Are there other consequences of excessive nasal spray use?
“The biggest disadvantage is that you want to use the stuff all the time because there is a backlash. You will suffer more from it than you will benefit from it. The stuffy nose complaints that people have will remain. In addition, a chronically blocked nose can cause crusts in your nose. It is also theoretically possible for blood vessels to narrow in other places in the body than just in the nose. Therefore, use for pregnant women is not recommended. But that is super rare.”
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Stop it
What is the best way to get rid of a nasal spray addiction?
“That’s a difficult one. I say: search your house and throw away all bottles of nasal spray. You then get the feeling that you are missing the effect, but you have to go through that habituation phase and really ‘kick the habit’. Rinsing your nose with saline is also important. If all else fails, there is an anti-inflammatory nasal spray that must be prescribed by a doctor. But I recommend: cold turkey stopping, that’s the only way that works.”
How long does it take for someone to break their nasal spray addiction?
“It will take a few weeks for your mucous membranes to fully recover. It will bother you the most during the first few days and then it will become less and less. You start using nasal spray for a reason. It is also possible that you are allergic to something and need to look for the underlying cause.”
How can you prevent yourself from becoming addicted again?
“Only use nasal spray with xylometazoline if you really have a cold and stop after one week. Also do not use products with menthol or eucalyptus, which provide the same effect. Are the complaints not over yet? Consult your GP. Do not use it if you do not have a cold. The nose should always be a little closed, you should not have such a super open nose.”
ENT specialist Jolijn Brouwer:
This article previously appeared on LINDA.nl in October 2021.
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2023-10-22 08:02:19
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