4 ms·
Works great, BUT easily habit forming. Beware.
by jtbayly 3y ago
Works great, BUT easily habit forming. Beware.
- fnordpiglet 3y agoMy doc gave me a trick that prevents the rebound effect of Afrin (and other addictive vasoconstricting sprays). When you start the Afrin, or about a week before you want to stop it, start using a nasal steroid spray (nasalcort or whatever you prefer). The steroid will prevent the swelling and itself has no rebound period. After a week after stopping the Afrin, stop the steroid as well, and you will successfully be congestion free the entire time. I prefer this to pseudoephedrine as it’s not a systemic solution to a local problem in the nasal cavity.
- jtbayly 3y agoWhy not just use the steroid spray, then? Cool hack to get off it, but I would still be wary of being on it too long.
- fnordpiglet 3y agoBecause the congestion usually starts quickly and there isn’t time to build up the steroid response, which can take a week or more. People with allergies use steroids chronically, so they’re generally considered safe for long term use.
- Auracle 3y agoI made this comment elsewhere but I do a sinus rinse in the morning with Xylitol, and do Afrin at night. Rinsing it out helps with dependence and Xylitol helps with congestion too.
- fnordpiglet 3y agoI use xylitol rinse daily anyways ;-) helps keep sinus infections at bay.
- shrugthug 3y agoWhat do you mean by this? I’ve been using Afrin to deal with nasal congestion when I get a cold for 10+ years now. Do people continue to use the stuff once they have recovered or something?
- jtbayly 3y agoYes. It can fairly quickly feel like you can’t breathe without it.