Four-Way Nasal Spray - how does one quit this horrible addiction?
Question posted by bobwhite23 on 25 June 2011
Last updated on 5 September 2012
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
3 Answers
Official Answer by Drugs.com
26 June 2011
What you have is a condition called rebound congestion - the only way to relieve rebound congestion is to administer another dose of the nasal spray, hence the addiction.
You need to stop taking the Four Way Nasal Spray.
Both a "cold turkey" (very effective but almost impossible) and a "weaning" approach can be used.
Symptoms of congestion and runny nose can often be treated with corticosteroid nasal sprays under the supervision of a doctor. Oral decongestant medications like pseudoephedrine can also be helpful.
Other commercially available products such as Rhinostat may help ease withdrawal to the nasal decongestant by providing an easy means to dilute the spray gradually. For very severe cases, oral steroids may be necessary.
See your doctor or pharmacist for more advice.
Remember the next time you use a decongestant nasal spray not to use it for longer than recommended - usually around 4 to 5 days.
It is a miserable condition. Bet you've found it doesn't last 12 hours anymore either? Well, I once had an old (now deceased)ENT tell me the best thing for this & it does work. Takes a few nights of suffering thru the stuffiness. Take a Q tip & place a very small amount of vasoline on it & place high in the nostril. Do the same with a different Q tip( in case of cross contamination of a sinus infection) in the other nostril & kind of massage it in. Do this before bed. The vasoline coats the nostril & by doing it at betime will also coat the sinusus. I know this sounds kind of silly, but it works. I have severe allergies, & it's the only way I can get sleep at night. I hope this tip helps you out. It has for quite a few others on here that have asked this same question. ...
I HATE having a stuffy nose so when I get a cold or sinus problem I inevitably get "addicted" to nasal spray. As the previous person said, it is a rebound effect. I find that taking a steroid spray like Nasonex will help me get off the OTC spray or if I cant get an Rx for that, I get off the spray by using it in one nostril only until the nostril I am NOT using it in gets over the rebound effect then I discontinue altogether so I can breathe out of at least one nostril until I am off altogether. Hope that helps! Good Luck!
Hey thats a good idea lol... but using 12 hour formula instead of fast acting will help also ... try it if your a nasal spray abuser and see how it changes your life ... not to mention how you episodes of the common cold dissapears the fast acting keeps you sniffing irritates the lining... sets the stage for bacteria hence the throat gets sore and the cold starts and you miserable sniffing more nasal spray every 5 minutes... this is the best kept secret for nasal spray abusers... and now I see im not alone... im spreading the secret for free good luck
Related topics
four-way nasal spray, addiction
Further information
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.