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Suggest Nasal Sprays Without Any Side Effects For Nose Congestion
Question: Yes Dr. Is there any kind of prescription nasal spray that decongestant nose other than the steroid typed because they all give me extreme anxiety and depression
Brief Answer:
Avoid allergen or use alpha agonists.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Congestion is due to hyperstimulation of mucosa, commonly due to allergy resulting in increased secretion from mucosa.
Opioids suppress any allergic reaction thereby reducing secretion and hence congestion.
Non-opioids (alpha agonists) cause localized constriction of blood vessels, hence secretion is reduced or absent. Once stopped, rebound effect due to vasodilatation is going to be seen. If used for longer time, atrophic rhinitis and anosmia or loss of smell can be seen. Avoid in hypertension.
Both should not be used for longer time.
Avoiding allergen or specific agent, which causes increased congestion is the best treatment.
There is no specific nasal spray, if not steroid based. All others are alpha agonists and available over the counter.
If you want to change, you can try once naphazoline nasal spray. It is also known to cause rebound congestion, but as it is a newer drug, reduced adverse effects.
However, I would suggest you to avoid excessive use.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, happy to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Avoid allergen or use alpha agonists.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Congestion is due to hyperstimulation of mucosa, commonly due to allergy resulting in increased secretion from mucosa.
Opioids suppress any allergic reaction thereby reducing secretion and hence congestion.
Non-opioids (alpha agonists) cause localized constriction of blood vessels, hence secretion is reduced or absent. Once stopped, rebound effect due to vasodilatation is going to be seen. If used for longer time, atrophic rhinitis and anosmia or loss of smell can be seen. Avoid in hypertension.
Both should not be used for longer time.
Avoiding allergen or specific agent, which causes increased congestion is the best treatment.
There is no specific nasal spray, if not steroid based. All others are alpha agonists and available over the counter.
If you want to change, you can try once naphazoline nasal spray. It is also known to cause rebound congestion, but as it is a newer drug, reduced adverse effects.
However, I would suggest you to avoid excessive use.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, happy to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Tnx doctor XXXXXXX for that good answer. I am interested in Naphazoline. Is that a steroid ? And thanks for the tip on Opioids; you mean like Vicodin or Norco? They are Opioids, right? And I would try to avoid allergic foods, but it seems as far as nasal congestion, I seem to be allergic to every food on the planet.
Thank you in advance! XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Thank you in advance! XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Naphazoline is not steroid.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for asking again.
I am sorry. I made a mistake accidentally. I was trying to use steroids, not opioids.
Thanks for correcting me.
Steroids suppress immune system and reduces allergic reactions. They cannot be used for long as once they enter the body, they reduce overall immunity and increase risk of infections.
What you told about opioid are correct. They are painkillers.
Naphazoline is the new type of alpha agonist. Its not a steroid.
Food allergies usually are not responsible for nasal congestion. More often, it is allergens in air, like dust, pollens etc. Try using mask.
After rebound congestion, it usually goes away. Try to avoid any spray for a week, the symptoms should come down.
Food allergies, cause difficulty in swallowing. Localized allergy limited to nasal cavity is air related. While you are trying to avoid any sort of sprays, you can use antihistamines medication like cetrizine. It reduces allergic reactions. It will help to reduce symptoms.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, happy to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Naphazoline is not steroid.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for asking again.
I am sorry. I made a mistake accidentally. I was trying to use steroids, not opioids.
Thanks for correcting me.
Steroids suppress immune system and reduces allergic reactions. They cannot be used for long as once they enter the body, they reduce overall immunity and increase risk of infections.
What you told about opioid are correct. They are painkillers.
Naphazoline is the new type of alpha agonist. Its not a steroid.
Food allergies usually are not responsible for nasal congestion. More often, it is allergens in air, like dust, pollens etc. Try using mask.
After rebound congestion, it usually goes away. Try to avoid any spray for a week, the symptoms should come down.
Food allergies, cause difficulty in swallowing. Localized allergy limited to nasal cavity is air related. While you are trying to avoid any sort of sprays, you can use antihistamines medication like cetrizine. It reduces allergic reactions. It will help to reduce symptoms.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, happy to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dr XXXXXXX
Thank you for clearing that up. My last questions are: how is Naphazoline superior to Afrin? For example, is the rebound effect less? Are the other side effects less than Afrin? Does it clear the nasal passages better than Afrin and for a longer period of time? (Afrin is 12 hours)
And finally who is the best doc to see for a permanent cure to my problem of every -day chronic nasal congestion? An Allergist or acupuncturist or??
Thank you, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Thank you for clearing that up. My last questions are: how is Naphazoline superior to Afrin? For example, is the rebound effect less? Are the other side effects less than Afrin? Does it clear the nasal passages better than Afrin and for a longer period of time? (Afrin is 12 hours)
And finally who is the best doc to see for a permanent cure to my problem of every -day chronic nasal congestion? An Allergist or acupuncturist or??
Thank you, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Meet an allergen specialist.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for asking again.
Naphazoline is not superior to Afrin and it is not much different. Its action is much less and needs to be used every 6 hrs, therefore rebound effect should also be less.
Nasal decongestants should not be used for more than three days. If used, it will get worse.
I would advise you to meet a allergist at present. If the allergen specialist is not able to identify any cause, then you can try other methods.
Hope it helps.
If you have any further queries, do ask again.
If you do not have any further queries, you can close the discussion and rate the answer.
Take care.
Dr. Prakash HM
Meet an allergen specialist.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for asking again.
Naphazoline is not superior to Afrin and it is not much different. Its action is much less and needs to be used every 6 hrs, therefore rebound effect should also be less.
Nasal decongestants should not be used for more than three days. If used, it will get worse.
I would advise you to meet a allergist at present. If the allergen specialist is not able to identify any cause, then you can try other methods.
Hope it helps.
If you have any further queries, do ask again.
If you do not have any further queries, you can close the discussion and rate the answer.
Take care.
Dr. Prakash HM
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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