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Oxymetazoline nasal and Headaches: 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 Duration Genasal 12 Hour Nasal …show all brand names

Headaches: mentioned by 6 users (2.6%)

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

Showing 6 reviews tagged with "headaches". Clear filters to view all 228 reviews.
Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 12, 2025

Oxymetazoline nasal for Nasal Congestion "I took this spray simply to test it out before using it on my child, who has a sinus infection, and I’m very glad I did because I'm experiencing side effects. The bottle says a max of 3 sprays in each nostril, so that's what I dosed myself. After about 30 mins, I was bragging about how great it was, I've never used anything that cleared my nose so well. But within an hour, I had a headache, felt sleepy, and my sinus cavity was extremely dry and so cold when inhaling. I couldn’t fall asleep because of how dried out and cold my nose felt. Then I decided to get up and drink some water and realized that my entire body was cold, I had tremors and felt faint. After a hot shower, I feel better aside from the dry sinuses. But that was scary! I certainly won't ever take it at that dosage again, maybe not ever. Should say 1 spray in each nostril and absolutely no more!"

5 / 10
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  • Har...
  • November 17, 2018

Oxymetazoline nasal for Nasal Congestion "The cap on the bottle is ridiculous. Can't get it off! Finally got it off after 15 minutes. Ended up using pliers. Also, the spray gave me a horrendous headache and did very little for congestion. I will never waste my money on this product again!"

1 / 10
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  • 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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Frequently asked questions

  • Cri...
  • January 16, 2022

For Nasal Congestion "I took that medication because I had very bad congestion due to COVID. It works at first, but the rebound congestion happens just after a couple of days of usage and becomes a million times worse to the point where it’s not even worth it! I suffered an entire day long because of that. I was also getting headaches from using this medication. I never get headaches."

2 / 10
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  • Pix...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 17, 2023

Oxymetazoline nasal for Nasal Congestion "I bought this when I had flu and it helped a little bit, but then it just stopped working. I had the worst headache I’ve ever had in my life and can’t breathe at all through my nose. Never been so congested in my life. Do not recommend this medication."

1 / 10
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  • pie...
  • July 30, 2019

Oxymetazoline nasal for Nasal Congestion "So sad that I have to read what the sheep have to say, the same thing over and over again. They all cannot open the bottle. Instead of talking about the medication, they talk about the cap - monkey see, monkey do. In this context, talking about the same thing over and over again - pathetic. It tells a lot about the people. The medication is okay, but it gave me headaches, dizziness, and high blood pressure if used more than usual."

6 / 10
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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.