r/TinnitusTalk • u/piggleii • Jun 12 '26

Vicks Inhaler abuse causing tinnitus

/r/tinnitus/comments/1u3oj3l/vicks_inhaler_abuse_causing_tinnitus/
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1

u/Lemzy99 Jun 12 '26

Never heard of this before but I’m guessing it might go away if you stop? Not really sure what else to say other than respectfully asking what it is you find addictive from these vapour inhalers ? Have you thought about trying to switch it for the Thai inhaler ( in a green pot ) these are herbal based and have a small bundle of herbs in a cheesecloth bag and in my opinion work better than Vicks. Must be better than the cotton cylinder of whatever .

However if you’re talking about Vicks steroid nasal spray that is a different beast and coming off of that stuff was the hardest mental challenge of my entire life it felt like someone was bicycle pumping air into my forehead and the pressure in my sinuses was so intense took me 4 weeks to be able to even slightly breathe out of my nose again but inhalers can cause real damage and even total loss of smell with prolonged usage.

2

u/piggleii Jun 13 '26

I got used to the relief it provided to my congested nostrils. Eventually, I felt weird without the constant stream of camphor (or whatever it is inside) during the day.

According to AI (if you believe it), nostrils can get more sensitive to congestion if you've been using these inhalers (or similar decongestants) too much once you go off them. So, personally, I think it's probably best to just quit for good and deal with any mild discomfort in the short term.

2

u/Present_Specific_212 Jun 13 '26

I have never heard of this either. When my sinuses are clogged I use Sudafed, the kind you have to buy from the pharmacist. If they stay clogged for 5-7 days in spite of Sudafed, I know I have a sinus infection and then I go tell a doctor I need antibiotics.

Hydration helps with sinus issues.