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Oxymetazoline nasal and Burning: What Users Say

Brand names: Afrin, Zicam Sinus Relief, Afrin NoDrip Severe Congestion, Zicam Extreme Congestion Relief, Mucinex Sinus-Max Full Force, Vicks Sinex 12-Hour Decongestant Nasal Spray, Afrin Original, Afrin Severe Congestion, Afrin Sinus, Afrin NoDrip Sinus, 12 Hour Nasal Decongestant Spray, Vicks Sinex Severe Nasal Spray, Afrin Allergy Sinus Nasal Spray, Vicks Sinex 12-Hour Decongestant UltraFine Mist, Vicks Sinex Moisturizing 12-Hour Decongestant UltraFine Mist, Afrin NoDrip Extra Moisturizing, Rhinase D Moisturizing Nasal Decongestant, Nostrilla, Four-Way Nasal Spray, Mucinex Sinus-Max Moisture Smart, Dristan 12 Hour Nasal Spray, Vicks QlearQuil 12 Hour Nasal Decongestant Moisturizing Spray, Nostrilla 12 Hour, Todays Health Nasal Relief Extra Moisturizing, Afrin NoDrip Original, Afrin NoDrip Allergy Sinus, Mucinex Sinus-Max Clear & Cool Giltuss Severe Sinus Allerest 12 Hour Nasal Spray Duramist Plus CVS Health Sinus Relief Genasal 12 Hour Nasal …show all brand names

Burning: mentioned by 9 users (3.9%)

Based on user experiences from 228 Oxymetazoline nasal reviews, the following table shows the most commonly mentioned side effects.

All user comments are moderated by Drugs.com. Each review is verified for relevance and screened for inappropriate content. Side effects are user-reported and not clinically verified.

burning 3.9%
increased heart rate 3.5%
headaches 2.6%
tremors 2.6%
addiction 2.2%
stuffy nose 2.2%
high blood pressure 1.8%
pain 1.8%
anxiety 1.3%
bleeding 1.3%

Reviews for Oxymetazoline nasal

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Anonymous
  • March 2, 2012

Oxymetazoline nasal for Nasal Congestion "I get recurrent sinus infections, and oral medications make me too jittery. This nasal spray, within a few minutes, has me breathing through my nose again and helps relieve the pressure in my sinuses. My only complaint is the horrible burning and stinging felt when sprayed. It's worth it though."

10 / 10
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20 Report
  • jGa...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 8, 2018

Oxymetazoline nasal for Nasal Congestion "Never, never take this medication. I repeat, never. This medication put me in a worse position than I was before. I decided to take this because all of the pills weren’t working, but it does not help. Afrin says to put 2 squirts in each nostril every 10-12 hours. However, when doing that, it creates a horrible burning sensation in your nose and specifically your throat that lasts for hours. If you want to be congested and burning for hours, take this."

1 / 10
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9 Report
  • God...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 5, 2019

Oxymetazoline nasal for Nasal Congestion "Well, my second time using this med. First time it literally worked in 2 days (a little over 1 day). This time around, it's working great, the only issue is my nose is extremely dry and burning, but only my left nostril. Other than that, this med works a miracle."

9 / 10
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5 Report

See also:

Frequently asked questions

  • 201...
  • January 4, 2017

Oxymetazoline nasal for Nasal Congestion "Wish I did listen to what others said after reviewing their experiences. Can't even open it, and I don't think I'm dumb, lol. So this is just in regard to their useless container. I also broke the container and applied it to my kid's nose, which woke me up in the middle of the night, saying that his nose burned. Stay away from this product, but if you don't listen, be my hero to open the container as well as burn your nose."

1 / 10
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6 Report
  • JRB...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 9, 2021

Oxymetazoline nasal for Nasal Congestion "To be honest, I would rather have just had a stuffy nose. Used Afrin for a cold because my nose was extremely congested, and I wanted it clear so I could sleep. To the medicine’s credit… it did clear my nose. But the side effects aren’t a worthwhile trade-off. I had a headache for the entire day afterward, and my nose burned like fire. At first, it was just an annoying burning, then it turned into a sharp nerve pain in my left nostril after about 18 hours. I also sneezed so many times I lost count. Feeling a bit better now by the second day. Many people have complained about the cap on the bottle being hard to open, and I had a bit of trouble with it as well, however, it’s a minor complaint compared to the actual effectiveness of the medicine. Keep in mind, this was just my personal experience, and everyone’s different, of course. But beware of the side effects and decide if it’s worth it for you."

3 / 10
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2 Report

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  • Jea...
  • January 21, 2016

Oxymetazoline nasal for Nasal Congestion "My new doctor recommended I use Afrin for my sinus congestion. The first time, my nose and my throat burned and stung. Now my throat is sore, and I lost my voice. It made my illness worse. I was better off using saline."

1 / 10
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5 Report
  • Unh...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 30, 2021

Oxymetazoline nasal for Nasal Congestion "I would not wish Afrin upon my worst enemy. My nasal cavity burns horribly, and my throat is sore and stingy. I’ve tried saline spray, gargling water, blowing my nose, and taking Advil with no avail. I was at one point on the verge of tears."

1 / 10
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2 Report
  • Myl...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 28, 2016

For Nasal Congestion "I had a nasal scope approximately 3 months ago, and Afrin was used prior to the procedure. I immediately felt like I couldn't breathe, and my throat and nose burned and tingled. I completely lost my voice for 6 days. It gradually came back, but it still fades in and out. If I try to carry on even a short conversation, my voice starts fading and gets raspy and hoarse. I've had a round of antibiotics, but I am continuing to have these symptoms. I have also lost the range in my voice for singing or yelling. What next?"

1 / 10
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2 Report
  • Jud...
  • July 1, 2018

Oxymetazoline nasal for Nasal Congestion "First, they change the formula so it burns, then, they make the bottle cap impossible to open. My devotion to this effective product is being sorely tested. I still can't get the bottle open."

4 / 10
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3 Report

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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.