The Gazette | See the dangers of nasal decongestant addiction

During the fall, colds and flu become more common. Among the symptoms, the nasal congestion It usually causes a lot of discomfort. As a result, many patients resort to the use of certain nasal decongestantscalled topical vasoconstrictors, which offer immediate relief. However, when not used correctly and without a medical prescription, this medication can harm your health and be addictive.

According to otorhinolaryngologist Fernão Bevilacqua, from the Alfa Instituto de Comunicação e Audição, excessive use occurs precisely because the medication brings a very quick response to the relief of nasal symptoms. “When a person realizes that the decongestant makes their nose feel clear, almost instantly, this ends up encouraging them to want to get more doses of the spray, which makes them dependent”, he warns.

Still according to the expert, chronic and prolonged use can lead to vasoconstriction, which is the decreased passage of blood vessels. This effect affects the most sensitive areas of the body, such as the heart, brain, lungs and intestine, which, in the long term, can suffer irreversible complications.

To know when the use of nasal decongestants becomes an addiction, the doctor recommends observing the frequency of places where the product is present in everyday life. “An addicted person carries the product in their pocket, in the glove compartment of the car, in their work backpack, in their purse, in the bathroom and even buys boxes and lots”, he warns.

This means the medicine is always at hand, with easy access. But the symptoms are not always apparent, the most common being the difficulty in feeling the air flow through the nose, even if it is unobstructed. “O excessive use makes the mucosa becomes hypertrophicFurthermore, the person loses sensitivity to air”, points out the otorhinolaryngologist.

One of the ways to kick the addiction to nasal decongestants is replace the contents of the spray or spray bottle saline solution. Furthermore, according to Fernão Bevilacqua, the act occurs gradually, and it may be necessary to use medication to alleviate mucosal sensitivity.

“An otorhinolaryngologist may suggest the use of corticosteroids, nasal lavage or even oral medications such as anti-inflammatories and antihistamines, always depending on each case. But to stop it instantly, the best way is to switch to saline solution”, reiterates the specialist.

Furthermore, it is not because the medicine causes dependence in some people that it does not have an important value for medicine. The doctor highlights that nasal decongestant can be used for light post-operative bleeding, in addition to being recommended for those who have acute sinusitis for two or three days.

“What matters is always having a prescription and medical supervision so that this type of product can be used. It is important for the specialist to assess when the decongestant is being used chronically and ends up becoming a poison instead of helping the patient, causing harm to health”, he concludes.

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