The Dangers of Pharmaceutical Nasal Sprays

“What can you use in place of a nasal spray? Fortunately, there are safer ways including nasal irrigation where you wash out your nose once or twice daily with warm salt water. This is a low risk, low cost method that washes away those irritants and toxins.” – J Chitty

Nasal SprayMany will reach for an over-the-counter nasal spray without a second thought, but how safe are they to use? What are the risks? Who shouldn’t use them? Can they become addictive?

Decades ago, people would put up with hay fever at this time of the year or they would use a variety of home remedies. Now, relief from itchy noses, watery eyes, and nasal congestion are just a quick spritz away, with prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical nasal sprays being one of the most common ways to treat nasal congestion caused by allergies or infection.

I have just been reading the package insert for one such nasal spray – Vicks Sinex Soother – and there is a long list of those who should not be using this nasal spray at all. In fact, the one good thing that can be said about it is that you are not likely to notice any effect on your ability to drive or use a machine!

So what are the potential dangers?

Even more congestion!

One drawback of commercial nasal sprays can be even more congestion! It is estimated that 7% of the United States population suffer from a drug-induced condition called rhinitis medicamentosa which is actually caused by using the nasal spray. This condition occurs when a decongestant nasal spray is used repeatedly for more than three to five consecutive days, leading to nasal passage damage and the inability to respond to the decongestant. Very often, rhinitis medicamentosa goes undiagnosed.

Steroids and dependency

Nasal sprays contain steroids. They constrict the blood vessels inside your nose. It is when you have a cold, flu or allergies that these blood vessels become swollen and dilated, stimulating the nasal membranes to produce large amounts of mucus. When you constrict the blood vessels by using a nasal spray, they shrink and help to dry up the mucus – and it feels good.

The problem arises when your nose becomes too used to the nasal spray’s effect, cancelling it out. You end up relying on the spray more and more. This goes on for so long that you find you cannot function without having a nasal spray at hand for constant use. Although at the start of its use, the nasal spray will be effective for 6 to 8 hours, this time span becomes less and less with use. This is the main reason why the package insert advises you to use it for no longer than 3 days. You may not be addicted but you may certainly become dependent.

Side effects

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