Oxymetazoline Nasal Spay ... Huh!

[[Je...]]

So, I'm guilty of not really considering the potential side effects of using nasal spray. I don't really know why, but for some reason, I guess because it's a spray, it just wasn't really on my radar as a "drug" - Derp!

Well, the potential side effects are:

burning, stinging (in the nose, I guess), increased nasal discharge, sneezing, NAUSEA, dizziness, HEADACHE, DIFFICULTY FALLING ASLEEP OR STAYING ASLEEP, fast heartbeat OR a slow heartbeat ...

I was using the spray every night before bed because I have a deviated septum and the right side of my nose was ALWAYS clogged up. I'd wake up and use it in the middle of the night, too. Then I finally - finally - looked at the side effects and I'm like, Whoa! Insomnia is one of my worst symptoms! So, I stopped using the nose spray completely. I just use saline now and I don't even NEED the nose spray. (Crazy, right?) Just thought I'd share my epiphany! I still have insomnia, but I feel like I may have eliminated at least something that may have been contributing to it. Will probably need a bit more time to be sure. (I've been off the spray for several weeks...)

[[Gr...]]

@[Je...] If thst spray is like Afrin, it has a rebound effect. Definitely not a good spray anyway. Probably also has a preservative -- benzalkonium chloride which will dry you out. Plain saline would be better. There is one that has no preservative. It's Arm & Hammer Simply Saline (comes in a can). Some pharmacies have their own brand. I am not sure if it's sold outside the US if you are not in the states. Hope this helps.

[[Je...]]

On 03/10/2023 at 23:52, [[G...] said:

@[Je...] If thst spray is like Afrin, it has a rebound effect. Definitely not a good spray anyway. Probably also has a preservative -- benzalkonium chloride which will dry you out. Plain saline would be better. There is one that has no preservative. It's Arm & Hammer Simply Saline (comes in a can). Some pharmacies have their own brand. I am not sure if it's sold outside the US if you are not in the states. Hope this helps.

@[Gr...] Thank you! Crazy, right!? I've stayed off the nasal spray and just have plain ol' saline, now, but I will check and out Arm & Hammer, too! Ironic that the "rebound" could be CAUSING congestion, and now that I don't use it, hey, no congestion!! 

[[Gr...]]

@[Je...] I was just told by the ENT about a gel without preservative called Xlear.

[[Je...]]

19 minutes ago, [[G...] said:

@[Je...] I was just told by the ENT about a gel without preservative called Xlear.

@[Gr...] I just looked this up. Thank you!