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Sodium chloride nasal and Headaches: What Users Say

Brand names: Saline Nasal Mist, Ayr Saline Nasal, Deep Sea Nasal Spray, Ocean, Saline Mist, Sinus Rinse Hypertonic Packets, NeilMed Sinus Rinse Kit, Afrin Saline, Ayr Baby Saline, Ayr Saline Nasal No-Drip Spray, Simply Saline, NasoGel, Sinus Rinse Small Kit, Neilmed Nasogel, Ocean Complete, Sea Mist Nasal Spray, Sea Soft, Sinus Rinse Kit, Sinus Rinse Packets, Sinus Rinse Pediatric Kit, Sinus Rinse Pediatric Packets, SaltAire, NeilMed Sinus Rinse Hypertonic Packets, NeilMed Sinus Rinse Packets, NeilMed Sinus Rinse Pediatric Kit, NeilMed Sinus Rinse Pediatric Packets, NeilMed Sinus Rinse Small Kit, Rhinaris, Nasalcare Rinse Starter Kit, Humist, 4 Way Saline, Simply Soothing, Afrin Menthol Saline, Altamist, Ayr Sinus Rinse Kit, Ayr Sinus Rinse Kit Refill, Breathe Free Saline, ENTsol, Little Noses Rhino-Mist Ocean Kids …show all brand names

Headaches: mentioned by 17 users (21.0%)

Based on user experiences from 81 Sodium chloride 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.

headaches 21.0%
burning 16.0%
sore throat 7.4%
sneezing 4.9%
swelling 4.9%
itching 3.7%
rash 3.7%

Reviews for Sodium chloride nasal

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Anonymous
  • July 21, 2021

Sodium chloride nasal for Nasal Congestion "Within a half hour of rinsing, my head and neck become irritated. Now, the 3rd day after only rinsing once, I've had terrible headaches and neck pain, nothing seems to relieve it. Wish they would have put these warnings on the box! Now, since I know I'm not alone with side effects, I'll make sure my doctor knows, so maybe they will stop recommending the product."

1 / 10
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21 Report
  • Anonymous
  • December 16, 2018

Sodium chloride nasal for Nasal Congestion "I used the Ayr gel to moisten my nasal passages, and it caused the membranes to swell. Developed a headache, and my throat has become very irritated and have hoarseness. I stopped using it over a week ago and am still having problems. Do not recommend this product to anyone."

1 / 10
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31 Report
  • Evi...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 12, 2019

Sodium chloride nasal for Nasal Congestion "My mum uses this and recommended it to me for my nasal problems. My nose is blocked every day and my sinuses are inflamed. I also have dripping mucus in my throat at night. I tried this product today, but all it did was give me a bad headache, which led to sinus pain in my face and upper teeth."

2 / 10
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19 Report
  • myk...
  • April 28, 2017

Sodium chloride nasal for Nasal Congestion "I purchased Ayr Nasal Mist after experiencing another nosebleed and reading that saline spray would help keep the nose not so dry. Immediately after taking just a small spray in each nostril, I developed a sore throat, sneezing, and throat irritation similar to a cold. I have not taken any more of this product, and my symptoms are slowly clearing up. I also experienced headaches. At first, I thought it was just a coincidence and I was getting a cold, but after reading about this product, now I know I cannot use it ever again. I should have read this before I purchased it."

1 / 10
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25 Report
  • Anonymous
  • December 21, 2021

Sodium chloride nasal for Nasal Congestion "Took this on the advice of my doctor to relieve post-nasal drip/cough symptoms. One hour after use, I had a severe headache. It is still throbbing 12 hours later, and Advil/Tylenol are not helping. Hoping it resolves soon. Ironically, it did clear my nasal passages, and I did not have the chronic cough from the post-nasal drip last night. Headache was the only thing waking me. Sigh."

2 / 10
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8 Report

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  • Sic...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 27, 2017

Sodium chloride nasal for Nasal Congestion "Used before shower due to sinus congestion. Within less than a minute, I developed a sharp full headache and BP taken 5 minutes after rose to 163/120 with a pulse at 97. Very traumatic. I’m 69, have headache and high pressure in sinuses an hour later and counting. Beware, and if buy, be sure to test single squeeze each nostril and wait 40 minutes or so."

