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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Sinusitis / August 2007told to use afrin, afraid of becoming addicted
I saw a doctor yesterday to get information about a nose problem I've been having for a few years. My problem is that I will go throughout the day with nasal problems; either my left or right nostril will be plugged up (never usually both) causing me discomfort. I was told to use afrin by my doctor and he mentioned it can be addicting (google confirms this). After only two days of using the product I can say that I notice a huge improvement! However, I don't want to get addicted. Since afrin seems to alleviate the nasal problem, is this any indication that a permanent solution exists? I won't be calling the doctor's office till Monday as I've also been instructed to try 'breathe right' strips and report back next week; so in the mean time I'd like to hear your thoughts on afrin. Thanks! > I saw a doctor yesterday to get information about a nose problem I've > been having for a few years. My problem is that I will go throughout [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > instructed to try 'breathe right' strips and report back next week; so > in the mean time I'd like to hear your thoughts on afrin. Thanks! I don't know if it indicates that a permanent solution exists, but you're very wise to be concerned about Afrin dependence. Don't use it for more than two days in a row, and try alternating sides. Also, I find that one spray, not the two or three recommended, works completely when I do use it, rarely. Have you had allergy testing and desensitization? Tried oral decongestants? Is this a seasonal or year round problem? Susan > Have you had allergy testing and desensitization? I had a test where they applied a small prick on my arm, testing for any number of allergic reactions. All were negative and I don't have allergies. >Tried oral decongestants? I've tried some in the past but none offered the relief afrin does. >Is this a seasonal or year round problem? Year round problem for years now. >>Have you had allergy testing and desensitization? > > I had a test where they applied a small prick on my arm, testing for > any number of allergic reactions. All were negative and I don't have > allergies.' If everything was negative, that likely means you were anergic, not non allergic. You might ask for RAST testing to see if that turns things up, or try visiting an environmental medicine doctor. I know folks who were negative on the scratch tests but floridly allergic on one or both of those other tests. Susan >> Have you had allergy testing and desensitization? > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Year round problem for years now. Afrin is a short term solution to congestion. You need to experiment with oral decongestants and find one that works for you or get to the bottom of what is causing your congestion. Using Afrin daily for longer than a week is asking for problems. AW > Afrin is a short term solution to congestion. You need to experiment with > oral decongestants and find one that works for you or get to the bottom of > what is causing your congestion. Using Afrin daily for longer than a week is > asking for problems. AW I searched and found pseudoephedrine to be a 'good' oral decongestant. Is this generally recommended for someone who's had success with afrin? I see it minimizes 'rebound congestion'. >> Afrin is a short term solution to congestion. You need to experiment with >> oral decongestants and find one that works for you or get to the bottom of [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >Is this generally recommended for someone who's had success with >afrin? I see it minimizes 'rebound congestion'. In my experience, pseudoephedrine is pretty darned good. Afrin, and other nose sprays, tend to use a preservative called Benzalkonium Chloride ("BAK"). BAK is horribly harmful to mucous membranes like those found in sinuses or eyes. Why it's still legal in nose sprays (and eye drops) is really beyond me ... and a project for when I can.... Feel better! > I searched and found pseudoephedrine to be a 'good' oral decongestant. > Is this generally recommended for someone who's had success with > afrin? I see it minimizes 'rebound congestion'. Pseudoephedrine is a good oral decongestant. But I don't like the idea of you living on meds indefinitely to treat symptoms when you haven't pinpointed the cause. Pseudoephedrine is relatively safe for otherwise healthy patients, but even it can cause problems if you have an as yet undiagnosed cardiovascular, glaucoma, prostate, emotional, or blood sugar problem. Second, if you could diagnose the cause, you might be able to achieve a permanent cure and no longer need any decongestants. Third, and most importantly, all the while you're getting symptomatic relief, the underlying undiagnosed condition (whatever it is) may be worsening. And then it may get to the point that you'll need very aggressive treatment from a specialist. (I made that mistake myself.)  SignatureSteven L. Email: sdlitvin@earthlinkNOSPAM.net Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me. >> Have you had allergy testing and desensitization? > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Year round problem for years now. That is starting to sound less and less like an allergy, and more and more like one of the following two things: -- If you have this problem mostly where you live or work and not elsewhere, then it could be nonallergic rhinitis caused by air pollution. Check the website at www.scorecard.org for the air quality levels in your area, taken right from the EPA's own monitoring stations for each Zip code. -- If you have this problem wherever you travel, then it could be a mild chronic sinusitis or a chronic nasal blockage caused by a nasal polyp or a deviated septum. To diagnose those conditions, you'll probably have to visit an otolaryngologist (ENT). SignatureSteven L. Email: sdlitvin@earthlinkNOSPAM.net Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me. > That is starting to sound less and less like an allergy Huh? Dust, pets, mold in the home are year round allergens. Susan >-- If you have this problem mostly where you live or work and not >elsewhere, For a while I thought the problem was due to my environment (we have 2 indoor cats). I've been out of my house for 3 years now, lived in a dorm one year and an apartment for two, including leaving the country for 4 months to study. All the while having the same problem, so I've concluded the blockage does not exist due to housing. This has been a problem for me since early high school and continued through my entire college career (I'm beginning my fourth year in a few weeks). I suppose I will try the breathe strips for a few nights, though I'm not expecting much relief from them. thanks for the replies > >-- If you have this problem mostly where you live or work and not > >elsewhere, [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > thanks for the replies Likely one side at a time being blocked is a sign of an infection way back, aft of your nasal spetum. On your adenoids. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSear ch=17309976&ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel. Pubmed_RVDocSum http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSear ch=16781783&ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel. Pubmed_RVDocSum You can reach this stuff by holding something like Crest antiplaque mouth wash or Vitiman C in your mouth and then laying flat on the floor and letting it steep to rest on the back surface. Then sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff, spit, spit blow. You also might get an MD to look at your adenoids if he is not too busy telling you that you should not still have them to look at what is actually there. |
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