With warm weather comes pollen, and that means seasonal allergies for a lot of people. Nasal sprays are an effective way to treat the symptoms, but over reliance with some varieties can actually make you feel worse in the long run.
Topical decongesting nasal sprays, like Afrin or the generic oxymetazoline, work by shrinking inflamed blood vessels in the nasal passages, thus unclogging your sinuses so more air can flow through. But, as Dr. Madeleine Schaberg of the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai explains to Women’s Health, frequent use of these nasal sprays cause more problems than they resolve. After a few days of continual use, those blood vessels develop a slight addiction and come to rely on the drug, which causes them to swell beyond their normal size when they don’t get that next hit. This causes your congestion to rebound and get even worse, or what’s known as rhinitis medicamentosa. The more you rely on the spray, the worse it can get over time.
But don’t fret, it’s pretty easy to avoid rebound congestion. Schaberg says that topical nasal sprays can still be used sparingly, but you should included other decongestants in your anti-allergy arsenal. Nasal saline rinses, neti pot flushes, and antihistamines can be thrown into the mix. You can also try an over-the-counter steroidal nasal spray like Flonase or Nasacort that won’t give you the same problems.
Update: A medical expert contacted me and provided clarifications regarding the various types of nasal sprays. The content above has been updated to reflect this new information.