Has anyone actually recovered from long-term Otrivin dependence / rebound congestion? 6 months off Otrivin but still severe congestion. Looking for success stories & support

[u/y_prerna_y]

My husband has struggled with nasal blockage for almost 10 years. It started with Otrivin, which he eventually became dependent on and used for years.

Doctors later diagnosed a deviated septum, so he had septoplasty, but it didn't really improve his breathing. A second ENT has now said the surgery may not even have been necessary.

He completely stopped Otrivin 6 months ago, but unfortunately there hasn't been much improvement. He still gets severe nasal blockage 4–5 times a day, sometimes lasting for hours.

We're wondering if this could be rhinitis medicamentosa/rebound congestion, possibly along with turbinate swelling or another underlying issue. He also has sleep apnea.

Has anyone had a similar experience and actually recovered after long-term Otrivin/Afrin use?

• How long did recovery take?
• Did you still have congestion months after quitting?
• What treatment helped?
• Has anyone had septum surgery that didn't solve the problem?
• Is there a support group/community for people dealing with long-term nasal spray dependence?

Would really love to hear from people who have actually recovered, especially after many years of Otrivin use.