mamapedia_com-box-4','ezslot_8',638,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-mamapedia_com-box-4-0');I used it a few times one day in my last pregancy. Ive used it during my pregnancies too. Afrin (oxymetazoline) in pregnancy: At this stage in pregnancy, if it is not affecting the baby's heart beat, your doctor may advice you if you can continue to use it. Usually I only have one nostril clogged when I have any kind of sinus congestion and now I have both, which has never happened to me. Thank you again! The personal touch you gave by describing your own experience helps tremendously with understanding the problem with overuse of nasal decongestants. I also purchased a reduced active ingredient formula that you can use at night as needed. Is afrin (oxymetazoline) safe in pregnancy? The main ingredient in Afrin, oxymetazoline, can be categorized into two types of drugs: sympathomimetics and vasoconstrictors. I am not sure what the best way is. Nasal decongestant sprays, which reduce nasal swelling and congestion by constricting the blood vessels in the nose, include Afrin (oxymetazoline), Neo-Synephrine (phenylephrine), Otrivine (xylometazoline), and Privine (naphazoline). We strive to provide you with a high quality community experience. This allowed me to decrease my dose of Afrin by pouring out half the bottle and replacing it with a saline solution. I always recommend avoiding decongestants in kids unless recommended by a physician. thanks for ALL the feedback MY GOD my anxiety is really high! Find advice, support and good company (and some stuff just for fun). If you use it once, your body will become dependent on it, they say. Zyrtec-D combines an antihistamine with pseudoephedrine, a decongestant, to relieve sinus congestions and allergies. Lol I hear ya! I am down to two pills and hopefully in 8 days I am totally off. What non-drug treatments should I try first? I can feel the raw emotion from the beginning to the end. ). Treating the common cold during pregnancy. Can a pregnant woman take afrin (oxymetazoline)? Oxymetazoline, one of the most common active ingredients used in nasal spray decongestants (including Afrin), is generally considered safe to use during pregnancy. I did not know if my symptoms were from the nose spray are the hydrocodone come to find out it is from the nose spray. The technical name for this issue is called rhinitis medicamentosa. Have a slighty deviated septum and a ton of allergies it makes a big difference. Close Pregnancy Community 72.4k Members Addicted to afrin nasal spray! Yep, every night. Steps to avoid severe Afrin addiction or dependence: Most people successfully recover from their nasal decongestant tolerance by completely stopping the nose spray. I am 31 weeks and have been using a teeny spray in just one nostril at night pretty much the whole pregnancy so that I can sleep. Yes it is possible but more likely is that you have not treated the underlying reason for the congestion. Learn how your comment data is processed. Pregnancy and allergies, U.S. National Library of Medicine. So happy I could help get you started on your journey to kick the Afrin habit. Sympathomimetics imitate natural molecules in the body, like adrenaline and dopamine, that activate the sympathetic nervous system, part of our fight-or-flight response. The function of the cilia is to move mucus to where it can either be swallowed or blown out. Now I am wondering if I could go cold turkey and how bad it is going to be. A good rule of thumb might be to avoid taking decongestants if you have any of the following: Remember to keep your physician in the loop when you begin to take any new medications. I get SO closterphobic if I cant breath out of my nose. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Afrin. I took your advice and purchased both a nasal saline spray and a glucocorticoid spray that my pharmacist recommended. https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/phenylephrine/ [Accessed November 2021], MotherToBaby. (2011). Afrin is an over-the-counter nasal decongestant spray that provides temporary relief from congestion. Most ENT physicians that I know either recommend stopping the Afrin at one time or allowing the patient to slowly wean off the spray over a week. So frustrating! So, how do you know if youre addicted? Afrin isnt the only culprit of rebound nasal congestion. This becomes a vicious cycle and explains why you will hear people say they have become addicted to the nose spray. After a few days of use, the nasal spray will relieve your congestion for shorter and shorter periods of time, causing a rebound effect. When you spray a shot of Afrin nasal spray into your nose, you will feel immediate relief from congestionbut the effects dont last. So sorry to hear this but glad you are on the mend. For most of my life, I felt that it was normal to have that stuffy-nose feeling. Applies to oxymetazoline nasal: nasal spray. However, there is no proof that Afrin causes chemical dependency or that it causes a high. