Don't use a spray more than once every 12 hours, or longer than 3 days.
Saline nasal sprays do not contain any medication, so they can be used as often as needed in order to improve the symptoms of nasal congestion.
The American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology recommends using decongestant nasal sprays for no more than twice a day for only 3 days.
The more you continue to use nasal sprays, the worse your symptoms could get. Rhinitis medicamentosa is a type of nasal congestion resulting from overusing nasal sprays. It may cause an itchy, stuffy or runny nose. Unlike other types of rhinitis, rhinitis medicamentosa doesn't affect your eyes or throat.
It is usually used every 10 to 12 hours as needed, but not more often than twice in a 24-hour period. Follow the directions on the package label or on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use oxymetazoline nasal spray exactly as directed.
Do not use more often, use more sprays, or use longer than directed because doing so may increase the risk of side effects. Also, do not use this medication for more than 3 days or it may cause a condition called rebound congestion.
Decongestants. These medicines help reduce the swelling in your nasal passages and ease the stuffiness and sinus pressure. They come as nasal sprays, like naphazoline (Privine), oxymetazoline (Afrin, Dristan, Nostrilla, Vicks Sinus Nasal Spray), or phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine, Rhinall, Sinex).
It can lead to chronic sinusitis and other serious, long-term problems. Give your doctor a call if you're having any of these issues: It's all in your nose. Allergies typically have more than one symptom, like itchy, watery eyes.
Directions for use of nasal decongestant sprays vary somewhat, but the label of oxymetazoline 0.05% spray (Afrin) advises patients aged >6 years to spray the product two to three times in each nostril not more often than every 10 to 12 hours, and not to exceed two applications in any 24-hour period.
Overuse of nasal sprays can also lead to other side effects, including headache, coughing, nasal passage swelling (inflammation), increased risk of sinus infection, and, rarely, tears in the nostril membranes. Don't let that scare you from getting the relief you need.
Decongestant nasal sprays that contain phenylephrine or oxymetazoline bring instant relief when you have a stuffy nose. But you can develop rebound congestion if you use these products for too long. Rebound congestion is a stubborn stuffy nose that can take weeks, months, or even a year to go away.
"Since nasal decongestant sprays deliver the decongestant in a localized manner, these products relieve nasal congestion almost immediately," says Dr. Ahmed. That's the great thing about these sprays. They provide congestion relief in just minutes.
OTC steroid nasal sprays include Flonase (fluticasone) and Nasacort (triamcinolone). Steroid nasal sprays are usually used once per day and are safe to use long-term, if needed. Side effects are rare and mild but may include nosebleed, itchy nose, or headache.
Decongestant nasal sprays and drops should not be used for more than a week at a time because using them for too long can make your stuffiness worse. Speak to a GP if your symptoms do not improve after this time.
Seasonal allergies, cologne, perfume, smoke, and other airborne particulates can mess with your sinuses, especially when suffering from a sinus infection. Unfortunately, other than staying in a hermetically sealed room, there's not much you can do about some of these.
In addition, using nonprescription decongestant nasal sprays for more than three or four days can cause worse nasal congestion once the decongestant wears off, a condition called rebound rhinitis.
The bacteria confine themselves in stubborn “biofilms,” making it difficult for your immune system or antibiotics to find and attack them. An overlap of additional factors such as smoking, environmental pollutants, and deviated septum, further complicate the picture of chronic sinusitis.
Sleeping on your back with your head elevated also helps if you have a sinus infection. While you'll need to visit a doctor to get treatment for an infection, sleeping with your head propped up can relieve some of the symptoms, including drainage.
a blocked nose. pain and tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead. a sinus headache. a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or more.
Don't breathe irritating materials or smoke:avoid breathing in harmful materials or fumes when you have a sinus infection. You should not smoke cigarettes or cigars. And, you should avoid high pollution areas. Try to breathe in clean, fresh air.
If you feel that you are blocked up but are not really producing mucus, then this is more indicative of a physical abnormality, such as nasal polyps or a deviated septum. It is quite common for people to complain of having a blocked nose on one side.
Rinsing your nasal passages with only plain water without this mixture will result in a severe burning sensation as plain water is not good for your nasal lining. Plain water also can cause your tissue to swell, giving the feeling of more congestion.