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Severe Otrivin Addiction
Charmy






Posted: August 16, 2014, 10:57 AM
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/14/h...4spra.html?_r=0

check this out.

You are not addicted.
CaroAce






Posted: August 24, 2014, 6:08 AM
I found the cure!

I want to share this because I had a bad addiction to Otrivin and I found the cure by mistake, I'm a cabin crew and because of the aircraft AC, I used to get my nose blocked cosntantly, I got used to the otrivin and I could not breath without it, specially when going to bed. One night I ran out of otrivin and I was desperated,do I ended up putting some eye drops in my nose to see if it helped... IT DID! and that's not the end of the story, after putting the drops, my nose felt even better than when using the otrivin, and did not get blocked again. now, I don't need the drops to sleep, end very rarely my nose gets blocked, not even when I come from a long flights, basically it cured my addiction and improved my breathing. The drops I used are called Spersallerg, they are inexpensive, and I guess any other brand of eye drops containing Antazoline 0.05% Tetryzoline 0.04% will do the same trick.

I hope this info helps you.
Charmy






Posted: September 2, 2014, 5:48 AM
http://ideasrunmylife.blogspot.in/2...trivin-100.html

This will help all of you! I have been cured from a 7 year otrivin addiction. and its 100% :)
Artist






Posted: September 10, 2014, 11:40 AM
(I am not a doctor! I'm just sharing my story hoping to help you guys)

Short version

I was addicted for nasal sprays for as long as I can't remember. Everytime I visited a friend I had one in my pocket or I felt horrible all evening waiting for the moment when my nose closes!

Try to use a GOOD salt solution spray and preferably with Menthol, (I am not talking about the small ones, they didn't help me. I mean those 150 ml bottles that sprays a good amount in your nose) I tried physiomer. when I let it go in my nose it simply disolved all the stuff inside and let me blow it instead of temoprar opening for the nose, look for ANY good solution that open your nose once without chemical stuff and as long as you use it, it will clean your nose in the right way and after few weeks you will not need it anymore.

Read long version if you have time!

------------------------------------------------------------

Long version

Hello guys,

I post this in hope to help someone..

I was addicted to ortivine for so long that I can't remember! it started with once in a while to once a day to 2 and 3 times a day to stronger nasal sprays because otrivine became not good enough.

My cousine is a Dr. who told me that nasal sprays are addicting because they do open nose temprarly and do close it again! I believe this was kinda right but still didn't know what to do about it. I need it to breath as I am a smoker and not a mouth breather it was very hard to stop it cold turkey!

Every time I went to buy otrivine the pharmacist told me don't use it too much it's addicting! I KNOW!!!! but what can I do???????

OK here's the recipe..

Once I was travelling and on airport I was looking for Salt solution as it usually helped me not to use otrivine more than 3 times a day.. but it was not a good replacement. So the pharinmacist gave me something some big spray instead called (physiomer) not sure about spelling, it was a salt & menthol solution. at first I didn't know how to use it and thought it's another useless thing (believe me I've tried all replacements)..
then 1 day I tried it.. sprayed inside my nose and left it for as long as I could (around a min.) for each nose open and even leaned my head left then right so it goes everywhere (I am not a doctor and don't know if that's right). Then I let the drops go out and this was the first time I could blow stuff out of my nose after YEARS!
And the menthol helped to refresh and open my nose for the moment..

I used it 3 times a day at first.. then 2 times.. then 1 TIME!! and believe it or not.. I haven't used it for more than 2 months now and never even miss it!! I use it once occasionally when my nose is too closed but this is like every 2 weeks or even longer..

It's great to feel normal again, don't take ortivine everytime I visit someone because I am afraid my nose will close their!

I am sure you may not find this physiomer in your country but you will find replacements. (I found it in Egypt, so I'm sure it's available in most of countries)

I really hope this can help because 1 day I thought I could stop smoking, eating & drinking but not nasal sprays!

Please share it or let someone know!
Wish you the best.
Artist
FREE






Posted: September 16, 2014, 2:20 PM
hooked for years quit several years ago suffered being stuffed up headaches for about a month but so glad I quit now I am as good as new p.s. my sister did same as me hard to do but worth it
Former addict






Posted: October 7, 2014, 9:22 AM
Hi all,

I was formerly addicted to Otrivin and I got off. You can too. I even use it for colds now and don't get re-hooked as long as I use it for just a few days.