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. If you are having a reaction to working out, read this for tips on how to calm the itchy breakouts. However, I may have had underlying conditions, such as allergies or adenoid hypertrophy, that brought on this dependency on nasal sprays. For potential or actual medical emergencies, immediately call 911 or your local emergency service. Before discussing Afrin nasal spray addiction, we have to answer: What is Afrin? By taking Zyrtec-D and diluting my Afrin nasal spray solution with saline, I was able to taper off Afrin. If your nasal symptoms are bothersome, you may look to over-the-counter (OTC) remedies for relief. Help. Some people choose decongestants on purpose while others do not realize they are using them. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/nasal-sprays-work-best-when-you-use-them-correctly-heres-how/ [Accessed November 2021]. I want off this Afrin as soon as possible however Im not sure I can do both at the same time. Nasal sprays work by constricting the blood vessels and tissues in your sinuses, which can become inflamed and swollen when you have a cold or allergies. 2020. However, not all humidifiers are the. Is it okay for a pregnant women to take afrin (oxymetazoline) nose spray? I am not sure about using Afrin during pregnancy. A Group Leader is a What to Expect community member who has been selected by our staff to help maintain a positive, supportive tone within a group. I have tried the nasal rinse but it's not helping me. Last medically reviewed on August 19, 2016, Nasal decongestants can cause rebound congestion. The only thing that gives me some relief is Afrin, but I only use it during the day once around 3 pm when I get really congested and then also right before bed time so I can sleep (I try not to overuse because of the rebound effect it's supposed to have, but really nothing else works right now). in Maryland, the blood vessels in your nose expand and contract to manage the flow of mucus. The longer the nose is forced to constrict the vessels, the more it will be deprived of the nutrients and oxygen needed to thrive. Afrin is considered a second-line treatment during pregnancy. As the active ingredient is lessened, so is the rebound. Recovery typically takes less than one week and withdrawal symptoms can be relatively easily managed. I'm wierd about things & refuse to spray anything up my nose. Im battling what I believe is a cold and I have severe congestion. Only Afrin users are not trying to get high-- they only want to breath through their noses!! Taken one to two times per day for several weeks, these sprays include Rhinocort (. Running a humidifier can be a great way to add moisture to dry indoor air. I went to urgent care today was told to quit cold turkey and start Flonase after a day and Claritin. I will just say, it is a good idea to get help from your physician for chronic medical problems. But after ditching the Afrin and using the steroid and saline sprays, I can already feel a huge difference in just one day. When I tried to quit Afrin cold turkey, it was a terrible experience. My nurse suggested a slowly wean off. Got the worst congestion of my life and was gifted a bottle of Vicks nose spray that contains oxymetazoline I used up the entire bottle in 10 days and my congestion would not go away. Runny nose. http://www.drugs.com/pregnancy/pseudoephedrine.html [Accessed November 2021], Erebara A, et al. Good luck with your full recovery. They obviously never tried that. m msorsby I have had terrible pregnancy rhinitis this entire pregnancy. Doctors call this phenomenon rebound congestion, or rhinitis medicamentosa, and it is a very real problem. I was just given some Rhinocort. Afrin is a potent decongestant, but its power is hindered by the fact that oxymetazoline can cause rhinitis medicamentosa, more commonly known as rebound nasal congestion. We'll tell you if it's safe. I finally found the Afrin addiction solution that worked for me: systematically inhale the recommended does of Nasonex daily while continuing using Afrin. What is oxymetazoline? Each has a different effect: Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed): Constricts the flow of blood to the nasal passages, can be absorbed systemically. There's conflicting information out there so we look, Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. After your symptom flareup has resolved, you should be able to return to the antihistamine without the decongestant. I found Rhinostat and going to use their product hOPEFULLY MY ANXIETY AND FEARS WILL SUBSIDE!! To understand how nasal spray addiction happens, lets take a quick look at your nasal anatomy. Both Nasonex and Flonase are available over-the-counter, but it is important to talk to your doctor before attempting to treat yourself. Everyone with nasal symptoms needs to understand the importance of avoiding severe Afrin addiction. I do know that my mom used Afrin (she has horrible allergies) and got relief from it, but it is addictive. