How harmful is it to use nose spray every night?

Question

My apartment has a really old heating system that has vents on the floors. The heat is really dry, so when I wake up each morning, my nose is all stuffy and I feel really gross. A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that if I use a no-drip nose spray with a little Vick's vapor rub under my nose, when I wake up, I am clear! So, for about 2 weeks now, it is my nightly routine. I only put about a half-squirt in each side. It says on the bottle not to use more than a few days, but you know how it is, they are required to give certain warnings whether or not it is really harmful. What do you think?

Answer 1

Stop using the nose spray - it will stop being effective for you and you'll need to use more and more, and it will eventually damage the membranes in your nose. Nasal sprays are decongestants, and work by reducing the swelling. They should only be used temporarily, when you have a cold.

Instead, use a saline spray (I like Simply Saline - the container is easy to use) - it works by adding moisture to your sinus and nasal passages. You can also add moisture to the air through a humidifier. Even easier (and cheaper and quieter), just put an open container of water (something heavy with a wide base so it won't tip easily) in your room. Evaporation will do the rest. Be sure to refill it frequently. In addition to helping with the nose problem, it's good for your furniture and the house - dry heat sucks the moisture out of everything, including wood and plaster or sheetrock. That's why furniture starts to pull apart and you get cracks in walls.

(And by the way, if they're required to post these warnings, it's because there really IS a danger. Same goes for excessive use of Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Advil (ibuprofen), among many other over the counter drugs. If there's a warning, there's a reason for it.)

Answer 2

Over use of these sprays can be harmful, and also they become addictive.
Yes sounds odd, but the more you use, the more the sprays stimulate the hair follicules up you nose, and thus you need to re spray. They are designed to do that to keep you on a string and purchase.
However the best ones are saline, and they do not have same effect , although anything overused isn,t good.
Have you tried a little eucalytus oil on a cotton ball, inside the corner of your pillow case.
Or T tree oil, that is as good.
Also you can use nasal irregators that you buy, very good for sinus etc, but must not overuse.

But for night time stuffiness, I would do the cotton ball with the oil.
Or do a steam basin with the oil, fill bowl with boiling water, add 2-3 drops of the oils into the bowl, cover head with towel and place head and face over the bowl, inhaling the steam, for approx 10 mins, being very careful not to spill of course, wash face and dry well go to bed.. still do the cotton ball thing it does help.
Menthol lollies or airwaves= eclipse chewing gum also assists with clearing the nose and sinuses.

Answer 3

You can buy saline nose spray and it will help some and is not addictive or bad for you. Believe me, the nose spray like you are using is addictive and then it will get to where you can't breathe through your nose without taking a hit every few hours. Go buy a cool mist humidifier at Walmart or a drug store. Keep it in your bedroom and use it while the heat is on. It puts moisture in the air and it will really help. The Vicks under your nose is okay.

Answer 4

There is a reason for that warning label. Those can be addictive. Not like street drugs where you go nutty if you don't get them, but several things will happen. First, you will come to not be able to breathe right without it. Your nose will become irritated. Together, your nose will open when you take the drops, then become inflamed from prolonged use, causing you to need to use them forever until you break the cycle. Breaking the cycle is hard because you are talking about trying to breathe with a nose that is inflamed/closed from overuse of drops. I avoid nose drops all the time. Stick to the vicks if you need it, get a humidifier going before bedtime! At worst, consider heating the house, then lowering it before bed and using more blankets.

Answer 5

i have a lot of sinus problems, and have been sick with this stopped up head stuff that is going around. Get you a old empty sinus spray bottle
put (a lot of table salt) in the bottle mix warm water in with it. two or three sprays in each side a day really Will help.the salt water will be good teal you use it up. then just put more salt in an re feel i ask the Dr. about doing this he said do it. it works well. Also Little triple antibiotic ointment i buy equate brand at Wall-mart will help your nose from being so dry feeling. give it a try it helps

Answer 6

Vicks Nose Drops

Answer 7

katty, dont use it no more then what the directions say, because it can become habit forming, and u will have to use it all the time. i would suggest using, a hudmidifer, keep using the vicks vapor rub, and try using the vicks by puting a tablespoonful of vicks in hot water put atowel over ur head, pur head over the hot water and breath it in for about 5 minutes. DONT USE SCALDING WATER OR U WILL GET BURNT. just hot enought to be able to breath it in. the things can get u through the stuffy times. god bless

Answer 8

I use a vaporizer sometimes when I need to. You can use certain types of nasal spray everyday and some types are addictive and should only be used for a couple of days. Ask your pharmacist which kind to use on a daily basis.

Answer 9

The manufacturer has warned means you will have to follow, don't listen other advice.
Take a small rubber dropper and slowly pump two to three ml warm water + salt mixture in nostrils one by one. It will clear your nose.
Warm water at night time may help you.
Warm water + salt mixture used for gargling at morning will help you.

Answer 10

Your body can become accustomed to using the spray everynight. Your better off investing in a room humidifier and you could close your vent halfway. Thats what I have to do, and it works fine.