Best OTC nasal spray for severe nasal congestion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Also, thank you to PP who mentioned essential oils. I will put those in my diffuser next and maybe try to use it with steam.

I was just reading additional PP’ comments about potential issues with Afrin. I wasn’t aware of this as I have not used it in the past and hope not to have to use it for three full days. I assume the side effects everyone is talking about are from overuse only?

Essential oils are easily the worst advice in this thread. Actual, direct health risks with little-to-no health benefit.

Afrin rebound can be as issue for some people from the start. The other addiction-related issues are more likely to be longer-term risks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I got and used Afrin about 2 hours ago, and feel so much better both in terms of stuffiness and pressure headache. Thank you to all who suggested it!

Also, thank you to PP who mentioned essential oils. I will put those in my diffuser next and maybe try to use it with steam.

I was just reading additional PP’ comments about potential issues with Afrin. I wasn’t aware of this as I have not used it in the past and hope not to have to use it for three full days. I assume the side effects everyone is talking about are from overuse only?

I'm the first one to recommend Afrin - OP, use it sparingly, and you'll be fine. I'm the first PP, have used Afrin on a handful of occasions, and have nothing close to addiction. I mostly have used it in the evening so I could sleep. I don't enjoy being congested during the day but I can blow my nose. Nighttime is when it's been most helpful.

[Anonymous]

Per my ENT, I use a saline rinse in a NeilMed nasal rinse squeeze bottle. The squeeze bottle is better for me than a neti pot. If making your own rinse, just make sure you use distilled water. I also have a prescribed anti bacterial ointment that I can add to the mixture, but if I use the saline 2x per day, that manages my issue and I don't need to add the ointment unless I get really stopped up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.target.com/p/no-drip-nasal-decongestant-spray-1-fl-oz-up-38-up-8482/-/A-50422592

lasts 12 hours or more. 2 pumps.
equate makes one too.
I would not recommend this product unless it worked extremely well for me. Been using it for many many years.
No burn, no nosebleed.

That's Afrin

[Anonymous]

OP you need to find a way to reduce the swelling in your turbinates. I had mine reduced (not removed) 9 years ago. I no longer have reactive congestion which was happening to me October-March of every year. No more Afrin, saline sprays, Flonase.

[Anonymous]

Just another plug for sinus rinsing. Absolutely drug free and can be used multiple times a day. And sleep with nose strips.

[Anonymous]

While shopping. You might try to figure out what’s causing the congestion so you can treat that too.

I always liked neo-senepherine.

Afrin seems stronger.

Real Sudafed works.

A netti pot/nasal irrigation is good too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I got and used Afrin about 2 hours ago, and feel so much better both in terms of stuffiness and pressure headache. Thank you to all who suggested it!

Also, thank you to PP who mentioned essential oils. I will put those in my diffuser next and maybe try to use it with steam.

I was just reading additional PP’ comments about potential issues with Afrin. I wasn’t aware of this as I have not used it in the past and hope not to have to use it for three full days. I assume the side effects everyone is talking about are from overuse only?

For some rebound congestion can happen after just 2 uses. But no more than twice per day for 3 days max and you should be ok. But if you seem to be reaching for it quicker than 12 hours beware, beware, beware

I find that if I’m so badly congested that I need Afrin, I’m gonna need it more than 3 days. If you follow the recommended limits of no more than 2 uses per day for 3 days, they’re saying 6 doses is fine. I spread out the doses so that I can sleep at night. I don’t use Afrin during the day and just suffer the congestion, but I’ll use it only at night for 5 nights so that I’m getting quality sleep. That helps me get better and has never lead to an addiction.

[Anonymous]

Call your doctor. Script for Azelastine.

OTC. Saline. Flonase.

[Anonymous]

For the nasal rinse/neti pot - can water be boiled first before use vs distilled water?

Initially I had just been using tap water plus the little packet of powder mix that came with the rinse bottle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the nasal rinse/neti pot - can water be boiled first before use vs distilled water?

Initially I had just been using tap water plus the little packet of powder mix that came with the rinse bottle.

You are supposed to use distilled water. If you can get your hands on some, I wouldn’t fool around with boiling and cooling water and hoping for the best. Once a year or so, I buy a new jug and keep in in the pantry for just this purpose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the nasal rinse/neti pot - can water be boiled first before use vs distilled water?

Initially I had just been using tap water plus the little packet of powder mix that came with the rinse bottle.

If you have a refrigerator with a filter, that should be good enough. Look to see if it is NSF 53 or NSF 58 certified.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the scoop on the distilled water
I’m trying to incorporate nasal rinses along with Sudafed, Claritin and the occasional squirt of Afrin at night.

The congestion battle is real

[Anonymous]

OP back here. I used Afrin three times only. The first time was a life saver. I had such a bad headache and felt like suffocating. Afrin helped quickly. But then, the second and third time, it had almost no effect. Very strange.

Regardless, thank you again to all who recommended Afrin. I am keeping it in our medicine cabinet going forward.

Whatever infection we had in our family, it was really nasty. I was never bedridden with nasal congestion only before. I had no fever and we tested negative for Covid. Now, I am just battling nagging short spurts of cough - most likely from postnasal drip. Keeping fingers crossed for this to go away soon.

[Anonymous]

Afrin short-term, but also a regular saline spray helps a lot. That's all I use on my kids.