2 / 10
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13 Report
  • Bea...
  • May 3, 2020

Sodium chloride nasal "I've been using the sinus rinse for a few months now. My ENT gave it to me for a dry nose. I didn't notice that my symptoms came from this sinus rinse before. My throat is sore, my ears and head hurt every time I use it. I wasn't sure at first, but now I know it's the sinus rinse. It does help my dry nose, but a few days after use, I always get a sore throat, earache, and headache."

6 / 10
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5 Report
  • HMa...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 6, 2022

Sodium chloride nasal for Nasal Congestion "I got the Neil Med sinus rinse upon my doctor's recommendation as I had a bad sinus infection that was turning into bronchitis. Both nares totally occluded. I was literally breathing through my mouth. I started on the right side, and it was slow to progress but seemed to help, so I was excited. I went to do the left side, and the water wouldn’t go in at all. Then my left eardrum popped. It was excruciating. Never again. It hurts to even blow my nose now. And both sides are stuffed as ever, and my throat is now sore, and I have a bad headache. Never again."

2 / 10
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6 Report
  • Lee...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 12, 2019

Sodium chloride nasal for Nasal Congestion "My ENT gave me NasoGel to use for my dry nose. I followed the suggested dosage, and after a week, my sinus passages began to ache badly on the right side. I bought some sinus headache pain medicine for relief. Although the sinus pain has gone away from that area, I am now experiencing pain near my right temple. I am still using the NasoGel because it really has cleared my passages like crazy, but I think I may stop because I can only attribute the sinus pain to the nasal spray."

5 / 10
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2 Report
  • jd ...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 3, 2021

For Nasal Congestion "Started using about 36 hours ago and had some burning in one nostril almost immediately, but the overall benefit was good. Then, the headache started. So, even though I can breathe better, I can't handle the persistent headache. I will continue to look for something for my nose."

3 / 10
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1 Report
  • Nic...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 27, 2021

For Nasal Congestion "I used it once, got a bad headache and dizziness, still not gone away 3 days later? It's like a sharp pain that comes and goes at the front of the forehead. Does anyone know how long it goes for? I told the doctor as usual, he said to not worry about it, but it's getting worse."

1 / 10
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1 Report
  • Aca...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 25, 2020

Sodium chloride nasal for Nasal Congestion "I used NeilMed sinus rinse three days in a row. I started to have nosebleeds and headaches. There are no side effects warnings on the box. My husband was the one that brought this to my attention if the nosebleed and headaches could be a side effect from it."

5 / 10
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4 Report
  • Nei...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 14, 2022

For Nasal Congestion "Had surgery because of nasal polyps and was recommended to use saline nasal rinse. The 1st week of 2, I was blowing out mucus, but 1 day I went to do a rinse while my nose was stuffed up and water wouldn't come out of the left nostril. All of a sudden, my eardrum popped or felt like it pushed out during the rinse, a headache followed. It is going on 5 days, and every morning I wake up with a headache. Sometimes the pain is in my cheek area, sometimes my eye socket, and the top and back of my neck. When it's sunny outside, it hurts my eyes, and I also notice when I bend down, it feels like blood is rushing to my head, almost like a throbbing pain. Aleve helps, but the headache comes back. I decided to look online to see if anyone else was having these side effects, glad to know I'm not the only 1. I never had a headache that lasted this long, and I am a bit worried now :/"

3 / 10
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0 Report
  • Joa...
  • May 31, 2017

Sodium chloride nasal for Nasal Congestion "I used this twice yesterday and once this morning and got a headache all 3 times, and it didn't help my post-nasal drip. I won't use it again."

2 / 10
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19 Report
  • Anonymous
  • July 22, 2020

Sodium chloride nasal for Nasal Congestion "Definitely not a simple saline nasal spray. This product gave me a slight headache; it has a strong agent; not sure which of its ingredients."

1 / 10
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5 Report
  • Den...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 9, 2020

Sodium chloride nasal "Had very bad breathing, rash, itching, had to take Benadryl for it all. Never use again, even a headache."

1 / 10
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4 Report
  • Flo...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 29, 2022

For Nasal Congestion "Had sinus issues. Doctor gave me a sinus rinse with a steroid. Rinse made me worse. Bad headaches and congestion after a week of using it."

1 / 10
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0 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.