Over-the-Counter Nasal Spray Addiction: Causes, Risks & Safe Withdrawal

Overuse of over-the-counter nasal sprays can lead to addiction, which is medically known as rhinitis medicamentosa. The body starts to become dependent on the nasal spray to ward off congestion. The person who is trying to stop using the spray can experience rebound congestion. Withdrawal from the spray must be handled in a careful way. A common nursing intervention, as specified in "Foundations and Adult Health Nursing," is to wean the patient over a period of several days.

Instructions

How to Break the Addiction

• 1

  Reduce the frequency of use. Do this by waiting an hour longer than usual to take the next dose of nasal spray. For example, if doses are usually taken three hours apart, start waiting four hours to take the next dose.

• 2

  Cut back on nasal spray usage by 25 percent once the frequency is reduced to four times per day. This effectively reduces the daily dosage to three.

• 3

  Reduce to two daily doses. Continue using two doses for two days. Next, reduce to one dose daily for two days. Then discontinue use of the spray.

• 4

  Follow up with a doctor to ensure that the nasal passages have not been damaged by the nasal spray and to investigate the original cause of the congestion.