Why Addiction To Nose Drops Is Dangerous, And How To Overcome It

A runny nose can be different, but in most cases its treatment is not complete without special means, especially nasal drops. And then you probably came across the fact that if you use them for a long time, your nose literally cannot get off this drip "needle": it starts breathing only when you make a couple of cherished zips - and that's all. Because of what the dependence on nasal drops is formed and what is its danger - otolaryngologist, candidate of medical sciences, expert of the European Medical Center Irakli Yakobashvili tells in detail.

Why does addiction appear?

Dependence on drops, or, to put it more correctly, rhinitis medicamentous develops with excessive use of various drugs. As a result, a side effect (also known as the ricochet effect) develops when these agents cause chronic swelling of the nasal mucosa.

Most often, this process is triggered against the background of the use of vasoconstrictors - the most common drops and sprays that everyone uses during a cold or acute respiratory viral infection to facilitate nasal breathing. In some patients, rhinitis medication develops after three days of using vasoconstrictors. After six to seven days, the risk of developing this disease increases significantly.

It is worth noting that not all people start using drops after a cold or viral infection. Many people achieve satisfactory breathing with the help of drops because they have been suffering from some other disease of the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses for a long time. Such diseases include chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, curvature of the nasal septum.

What does addiction to drops lead to, and what is the danger of this habit?

The use of drops for a long time leads to the fact that without them the nasal mucosa can no longer function on its own. In order to establish normal breathing, a person has to increasingly resort to the use of medications. However, in such a situation, even repeated use of the most powerful vasoconstrictor drugs does not help to achieve the desired goal. The nasal mucosa is already damaged: then the inflammatory process develops, which, unfortunately, for many patients can be irreversible.

It should be noted that not only vasoconstrictor drugs (drops and sprays) lead to rhinitis medicamentosa. Other types of medications can also cause similar effects. Drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction, chronic prostatitis, as well as drugs used in cardiology and gynecological practice, can lead to similar symptoms. That is why we can often be unaware of the root cause of impaired breathing.

Poor sleep is one of the main negative effects of addiction. Because of it, people are forced to wake up several times a night and drip vasoconstrictors in order to continue breathing normally. When medication is not on hand, they often feel anxious (read also: Less Stress: 6 Simple and Unusual Ways to Relax).

In general, the quality of life of such people suffers in a number of ways. Addiction develops very slowly, so the patient hardly notices the formation of addiction. He does not give himself a full account of what is happening, becomes a hostage of the situation and, accordingly, does not seek a way out of it. In most cases, those suffering from drug-induced rhinitis seek help at an advanced stage of the disease, when surgical treatment is required, since simple therapy is no longer able to help.

How to get rid of the addiction?

Prevention of medication rhinitis consists in fully and correctly informing the patient about the risks of prolonged use of vasoconstrictors. A person should clearly understand that it is highly undesirable to use such drugs for more than five days (we are talking about adult patients).

At the initial stage of treatment, saline rinses of the nasal cavity are prescribed. In some cases, steroid therapy is recommended. The patient should give up drops gradually, reducing the frequency of their use.

The first period of treatment can be quite unpleasant and painful, especially from a psychological point of view. Nasal congestion in patients is often associated with anxiety, lack of air - some even develop panic attacks. But having overcome the threshold that comes after two weeks of treatment, the quality of human life improves significantly. The ultimate goal is achieved when the patient completely abandons the constant use of vasoconstrictor drugs.