DO YOU REACH FOR A NASALSPRAY WHEN YOU CATCH A COLD?

 Do you reach for a nasal spray when you catch a cold?

If you are doing that several times a day for weeks and the congestion keeps coming back, often worse than before, there is a good chance you are addicted to the spray.

The overuse leads to a vicious cycle of relief and rebound congestion.

Rebound congestion is a direct fall out of nasal spray addiction.

Though nasal decongestants like oxymetazoline marketed under brand names such as Otrivin and Nasivion are safe and effective for short term use as directed by the physician, prolonged, unsupervised use beyond the recommended duration leads to people getting hooked.

Our nose has mass-like structures called turbinates that regulate airflow. The turbinates become swollen or enlarged ( known as turbinate hypertrophy) in those who suffer from allergies, sinus infections or chronic colds. 

Nasal sprays shrink these turbinates. 

A turbinate measuring 10mm may shrink to 5mm after using the decongestant nasal drop, offering temporary relief. But once the effect wears off, typically after eight hours, the turbinate doesn't return tp its original size. It often swells to 11mm. This is known as rebound congestion. 

With every subsequent use of the nasal drop, the turbinate enlarge further, worsening the blockage and deepening the dependency.

The overuse of nasal sprays is not good for heart health as it can get into the blood stream. It may worsen hypertension as the sprays constrict blood vessels.

The condition, rhinitis, may induce anosmia (complete loss of smell), chronic nasal obstruction and psychological dependence on the nasal sprays.

Strong willpower is needed to break the cycle. Some manage it. Many find it incredibly difficult necessitating surgical intervention. The procedure, turbinoplasty(turbinate reduction surgery) done under local anesthesia, reduces the size of the turbinates.

Nasal sprays can safely be used sticking to two doses a day and not more than five days at a stretch.

Saline sprays without chemicals are also safe.

Sprays that contain oxymetazoline and phenylephrine cause addiction on overuse.

Excerpts from 
the article 
'Can't breathe without it' 
by
Umesh Isalkar
in
Times of India 
25 June 2025