5 Best Ways To Not Get Addicted To Nose Drops: Doctor Answers

5 Best Ways To Not Get Addicted To Nose Drops: Doctor Answers

Vasoconstrictor drops seem like a familiar and completely harmless remedy for nasal congestion, but they can lead to the development of addiction. We tell you how to get rid of respiratory problems once and for all and stop using harmful drugs.

Do not take care! In our articles, we collect the latest scientific data and the opinions of authoritative health experts. But remember: only a doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment.

Why do people get addicted to drops?

With constant vasoconstriction using drops, the body eventually adapts to this state and begins to require higher doses to achieve the desired effect. The fact is that the drug, like adrenaline, affects the vascular system, reducing the volume of the turbinates. As a result, a person instantly becomes easier to breathe.

Normally everyone has internal adrenaline, which is produced by the adrenal glands. These organs can be called “lazy”: if the right substance regularly enters the bloodstream from the outside, the adrenal glands simply stop releasing it. Therefore, adrenaline is constantly missing, and then you have to use nose drops.

Prolonged use of these drugs may cause Side effectsaffecting quality of life:

  • nosebleeds;
  • burning and dryness of the mucous membrane;
  • increased mucus secretion;
  • increased nasal congestion;
  • headache;
  • sleep problems;
  • anxiety.

To avoid this, it is recommended to use drops for no more than a week. If during this period you realize that you cannot do without vasoconstrictors, then it’s time to act.

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How do you know if you are addicted to drugs?

Maybe you think nothing bad will happen – a proven method really helps relieve a runny nose and feel better. Listen to the body’s signals: is it so easy to part with a life-saving remedy?

What should you worry about:

  • instillation in the nose for more than 7 days;
  • repeat the procedure every 10-12 hours or more;
  • a feeling of anxiety and well-being problems when refusing the drops.

Psychological dependence

It often happens that the cold has long passed, no further treatment is needed, but you usually take the bottle and automatically bury your nose. This is how the psychological aspect of this problem appears, much more serious than all the others.

You need to get rid of it ASAP. You let the situation take its course, and increased nervous excitability and anxiety will add to other troubles if there is no packing with drops nearby. You can be annoyed by every little thing, fall for your loved ones, and instantly rebound after taking the next dose. In general, this is no longer a joke.

5 ways not to get addicted to vasoconstrictor drops

To stop the endless “healing” process yourself, you must follow simple rules:

Method 1. Try to bury your nose as little as possible. Endure congestion, gradually reducing the amount of medication. Thus, you will cure your addiction and the nasal mucosa will begin to recover.

Method 2. Alternate the right and left half of the nose, placing the medicine in one nostril, then the other, not both at the same time. This will reduce the concentration of the active substance and normalize the condition.

Method 3. Try replacing vasoconstrictor drops for adults with children. They are similar in composition, but the solution in them is weaker. After a while, you wean yourself off their action and can live without drops.

Method 4. Use saltwater sprays to relieve nasal congestion. These drugs are absolutely harmless to health. With their help, the body can be deceived: it reacts to harmless salt water in the same way as to vasoconstrictor drops, greatly facilitating breathing.

At first, these two products can be alternated, and then switch completely to a spray. A hypertonic solution of sea salt reduces the swelling and volume of the turbinate vessels, although other, absolutely safe mechanisms are involved.

Method 5. In some cases, the use of hormonal sprays is acceptable, but do not self-medicate. Consult your doctor who will prescribe a strict medication regimen. The course of therapy is usually at least a month. These remedies help to get rid of swelling of the nasal mucosa.

what else can you do

A few simple habits will help improve your condition and reduce the need for drops:

  1. Humidify the air in the rooms where you live and work.
  2. Take regular walks.
  3. Air out your bedroom before going to bed.
  4. Take general vitamins and tonics.

Modern surgery also helps to get rid of addiction. To solve the respiratory problem quickly and effectively, more drastic measures can be taken.

A small operation called a turbinate vasotomy takes just a few minutes and is performed under local anesthesia. This intervention is indicated if the addiction to the drops is prolonged over time. In this case, the doctor will offer to operate on the blood vessels of the nasal cavity. Recovery after this manipulation does not last long, but the effect exceeds all expectations.

Any addiction is unpleasant for a person – it is always a limitation and a deviation from the norm. Therefore, to begin with, it is worth recognizing that the problem exists and proceeding with its resolution. Well, your doctor will be the best adviser in this situation.

Source: The Voice Mag

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