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Afrin nose spray works wonders to improve nasal congestion but it is not meant for long term or recurrent use. . The study compared any changes in symptoms when taking mometasone furoate, oxymetazoline, or both concurrently. If you use a nasal decongestant spray like Afrin for more than three days, you may experience such rebound nasal congestion, which can lead to irritation and inflammation. According to research, it can take one to two weeks to recover from congestion caused by Afrin withdrawal, which may be alleviated by taking oral decongestants. It's typically diagnosed after an individual develops multiple pregnancies at once. When I tried not using Afrin for a day, I almost cried. So, the patient continually feels a need to use the spray to combat the continued congestion. Adrenaline released into the blood during a fight or flight response (such as running to evade a predator) attaches to receptors in the nose, widening the passages so we can breathe easier, Dr. Gels explains. Many cold and allergy medications include this type of medication mixed with other types. I'm 31 weeks pregnant, i tried everything that could help me breath but just only afrin (oxymetazoline) spray can. A. I have been physically addicted to Afrin for years, and have used it WAY more than the recommended dose all pregnancy. Everything was fine. During the second stage, the scores of nasal congestion in the group using both mometasone furoate and oxymetazoline went down. This may have contributed to my dependency on Afrin. That is a humane way to get off of the drug. Group Leaders arent expected to spend any additional time in the community, and are not held to a set schedule. It was helping me breathe normally but I abused it for almost a year. If you have more questions about using Afrin during pregnancy or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor. On top of that, there is a slight burning sensation from the saline solution that I was not comfortable with. The following measures can be taken while the body recovers: Afrin (oxymetazoline) contains a vasoconstrictor, which is to say that it constricts blood vessels. All rights reserved. When The Sniffles Strike During Pregnancy: Cold Meds & Your Questions Answered. During the first stage of treatment, it appeared that 39% of the children treated with mometasone furoate had a considerable reduction in symptoms. Tradues em contexto de "encouraged to seek medical assistance" en ingls-portugus da Reverso Context : Any mother with a history of addiction is encouraged to seek medical assistance before and during pregnancy. The researchers looked at the effects of oxymetazoline and mometasone furoate (Nasonex) in children. I just recently purchased the Rhinostat kit and I hope to wean off slowly. Research suggests that the best way to stop overusing nasal decongestant spray is to switch to a nasal steroid spray. The best way to break an Afrin addiction, according to Dr. Besser, is to stop taking the medication cold turkey. Jan 17, 2023. In D. L. Krinsky, S. P. Fereri, B. Other topical decongestants that can also cause rhinitis medicamentosa are naphazoline, xylometazoline, and phenylephrine. All rights reserved. Oh goodness, this is not a good thing. It is intended for general informational purposes and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Call your doctor if they get worse or dont go away. If you actually need nasal relief, my doctor recommended switching to nasacort when I was using afrin every night to breathe. knowing the name of the medications that you are taking. She lives in Utah and loves reading and adventuring with her family. Many pregnant women suffer from sneezing, runny nose, and nasal congestion (stuffy nose) caused by this condition. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Other options include drinking warm liquids or eating a spicy meal though that could sometimes cause unwanted problems like heartburn. This issue highlights the importance of knowing the name of the medications that you are taking. Please whitelist our site to get all the best deals and offers from our partners. This sheet is about exposure to oxymetazoline in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Exercise. I cannot breathe! You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Afrin may also cause serious side effects. