How long do you have to endure to get rid of the drops. Addiction to nasal drops: why it develops and how to get rid of it

differing in etiology and pathogenesis. The type of rhinitis that is no less common today is drug-induced, caused by the uncontrolled use of vasoconstrictor drops.

Exceeding the recommended doses causes addiction to nasal drops. How to get rid of drug dependence and tolerance to drugs is a very topical issue. After all, the process of weaning from a habit can take a long time, and untimely measures taken can result in serious complications.

Why do people get addicted to nose drops?

Most patients consider vasoconstrictor drugs to be a panacea for the common cold, self-medicate and gradually increase the dosage to achieve a faster result.

At first glance, an easy treatment process can lead to significant dysfunction of the nasal mucosa and the development of side effects: frequent attacks of headache, gestational hypertension, sleep disorder, depression.

Nasal drops belong to the group of adrenergic receptor agonists, that have a stimulating effect on adrenoreceptors in the walls of blood vessels, causing narrowing of the latter. Adrenergic stimulation of medicinal products alters the secretion of muconasal secretion.

The action of drugs of the vasoconstrictor group is aimed at removing swelling of the mucous membrane, reducing the amount of mucus and facilitating nasal breathing. In other words, nose drops do not have a direct effect on the cause of the disease, but only eliminate the symptoms manifested.

Important! Untimely treatment of drug-induced rhinitis threatens with pathological changes in the nasal mucosa, which may require surgical intervention to restore its functioning.

After prolonged use of nasal drops, vasomotor rhinitis may develop

Therapeutic regimen involves the use of vasoconstrictor drugs for no more than 3-5 days, since longer use causes tolerance to the drug (addiction of the body to the active substances).

Uncontrolled nasal instillation gives the opposite effect- decreased vascular tone, mucosal atrophy, shortness of breath and absolute dependence on vasoconstrictor drops.

In this case, the problem cannot be solved by completely eliminating the pharmacological product, independent actions do not always allow eliminating addiction to nose drops. What to do to alleviate the condition, the doctor will advise, having studied in detail the patient's history and the pharmacokinetics of the drug used.

How to treat addiction to nose drops

The immediate responsibility of the attending specialist is to determine the etiology of the disease and conduct an examination of the mucosa, paranasal sinuses and nasal septum. After a thorough diagnosis, a treatment regimen is selected taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient.

In practice, a conservative method of therapy is chosen, in exceptional cases there is a need for radical measures (surgical intervention).

Necessary actions to alleviate the condition

If the nose is accustomed to drops, it is first necessary to minimize the concentration of the drug and reduce the number of its applications. For this you need:

• increase the interval between instillation of the nose;
• reduce the dosage of the drug every day (ideally, drip your nose just before bedtime);
• if possible, dilute the pharmacological product with boiled water before use.

Important develop the habit of not resorting to drops at the first sign of nasal congestion. Alternative methods will help make breathing easier - indoors, outdoor walks in the warm season.

The doctor may suggest drug replacement method. There are four types of vasoconstrictor drops with different active ingredients: phenylephrine, naphazoline, xylometazoline and oxymetazoline.

Persistent nasal congestion with drug-induced rhinitis causes a person to use nasal drops uncontrollably

For example, if addiction was caused by phenylephrine, a drug based on another active substance from the above types is prescribed.

If this method did not give positive dynamics, the therapeutic regimen includes drugs based on synthetic hormones, similar to biologically active substances produced by the adrenal glands in the human body.

The amount of single or total application, as well as the duration of therapy calculated based on the age of the patient and the severity of drug-induced rhinitis.

Nasal lavage

Sanitation of the nasal cavity refers to procedures that have received approval among physicians. This manipulation does not require certain skills and is easily carried out at home.

The most common way- the use of a saline solution, both prepared independently and purchased at a pharmacy ("", "", etc.).

Using this method allows you to restore the normal functioning of the nasal mucosa - eliminate, reduce the viscosity and amount of mucus, and make breathing easier.

For self-preparation of the solution necessary third part 1 tsp dissolve sea salt in 250 ml. water brought to a boil. Cool to an acceptable temperature (36 degrees) and proceed to washing.

Important! Salt has an antiseptic effect. It is necessary to adhere to the recommended dosage when preparing the solution, since an increased amount of salt can lead to overdrying of the mucosa.

Products purchased at the pharmacy will facilitate the washing procedure. Pharmacological products are equipped with special anatomical nozzles, and the solution is supplied under pressure, which allows you to irrigate the mucous membrane as much as possible.

Non-traditional methods of therapy

Among the most effective ways of folk therapy in the treatment of medical rhinitis, it is worth highlighting the following recipes:

1. Healing drops. For preparation, it is necessary to mix aloe juice, honey and sea buckthorn oil in equal proportions. Use three times a day, on 2-3 drops into each nasal passage.
2. Steam baths with essential oils. When used properly, tea tree essential oil can be an indispensable tool in the treatment. Due to the regenerating, antiseptic effect, it has a positive effect on the mucous membrane. To prepare a steam bath in 1 l. water, brought to a boil to dissolve a few drops of oil ethers.
3. No less effective oil. You can also use the leaves of the plant. For inhalation it is necessary 3 art. l. leaves boil for 10 minutes over low heat in 500 ml. water. Let the mixture cool down a little and start steam inhalation. The duration of the procedure should not exceed more than 15 minutes. daily rate - 2 times, in the morning and before bed.