When breaking the addiction, the worst part is the completely-plugged nose. What I do is just vow to spray one nostril (let's say the left), and stop spraying the other (the right). It is a painful several days, but at least you can breathe through one side and you are now only using half of what you once were. Once the nostril you are not spraying (the right) becomes clear, then you have to stop spraying the other side, too. If you are a heavy user, you may want to wean yourself over the course of a week or so at this stage and use less and less until you use none. Withdrawal symptoms are unavoidable, but it is worth it. You will be so happy when you have freed yourself so just suck it up for the week or two and know that you will feel normal soon and be Otrivin-free. Good luck!
Doctor N






Posted: October 22, 2014, 3:42 PM
Hello guys,

First you need to prepare for the rebound nasal blockage. The receptors in your nose that activate the vasoconstriction that opens your airways wear out. They get fed up with constant stimulation. Also to point out that repeated vasoconstriction reduces blood flow and can cause necrosis of your nasal septum just like cocaine- your nose will fall out like the celebrities you may know about.

To reduce the rebound effect you can switch to a steroid spray for 1-2 weeks for example beconase. This will help keep the swelling down but it does it by reducing inflammation and not vasoconstriction. By this time hopefully you can breath better and the addiction will be. Minimised.

Hope that helps...
Jay






Posted: October 23, 2014, 7:40 AM
Hi, I have had the same addiction for around 15 years and also take nasonex corticosteroid spray which has lessened otravine usage but not completely & definitely not at night. I am coming off the steroid sprays due to other adverse affects to do with my eyes & already I am using otravine a lot more. Over the years I've tried every salt spray going & nothing else works. My question is what do you do when the blocked nose is not just down to the rebound affect but the allergies that caused me to use it in the first place? I've had allergy testing which brought up strong reactions to house dust mite droppings mainly, along with tree pollen and a couple of other things. The Nasonex spray did help a bit but not enough and I can't risk my eyes with the family history I have of Glaucoma, which corticosteroids heighten the risk. I also want to come off both sprays to have a baby but I literally cannot breathe at all without otravine. Even if the weaning with one nostril it any of the above worked, for the rebound addiction, how do I get off it due to needing it for the allergies? Which I can't wean out of getting up my nose & blocking it? I really am desperate. Thank you x
fred






Posted: October 27, 2014, 11:13 PM

I have also been "addicted" to Otrivin in the past. I experienced a very serious rebound effect which required oral steroids to correct. My advice is to see your doctor, they will probably give you an oral steroid med and then prescribe an Aqueous based anti- imflamatory nasal spray. Otrivin should not be an OTC product, it should be available on prescription only. Good Luck.
Henri R.






Posted: December 27, 2014, 9:16 PM
YOU CAN DO IT!

I'm currently 14 and I have been using Otrivin for 2 months. Today (12/27/14) Is my 2nd day of quitting that piece of crap thing. One thing that keeps me from using it throughout my stuffy life is this. 2 years ago in Science class I learned this. ALL ORGANISMS ARE ABLE TO REPAIR THEMSELVES. Since the "rebound effect" of Otrivin is basically a swelling of the nostrils It helps me get through it. I think everyday of this problem being a swelling of my foot and I always say "This swelling will soon be over" And it helps. I haven't got rid of this yet but soon I will. Good Luck everybody and I hope you get rid of this dumb problem soon.
Arun






Posted: December 31, 2014, 6:52 AM
Thank you everyone... I too was on the verge of addiction.. I ve been using this otrivin for a month nd a half ... that I was getting addicted... soo googled about the issue...hence found this page. .. I will never use it again in ma life again....
Neha






Posted: January 3, 2015, 12:28 AM
Hi,

I had the problem of blocked nose since i was a child
And i was always adicted to ortivin but there is a miracle thing called Neti pot.. A saline solution mixed in lukewarm water running through your nostrils. It worked wonders for me. No more blocked nose and abdolutely no ortivin
George






Posted: January 16, 2015, 4:17 PM
I have used Otravine for a very long time and like everyone I have become addicted very difficult to stop using, but by accident I have found a release, as you know nostrels can become sore and mine did so I got a cotton bud and speared it with Savlon and gently rubbed it up into my nostrels and to my amazement it soothed the membranes and reduced the swelling and I was able to breath normal, I am going to continue with this and hope it gives complete relief, time will tell, I hope this can work for all but it might not, but worth a try.
Martin P






Posted: March 4, 2015, 6:22 AM
I am a 56 year old man living in the UK. I have been addicted to this stuff for 10 years but did never classify myself as addicted until I stumbled on this site after a bout of flu. . . Wow! I will never use it again! I used a bottle each week and literally had a bottle in every available cupboard I use and always had a bottle in my pocket. This is pathetic and the sign of a real addict! I knew using it long term was bad but was not aware of how bad!

