Can you use Afrin for more than 3 days if you only use it once per day?

[Adam8281]

So I have a cold, and this is something I always wonder when I have a cold, but have never thought to ask the bright lights at ATOT about it until now:

If you only use Afrin once per day (rather than twice per day as the directions permit), can you use it for more than 3 days? The directions say not to take it for more than 3 days, because you can get "addicted" after too much use and you will start having chronic "rebound" congestion when the medicine wears off. I am wondering if taking a smaller dosage (once per day rather than twice) will let me take it for longer (5-6 days) without running into the "rebound" problem.

 

[Stiganator]

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[techs]

As a person who has had a problem with the rebound effect my ENT told me I can use it for 4 days at a time. though he never discussed how much at a time.
If this is a chronic problem you can ask your doctor for something like Flonase, which if you use it when you start the Afrin will begin to have an effect at the time you discontinue the Afrin, mitigating the rebound effect.

 

[Adam8281]

Thanks guys. It's not a chronic problem - just my (seemingly annual) cold. My colds seem to last for 5-6 days, though, and the Afrin directions say to only use for 3 days, so I was hoping that by only using at night time, right before bed, I might be able to use it for the duration of my cold.

 

[Old Hippie]

I've been a nose spray junkie for @ 40 years.

I've always had sinus problems and the only meds that actually keep me free breathing are a side effect of ingesting synthesized or natural opiads.

I guess I didn't follow the instructions very well! :laugh:

 

[Stiganator]

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[Hayabusa Rider]

Use a saline nasal spray for a few days. It's more appropriate for your needs than a steroid.

 

[Pliablemoose]

PSA, one of the effective home remedies for a bloody nose is Afrin or a similar spray.

 

[Bill Brasky]

I use afrin for six days by doing a single spray alternating nostrils.

 

[Leros]

I've used Afrin like crazy for two weeks straight. Once my cold ends, I'll drop the usage down to twice a day (before and after sleeping). After a few days of the lower usage, I'll stop completely. I'll be slightly plugged for a few days, then I'm fine.

 

[Adam8281]

Thanks for the info - I can live with that!

 

[Special K]

I decided to bump this thread rather than starting a new one because my question is very similar.

Let's say you use Afrin for 3 days like it says on the box, and then stop. How long do you have to wait before you can use it for another 3 day period? I don't want to become addicted to it, and it doesn't say anything on the box or label about how long of a "break period" you should take.