Because of a cold or an allergy, your nose becomes congested; you have difficulty breathing, at night, it is difficult to fall asleep, and you do not notice the taste of the food. To end that ordeal, start using the nasal spray in any of the variants on the market, and without realizing it, you become an addict.
Did you know that nasal sprays cause addiction? Maybe you know someone who has been through that; even you may have fallen into the clutches of so-called decongestants.
In this FastlyHealarticle, we will explain the whys, the causes of addiction, and the possible solutions to this problem still unknown today. Nasal spray addiction: find out what it’s all about.
Table of Contents
drug rhinitis
Drug rhinitis is a disease that appears due to the excessive use of nasal decongestants, which generally do not need a prescription, after self-medication for more than three days.
These decongestants are first used because of a severe cold or a respiratory allergy that keeps the nasal passages blocked. The operation of these medications is based on the constriction of the blood vessels in the nose that produce their components, something that leads to decongestion.
However, if this treatment is prolonged, the opposite effect occurs. The mucosa becomes increasingly resistant to the drug, which causes it to be used more frequently, aggravating the problem and entering a loop of congestion and decongestion. Infinite if it is not remedied.
When these products are stopped, extreme nasal congestion occurs, which makes this task of de-addiction complex, but congestion is not the only thing that keeps the patient tied to the bottles.
Oxymetazoline: the culprit
Oxymetazoline is the component that causes vasoconstriction and, in prolonged use, the rebound effect that causes drug rhinitis. Among the side effects of oxymetazoline, apart from the rebound effect – going from taking it once a day to doing it several times in a few hours – we find the destruction of the nasal mucosa, the loss of smell, the perforation of the septum or even cause spills.
But its effects are not only conceived from a bodily harm point of view; it also creates a physical and psychological addiction like any other drug, with a withdrawal syndrome that goes beyond extreme nasal congestion and manifests with anxiety, irrepressible desires to consume it, and nervousness.
Overcome addiction
The first step to overcoming the addiction to oxymetazoline is to be aware of the damage that this habit is causing to your body, which, far from helping you live better, is driving that hell.
Although, like any other addiction, the urge to consume goes above health on the priority scale, knowing the future that awaits you if you continue to administer nasal sprays is essential to make the best effort to get out of that situation.
Medical treatment usually lasts about a month, during which the use of nasal drops should be discontinued. To achieve this, tablet decongestants, antihistamines, or even sedatives are usually administered since extreme congestion does not even allow rest.
The underlying disease that caused sprays to start must be treated; only by treating this problem can a future relapse be avoided.
Psychological dependence can be overcome with sprays based on seawater or physiological saline, which have specific decongestant properties but are harmless to health. In the following article, you will find a list of common remedies for nasal congestion.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Nasal Spray Addiction: find out what it is about; we recommend that you enter our Mental Disorders category.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.