Can you get addicted to Afrin®?

Afrin®  works by clamping down and narrowing of all of the blood vessels in the nose. Without engorgement with blood the nasal airway is more open and breathing is better. Unfortunately, when the afrin wears off the blood vessel engorgement worsens and the breathing is typically even worse than it was originally. Over time the afrin has to be used very frequently just to be able to breathe at all. Afrin should be avoided except for infrequent use for just three days for a cold or sinus infection. If the patient has complaints of difficulty breathing through the nose on a regular basis they should see and ear, nose, and throat doctor to have the cause diagnosed.

Zachary Wassmuth, MD