r/QuitAfrin

I am helpless. I have been addicted for almost 2 years. I don’t think quitting is something I’m capable of, as when I cannot breathe, my anxiety sky rockets and I go into full panic mode. My chest feels tight and I can’t seem to shake it.

But I fear I’m at a point where no matter how much afrin im using, it’s not opening my sinuses anymore and I can’t breathe PERIOD. I’m freaking out, and quitting cold turkey just isn’t an option. I don’t think quitting at all is an option but now I’m at a loss because the afrin isn’t working like it used to. Has anyone else experienced afrin just not working anymore? What did you do for it? It’s currently 4 am and I am a mess and haven’t slept at all :(

I have been reliant on decongestant nasal sprays for 26 years. I have tried cold turkey but unsuccessful.

The nurse at the doctor has been in touch with ENT (ear, nose and throat department) at nearest hospital for advice.

They advised prednisolone 30mg for 7 days and 4 weeks of cortisoid nasal drops twice a day.

I am only 3 days in had 1 really good night and 1 lousy night. But the days have been huge improvement. The longest I went without my decongestant was 17 hours. I do beleive the days will work out but I am hoping for more improvement over night. First night I used my nasal spray as I went to bed and woke up next morning clear and refreshed. Did not need decongestant support till later that evening. However last night I struggled all night and had to use nasal spray 3 times.

I am trying so hard to not use it but my throat is very sore so breathing via my mouth is not an option.

Fingers crossed my days get better and my nights improve too. I have high hope but concerned about nights.

Anyone else got any stories?

I’ve been using afrin since February/March. I can’t remember. I’m an on and off user and I’m usually able to stop on my own but this last time starting it’s severe. I feel like I’ve been sick since February/march. I use nasal spray (menthol) multiple times a day. I can fall asleep at night but after a few hours I wake up and I’m completely stopped up, completely closed off all the up one side. It takes forever to finally unclog and go back to sleep after walking around my house for 2 hours. I’m literally losing my mind. I can’t taste or smell of leave my house without it. I feel like I have permanent allergies. I’ve read about rhinostat and I’m going to buy it and try it but will I still get completely clogged up? It gives me terrible anxiety when it happens.

I had mild nasal congestion and a doctor prescribed xylometazoline nasal drops. I used them Friday night, Saturday morning and night, and Sunday morning.
I may have accidentally used more than the prescribed 3 drops per nostril because I was applying them myself and might have used around 6–7 drops at times.
Now it’s Sunday night (my local time). When I lay down on my bed, my right nostril feels much more closed and blocked than before. That made me start looking up information about xylometazoline online, and I ended up reading about rebound congestion, which has me worried.

The doctor didn’t mention rebound congestion when prescribing the medication. Since reading about it, I’ve become concerned that I may have made things worse.
Could rebound congestion happen after only about 2 days and 4 doses of xylometazoline, even if I used more drops than prescribed? Does this sound more like irritation, normal congestion, or rebound congestion?
Has anyone experienced something similar, and if so, how long did it take to improve after stopping the drops?

Officially, I'm 3 weeks off the devil so-called "nasal spray"—aka Afrin. However, my symptoms come and go throughout the day. Every time my nose feels clogged, I use Flonase, and it helps. However, I'm worried that my life will become dependent on Flonase. How long does it usually take to completely recover from nasal spray dependence and be free of it for 24 hours a day? Embarrassingly, I used Afrin for almost 20 years

I used sudofed nasal spray for just under a week for allergies, I stopped literally just today and my nose clogged within the hour. Is this rebound? If it is, how long will it last? I've irrigated my nose with saline a couple times and it hasn't really done anything in the short term.