Nasal Spray Addiction?

[Jim]

I wrote a blog article sometime ago about my addiction to OTC nasal spray and have been absolutely floored by the number of emails I receive from people screaming "me too!".

I've been clean for about 8 months now and looking back, I am wondering how much the substance played into my high blood pressure and hyper-manic episodes.

The issue becomes when you try to stop using the nasal spray; you experience something called "rebound congestion" where your nasal passages close up to the point where you can only breath out of your mouth. So of course you take another shot of nasal spray and the cycle continues.

All I can say is that I will never touch a topical decongestant ever again.

Has anyone else ever gotten into this endless cycle of nasal spray addiction? I am curious as to whether you ever found any natural/herbal remedies to fight the rebound congestion?

[MGJ]

I started chuckling when I read the headline. This happened to me about a year ago and I could not figure it out. I thought I had developed an allergy or reaction to my pillows, or flowers, etc... it drove me nuts. Then a friend told me what it was and .. bam... resolved it. I stopped using nasal sprays and have never looked back.

I guess I'm lucky that I've never been pulled into that vicious cycle you mention, it's been clear sailing since I've stopped using sprays...

[maclinda]

There is a technique used by osteopathic physicians to gently get rid of the congestion. We never use decongestant sprays, just manipulation here at my house.

[JoshLowry]

I completely agree, I've always told my dad this and he denies it.

He always is using it and if he ever hears me a little stopped up he says "Here, you gotta try a hit of this, it will clear you up in no time!"

That's when I remind him that the stuff is bad if you rely on it. Haha, funny you wrote a blog on it, feel free to submit any of your articles to my site.

[moondream]

Oh my goodness. Nasal spray really irks me. My dad is addicted to it....the stuff makes me cringe. He's been using the stuff for as long as I can remember (there's even a baby picture of me chewing on a nasal spray box).

I think I'm going to try to make it a goal to try to get him to quit using the stuff...

[C33]

I didn t realize this was such a widespread problem!
My best friend was addicted to nasal spray for almost a year and was using more than a spray per day. I clearly remember making emergency stops to local pharmacies to get his fix. It was scary!

I usually use tea tree oil in boiled water as a nasal spray and it works great, as well as the Olbas type, that has no addictive substances.