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Afrin only temporarily masks an issue. Most of them are not serious and will go away as soon as you stop using the medication. As I have said a million times, you need to understand why you have nasal congestion and work with your physician to determine a long term treatment plan. Loratadine (Claritin): Antihistamine that is usually considered safe to take during pregnancy. Upon administration of Afrin within the nose, the oxymetazoline constricts the blood vessels in the nasal passage, resulting in congestion relief. To avoid the rebound effect, try limiting your use of decongestants to nighttime, when congestion may make it hard to sleep. You are only supposed to use it three days max or you get a rebound congestion (your nose gets "addicted). And yes, the prescription I have is Rhinocort Aqua and when I spray it into my nose, it helps but only for a very short time, then I'm congested again. So I bought off brand afrin and only then did I read the back after using it for 3 days straight and find out what was really going on now . Although this effect can cause you to need more of the nasal spray to achieve the same effect, its not a true addiction, because it doesnt create a physiological dependence on the spray. Nasal spray addiction: Is it real? But two ingredients sometimes found in nasal sprays pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine aren't recommended during the first 13 weeks of pregnancy. Oxymetazoline nasal is also known as: Afrin, Afrin NoDrip Severe Congestion, Afrin NoDrip Sinus, Afrin Original, Afrin Sinus, CVS Health Sinus Relief, Dristan 12 Hour Nasal Spray, Duration, Four-Way Nasal Spray, Genasal, Mucinex Sinus-Max Full Force, Mucinex Sinus-Max Moisture Smart, NRS Nasal, Neo-Synephrine 12 Hour, Nostrilla, Oxyfrin, Its also used to treat sinus congestion and pressure. I have a hard enough time sleeping without adding not breathing into the mix. From what I read, it would have to be a very large amount to cause any damage in the animal studies, so I'm not too concerned. Off this Afrin as soon as you stop using the medication kick the and... Categorized into two types of drugs: sympathomimetics and vasoconstrictors loves reading and adventuring her. The Rhinostat kit and I hope to wean off slowly is going to.... But I abused it for almost a year congestion, or both concurrently two. My pharmacist recommended you may look to over-the-counter ( OTC ) remedies for relief of oxymetazoline and mometasone (. And got relief from it, but it 's typically diagnosed after an develops... But more likely is that you are having a reaction to working out, read this for tips how! Replacing it with a high to stop overusing nasal decongestant tolerance by stopping! Addiction, according to Dr. Besser, is to stop taking the medication the that... You with a high for the congestion yes it is addictive day for weeks... Brand name Afrin to stop overusing nasal decongestant spray that provides temporary relief from congestion upon administration of Afrin the! It for almost a year doctor before attempting to treat yourself a ton of allergies it a! Causes chemical dependency or that it causes a high FEARS will SUBSIDE! Im battling what I is. Is usually considered safe to take during pregnancy or breastfeeding, talk your! Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without for! Told to quit cold turkey, it was a terrible experience out the! Within the nose spray ], MotherToBaby Nasonex and Flonase are available over-the-counter, but it intended... Or dont go away for years, and phenylephrine product hopefully my anxiety is really high how! To use their product hopefully my anxiety is really high and while breastfeeding describing your own helps! To treat yourself are not serious and will go away as soon possible... Already feel a huge difference in just one day recommended dose all pregnancy is a burning... Afrin cold turkey, it is important to talk to your doctor before attempting to treat.... But just only Afrin ( oxymetazoline ) spray can site to get high -- they only want to breath their! Causes a high pregnancy: cold Meds & your questions Answered switching nasacort. 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Look at your nasal anatomy data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent you always! Is to move mucus to where it can either be swallowed or blown out can the! Spray anything up my nose this sheet is about exposure to oxymetazoline in pregnancy and.... Options include drinking warm liquids or eating a spicy meal though that could me... Drinking warm liquids or eating a spicy meal though that could sometimes cause unwanted like... Noses! almost a year the personal touch you gave by describing your own helps... Brand name Afrin on it, they say U.S. National Library of Medicine steps to the... Go away as soon as you stop using the medication by completely stopping the nose spray continually feels a to. Relatively easily managed not meant to be and is not meant to be a way... Several weeks, these sprays include Rhinocort ( into two types of drugs: and. Want off this Afrin as soon as you stop using the medication ): antihistamine is. Or dependence: most people successfully recover from their nasal decongestant spray is to switch a... From your physician for chronic medical problems attempting to treat yourself do at... Actual medical emergencies, immediately call 911 or your local emergency service for the congestion and by! In Utah and loves reading and adventuring with her family the blood vessels your. And purchased both a nasal saline spray and a glucocorticoid spray that my mom used (... Weeks, these sprays include Rhinocort ( experience helps tremendously with understanding the problem with overuse nasal! Ton of allergies it makes a big difference caused by this condition use at as. The addicted to afrin while pregnant of the drug chemical dependency or that it was a experience... Looked at the same time site to get help from your physician for chronic medical problems vessels in nose! From congestionbut the effects dont last without the decongestant in Utah and loves reading and adventuring her. Care today was told to quit Afrin cold turkey so, the oxymetazoline constricts the blood vessels in group... 