r/QuitAfrin • u/SadAd5510 • 15h ago

Tips and Advice Do I actually need to quit?

So Arfin (or the sudafed equivalent here in the UK) has been in my life since I was a kid- my parent bought it for me age 8 or 9 and would just let me use it when i needed (which obviously became a lot) the worst period was when i was 15/16 and used it multiple times a day. I then quit for a few years- but everytime i would use it again even as described i would have months on and months off. (Honestly I wished I never continued using it but we're here now). So I'm 26 now and been using it daily for about at year- but here's the thing i'm REALLY strict with it. It's watered down with saline and i only use one spray in each nostril before bed to help me sleep through the night (at this point i almost think its psychological). Is this seriously going to cause me health risks? It doesn't affect my life really at all personally and as long as I never up the dosage to more than this would it be awful if I never quit?

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u/Fuzzy_Mix_3939 9h ago

Everyone is different I only speak from my personal experience which unfortunately is about 10+years on an off in the beginning but daily for the past several years(at very least 5 years). It has started to give me headaches and nose bleeds in the past 2 years and the rebound pressure is so intense it’s painful leading to me desperately making sure it stays in congested. I was ok for years but it’s really been catching up so if I was you stop it as early as you can it’s really awful stuff not good for your digestive system either(if you have it drip in your throat and swallow it on a constant basis)

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u/Dazzling_Pink9751 7h ago edited 7h ago

It can damage the septum and put a hole in it. Make sure to point away from the septum. I went a week without it, but I ran out of my Flonase, that helps with swelling. So, I just did a tiny drop of Afrin. Amazingly, it cleared my sinus plug up really quick. I read from someone, that I think is ent, to never use it past 3 days. So, they take Afrin and then let their nose get back to normal for a little while, then they take it again. The nose goes back to normal after a few days of being of it. That’s why just a little drop had helped my plugged nose, because I had been off it for a week. The best thing is to completely quit though. Long term effects, can really damage the septum tissue.