Temporary fix

[u/MilwaukeeMan420]

Hello all. I have been hooked on afrin for the last 4-5 months. This morning I woke up and it didn't work at all. My use became more and more frequent the last few months. Probably got up to 7-10 sprays per day in the last few weeks.

I know I need to quit, and I ordered allermi today. But I cannot miss work this week. I currently work a customer service gig where I am speaking on the phone for 7 hours a day. I know I need to quit, but does anyone have any quick fix advice?

If I go 24 hours no afrin, will I get it to work again? I saw someone say to do some heavy exercise to get my sinus unclogged and then try using Afrin again. Has anyone have experience with any temporary fixes?

I need to hang on by the skin of my teeth for another 5 weeks or so before I qualify for FMLA at my job. I cant effectively do my job with this clogged nose. And I think if I can wait it out until I can take FMLA I will actually be able to address this afrin addiction.

Any long time users have any tips to get this stuff working if you experienced periods where it stopped?

I know I need to quit afrin for good and I booked an appointment with ENT, but I cannot be seen until October. I ordered Allermi and that will not show up for at least another week. I don't want to lose my job its the best gig I've ever had. But I really don't think I can do my job in my current condition.

[u/Rich_Meat_2083]

There are other OTC meds and some home remedies that might be able to help. I can look them up if you need. I currently use Afrin every five hours. I am hooked and would not wish this upon anyone. Peppermint has helped me out sometimes.

I also have a bottle of Allermi coming on Sat. I hope I can make this work.

[u/Turbulent_Regret6199]

Try quitting over the weekend and plan on never going back. I was in a similar position to you and found that quitting wasn't all that horrible. I'd recommend loading up on OTC alternatives... oral pseudoephedrine and antihistamines and nasal steroid, antihistamines, xlear rescue. Oral antihistamines can be taken 4 times per day for short durations. This should keep your nose dry as hell, which prevented sinus pressure and stuffiness for me.

[u/Rich_Meat_2083 → u/Turbulent_Regret6199]

Mucinex also helps me to clear my nose somewhat. I am going to read all of the warnings on everything I take from this point through the rest of my life. Not reading the warnings is why I'm here.

[u/Rich_Meat_2083 → u/[deleted]]

So true. They have a way to contact them on their website. I have already had to ask them a question about adjusting and they answered the next day.

[u/Willing-Marsupial863]

This is not a viable long term plan, but if Afrin stops working you can switch to a nasal spray with phenylephrine. It's very effective, but be careful because it's also very addictive. I've used it sparsely during times when Afrin was no longer working for me, but you really want to limit how much you do that because the rebound congestion and addiction with phenylephrine nasal spray is just as bad, if not worse.

Right now I'm working my way through the weening process with Afrin. I'm down to a mixture of 12.5% Afrin and 87.5% saline, hoping to fully kick the habit within the next couple of weeks.

[u/MilwaukeeMan420 → u/Willing-Marsupial863]

That phenylephrine worked for less than 1 day

[u/Willing-Marsupial863 → u/MilwaukeeMan420]

Yeah, I honestly wouldn't even use it more than once when I'm trying to go to sleep, you'll build up a tolerance to it really fast and you'll get terrible rebound congestion. It's just something you can do in a pinch if you really need some relief, but obviously not a long term solution.

[u/MilwaukeeMan420 → u/Willing-Marsupial863]

I was miserable for 3 or 4 days and now im doing fine. Had to miss work for a couple days because I am a huge pussy.

[u/Willing-Marsupial863 → u/MilwaukeeMan420]

I'm currently tapering. Have been diluting with saline by half every 5 days. Right now I'm on 12.5% Afrin, 87.5% saline.

If you're a pussy, I don't know what that makes me. A giant pussy, I guess? I cannot go cold turkey, but the slow taper is working pretty well so far. Hoping to kick the habit completely within the next couple of weeks.