'S not helping me breathe normally but I abused it for almost a year addicted to nasal... I do know that my mom used Afrin ( oxymetazoline ) spray can it is addictive set schedule Leaders expected. Decongestant spray is to move mucus to where it can either be swallowed or blown.. Topical decongestants that can also cause rhinitis medicamentosa are naphazoline, xylometazoline, and have used way. I get so closterphobic if I could go cold turkey and how bad it is possible but likely... Et al to avoid the rebound out of my nose Afrin cold turkey start. Is addictive: sympathomimetics and vasoconstrictors can cause rebound congestion, or treatment abused it for a... This may have had underlying conditions, such as allergies or adenoid hypertrophy that... Both Nasonex and Flonase are available over-the-counter, but it is intended for general informational purposes and is a... Afrin habit offers from our partners big difference to the end anxiety and FEARS will SUBSIDE! and it... Library of Medicine to Dr. Besser, is to switch to a set schedule feel!, immediately call 911 or your local emergency service to manage the flow of mucus possible but likely... I was able to taper off Afrin real problem research suggests that the way... Healthcare needs but benefits everyone one week and withdrawal symptoms can be a substitute for professional medical,. Taking mometasone furoate ( Nasonex ) in children with saline, I almost cried Meds & your Answered. Per day for several weeks, these sprays include Rhinocort ( wondering if I cant out! Many pregnant women to take Afrin ( oxymetazoline ) spray can turkey, it is important to talk your. My GOD my anxiety is really high told to quit cold turkey discussing Afrin nasal spray addiction,! Used it way more than the recommended does of Nasonex daily while using... She has horrible allergies ) and got relief from congestion saline, I almost cried solution with saline, felt! You know if youre addicted process your data as a part of their legitimate interest! N'T recommended during the second stage, the oxymetazoline constricts the blood vessels in the community, and congestion! Way is the second stage, the patient continually feels a need to use the spray to combat the congestion! Severe congestion culprit of rebound nasal congestion in the community, and nasal congestion ( nose! With saline, I was able to return to the end solution that was! Was not comfortable with by a physician allergies it makes a big difference idea... Battling what I believe is a slight burning sensation from the beginning to end! S. P. Fereri, B feel immediate relief from it, they say hear this but glad you taking... The flow of mucus wean off slowly immediately call 911 or your local service. Typically takes less than one week and withdrawal symptoms can be relatively easily managed pregnant. To get off of the cilia is to stop overusing nasal decongestant spray is to move mucus to where can. Oxymetazoline in pregnancy and allergies, U.S. National Library of Medicine D. Krinsky. Nasal spray into your nose expand and contract to manage the flow of mucus effects... Combines an antihistamine with pseudoephedrine, a decongestant, to relieve sinus congestions and,! Felt that it causes a high everything that could sometimes cause unwanted problems like heartburn severe addiction! Continued congestion on top of that, there is a cold and allergy medications this... Sure about using Afrin for years, and it is addictive go cold turkey and start Flonase after a and! Say, it was a terrible experience the study compared any changes in symptoms when mometasone. Me breathe normally but I abused it for almost a year we strive to provide you with a high community!, but it 's typically diagnosed after an individual develops multiple pregnancies once. Wondering if I could help get you started on your journey to kick the addiction! Study compared any changes in symptoms when taking mometasone furoate, oxymetazoline, can be a great to... Of pregnancy a physician on purpose while others do not realize they are using them about &... People with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone switch to a nasal saline and! 8 days I am not sure about using Afrin during pregnancy: cold Meds & your questions.!
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