Afrin All Night NoDrip - How much is too much oxymetazoline?

23 Mar 2011

You need to stop using it after 5 days. This is VERY important.

You will end up causing rebound congestion. In other words, it will get to the point where you will always be congested with out it. This can happen as soon as five days.

So definitely stop.

You may need to suffer through it the next day or two but trust me you don't want to be on it for years and years.

You could talk to the doctor and get flonase (fluticasone) it will help for longer period of times. That way you can take it at not worry about rebound.

Brian PharmD Candidate

23 Mar 2011

I usually get myself off Afrin by using it in one nostril only after I've used it about three days that way I can still breathe out of one nostril while the untreated nostril is going through the rebound effects from stopping the medication. In a day or two the untreated nostril has gotten past the worst part of the rebound effects and I discontinue use in both nostrils. By this time I'm able to breathe out of the nostril I stopped using Afrin in first. Does that make sense? It is the only way I can get off the stuff as it drives me crazy not to be able to breathe out of my nose. Afrin is very highly addictive due to that rebound congestion.