Last night was the first night in the last 10 years where I went to bed without using the spray, having gone all of yesterday without it I was a mess so in order to help my sleep I used a stick on breath right strip on my nose (like the sports people wear) and put some Obas Oil on my pillow. I slept sort of ok but was very bunged up and congested this morning but now I realise that I have an addiction, I can deal with this in the same way as any other bad habit! I am sure I will sniff and snott through today but I will not give in to this destructive addiction EVER.

Good luck to all you snorters out there. Be strong and get free of it! I will check in later and let you know how I'm doing.

MP
Akshay M






Posted: March 30, 2015, 10:39 AM
Stop having coffee and tamarind right away.
You will see the difference within a month.
Try to avoid citrus stuffs.
I use a mask to avoid allergies due to pollen/dust.

The idea is to detect your allergy and take precaution. Its better than taking drugs.

PS: I still use otrivin but once a week only.
Lovelet Lwakatare






Posted: April 2, 2015, 8:29 AM
Hello All,
A friend brought me Otrivin in my gift package from Denmark. I thought it was a weird gift, I had one spray and in a minute I notice a big difference in the air I inhale. I'm too excited and I feel like spraying more but I'm keeping myself away so that I don't get addicted.
Michelle






Posted: May 8, 2015, 9:58 AM
Hi fellow sufferers, I have been using Otravine for the past 25 years. I started using it during a cold and was hooked. I have tried many times to stop using but as you all know, it’s not easy. I have tried saline rinses, steroid sprays, seen doctors and specialists, all to no avail. Symptoms were previously constricted nasal passages but about 3 years ago, I developed sinusitis which resulted in mucus filled sinuses.

For the last year I have been diluting the Otravine with cooled boiled water. I dilute a new bottle so that the bottle is completely full. Beware if you do this as you don’t need to squeeze the bottle very much when using. Although, I’m using less, I’m still far from cured.

Last week, I was determined to quit, here’s what I’ve been doing for the last week. I take Sudafed during the day – 60mg Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride. This is the best oral decongestant, any other oral decongestant containing Phenylephrine is not effective, don’t even bother wasting your money. In the UK, chemists will limit you to 1 pack of these at a time. These tablets are non-drowsy, so don’t take these up to 4 hours before bedtime. I take Actifed before I go to bed. These contain the same drug but have another ingredient in them which makes you sleepy. They are very good and if I wake during the night, my nose is clear enough to get back to sleep. 10 days in, I am taking 2 – 3 Sudafed tablets a day and 1 Actifed at bedtime. I still have 1 snort of very diluted Otravine an hour before bed.

It’s a bit of a pain buying the Pseudoephedrine in bulk, apparently this drug is illegally used to make something nasty. My local chemist suggested visiting the doctor to get it on prescription but I have managed to get a couple of weeks’ worth. My chemist told me that Pseudoephedrine is safe to take long term (hoping it won’t be too long!) and there are no rebound effects.

I have also cut down massively on dairy products which I believe has helped. Lactose apparently causes the body to produce excessive mucus.

I am expecting to probably carry on this way for another couple of weeks but hopefully I will be aiming to be cured soon. Fingers crossed!!

Michelle
anusuya






Posted: May 10, 2015, 11:50 PM
OMG I am so glad I found this group.

I started with Otrivin more frequently in the last year, after moving countries, to Shanghai. I have been blaming the pollution and bad air BUT I realise I cannot go on using Otrivin (without it I can't breathe). I use it once before going to bed at night, some days I need to use it twice (or more). I've been consciously trying my best to not have to use it, but sleeping becomes the biggest worry. I can't afford to have a bad night's sleep as that ruins my day at work. Other nasal sprays (saline, steroid) haven't really worked. Steam inhalation has been useless.

Working toward reducing usage, and I really want to go off it, be able to travel without Otrivin and live peacefully. Really have taken a normally functioning nose for granted for too long for having gotten into this situation. :(
surender@eaglemovies.com






Posted: June 13, 2015, 10:51 AM
Hi every one i m using OTRIVINE since last 20 years not regularly but quite often but since last year i fell to addiction of this without this i can not sleep ,causing huge problem and embarrassment while travelling , one of my friend suggested me to do do PRANAYAAM a kind of breathing yoga, now after one month i feel relieved of this addiction,other step is to use only in one nostril which is more blocked, IT WORKS
Keira






Posted: August 23, 2015, 7:26 PM
My husband used Otriven for over 10 years every night. He didn't have to use it any more once he got off gluten ...
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