Warning About Over-The-Counter Nasal Sprays

A warning Thursday for the many people using over-the-counter nasal sprays: One type has to be used very carefully. It can actually make your nasal stuffiness worse and create serious problems, including addiction. CBS2's Dr. Max Gomez explains.

[gardenfstone]

Nothing more satisfying then going from complete stuffed nose to a clear nose.

[JaredMerlin]

There is no other alternative. 35+ year Afrin sufferer. Had surgery on my turbines, didn't work. Used saline, didn't work. Flonase, didn't work. I still have to have surgery on my deviated septum. ENTs really need better options for people like us.

[garyggoldingiii]

Yeah. It's an addiction to breathe. I use nasal medicine and time to time I have to use it often depending on if I can wrap my mind around mouthbreathing 24/7 or use the medicine. I loved hearing a nurse tell me I have an addiction to nasal medicine instead of I have a breathing disability that hasn't been looked into. Gfys

[bobstrauss]

I was addicted to nasal spray for 30 years and went cold turkey. Their use was terrible. Hadn't used them in years and feel so much better.

[TheCliffzone]

I was having rebounds from using too much nasal sprays for almost all my life. It was addictive and I was having thoughts of wanting to have nasal surgery done on me. My doctor prescribed me to a steroid nasal spray Fluticasone Propionate. Took a little time but everything gradually works and I didn't need to have surgery done after all. For me I think this is God's send and now I can throw away my old nasal sprays for good.

[Jacksirrom]

There's a legend in my family of my grandma getting addicted to Afrin sometime decades ago. Any time anyone in the family uses Afrin, it's like some mini intervention. "Ya know Gramma got addicted to that stuff in the 80s!?" But I am very careful to only use it once my cold/flu gets intolerable and I believe I have fewer than 3 days of congestion remaining. Just used it again for this gd covid...

[mkfmgaming]

I’ve been sick for five days with the flue and can’t breathe. I went to CVS to go get one of the sprays and they now make a spray that you can use every 4 hours, it’s called neo synephrine. It’s a godsend. I set a timer for 4 hours and it’s kinda bad how I’ll just be looking at the clock waiting for that 4 hour mark. But my God the instant relief is so good like absolutely incredible

[What_is_wrong_with_this_world]

I used nasal spray for 15 years, every day and all the time. I did quit about a year ago, cold turkey. It was hard but I did it, let me give you some advice. 1. Throw away all your bottles of nasal spray. 2. Get another bottle, containing only water or salt water. Use it as a "placebo effect" bottle. 3. Take a couple of days off work, or quit over the weekend. I pretended to have a cold for a couple of days, I just laid in bed. This hepled, no need to do anything while getting rid of the nasal spray addiction. It was hell for the two...maybe three days but after that it became more easy.

[alfdadlfj]

The way to get off is tricky but easy if done correctly. You get off one nasal at a time. So spray one side, let the other side stay stuffed. Within a day or two, the one side you aren’t spraying will start to open. I was addicted for a few years, it may have been the reason I needed sinuplasty and turbinate reduction. I would have died without it. I was 100% blocked with serious infections that antibiotics didn’t cure after many prescriptions. So do 1 side at a time, it does work!!!

[jamesmondok]

As if we haven’t heard this a thousand times before!!!

[maddog]

Why isn't anyone talking about the anxiety and panic attack that those spray relief gives you as a side effect 🤔🤔

[DudeCapone]

Use Afrin in 1 nostril to let the other one heal. After 4 or so days, nostril will be back to normal, then stop all together.

Good luck to everyone!

[nenaj]

Helped me when i was wheezing with allergies

[rhondaexcellence]

Side effects of allergy meds with steroids are panic attacks, lack of sleep, and extreme anxiety.

I had WORST experience ever after trying 4 different brands with steroids (3 over the counter, 1 prescription). Each time I took any of them it felt like the oxygen was being sucked out of every space I occupied. Saline sprays are safe.

[charlettesequeira]

Its awful for people like me ...who have chronic rhiniitis for decades...& other related problems..if this is harmful...how to live...even contact wid water gives me runny nose...im fedup... & suffering too.much

[narrowroadtraveler]

Affrin don't work when my 👃 is congested I tried that stuff and it seems my nose congestion gets worse, equate, or wellness nasal spray is Gold

[ladycmitchell]

Zicam cause me to pass out in the street several times. I would only use the saline rinse. Nasal irrigation doesn't work it made my symptoms worse.

[Rich-zc]

My nasal congestion got so bad I couldn’t sleep and gave me tinnitus after a year of using it

[stephaniebrigante]

If you buy any dollar product that shows how much you care about yourself. I am spending top dollar on anything that comes to my health!

[lindsayhengehold]

Love using both saline & Afrin sprays!