Complex therapy (medication and folk remedies) gives a positive trend

1. Turundas with boromenthol ointment. Ointment-soaked turundas are inserted into each nasal passage for 15-20 minutes. Duration of treatment - one to two weeks.
2. Medicinal infusions. Salt solution for washing can be replaced with prepared infusion of medicinal herbs. The most optimal combination of medicinal raw materials: chamomile + calendula + sage ( 2 tbsp. l.). Pour the herbal mixture 500 ml. water brought to a boil, leave for 60 minutes and strain. Use 3-4 times a day for 10 days.
3. You can ease nasal breathing with a mustard foot bath.

Physiotherapy procedures

Physiotherapy helps to significantly alleviate the patient's condition. The most effective procedures in the treatment of medical rhinitis:

• electrophoresis. This method allows you to remove the swelling of the mucosa, accelerate tissue regeneration, activate the body's immune defenses. The principle of electrophoresis is based on the simultaneous action of electrical impulses and the introduction of drugs through the nasal mucosa;
• phonophoresis, acts on the mucous membrane by high-frequency sound waves, which makes it possible to enhance the effectiveness of medicines and speed up the healing process;
• ultrahigh frequency therapy(influence by high-frequency electromagnetic field). Promotes the restoration of cellular respiration, regenerates the mucosa, reduces swelling, stimulates blood circulation and the immune defense of the body;
• acupressure(acupressure), effectively localizes the symptoms, restores nasal breathing, eliminates swelling. A fairly simple procedure that does not require the use of drugs. You can do it at home as it doesn't require any special skills.

Important! Folk remedies are powerful allergens, before using which it is necessary to conduct an allergy test.

Conclusion

Having considered possible ways to wean from nasal drops, it is worth noting that the patient needs to tune in for a long time of treatment. A positive psychological attitude, and following the recommendations of the attending physician will allow you to get rid of addiction with minimal damage to the body.

The main consequence of the treatment of colds is addiction to drops. How to get rid of the constant use of dangerous drugs? This question becomes almost the main one when the state of health worsens. When there is a strong dependence on drugs, additional unpleasant complications appear.

What helps in the early stages?

Regular use of vasoconstrictors is addictive. How to get rid of it? Only a complete exclusion of drugs will not solve the problem. An addicted person develops a physical weakness of the muscular part of the face, blocking the gaps. In the initial months of using the drugs, a slight addiction to nasal drops develops. How to get rid of early? It is enough to switch to natural remedies. For example, you can do inhalations with soda. And a solution prepared on its basis (2 teaspoons of water and soda on the tip of a knife) is instilled into the nose.

In addition, with the first congestion, ordinary physical activity helps. Further unwillingness to engage in health destroys the mucous membrane even in absolutely healthy people. After using drugs for a year, professional athletes become highly addicted to nose drops, they no longer know how to get rid of them on their own. You have to resort to clinical methods of therapy in a hospital.

Is it possible to return a clean mucosa in a natural way?

If you are addicted to nose drops, how to get rid of? Folk remedies help in most cases. An exception is a complication when a person thoughtlessly uses Naphthyzin. The drug modifies the mucosa irrevocably, it atrophies. Doctors when describing this condition use the word "burnt."

After all, the constituent substances of the drug destroy the surface layer of the nose and larynx. To eliminate problems, an operative method of treatment is already being used. Shells are cut or punctured, which leads to unpleasant consequences. Scarring of tissues reminds of itself with pain.

Unforeseen events often occur during a puncture. The walls of the skull are thin, and an inexperienced surgeon touches neighboring sections, which provokes complications in the visual or auditory organ. It is better to first carry out therapy with natural substances if the inflammation has not passed into a critical phase.

Complications from the use of vasoconstrictor drugs

When you have already become addicted to nose drops, the consequences will not be long in coming:

1. Constant moisture in the nose causes the development of the fungus and the reproduction of pathogens.
2. More dangerous infections easily enter the body.
3. From the constant exposure to certain drugs, the nasal septum is deformed. The longer a person continues to drip, the more pronounced is the displacement of cartilage tissue.
4. The vasoconstrictor substance affects all internal organs: the brain, heart, digestive system, reproductive system.
5. The supply of oxygen and useful components to the tissues of the body is deteriorating.
6. Drops are strictly contraindicated for pregnant women. A direct effect of drugs on the developing body of the unborn child was noted.

Also, after getting used to, the sense of smell can become dull, when a person does not distinguish between the previous smells. Rhinitis is accompanied by severe swelling of the nose. It also creates discomfort for the work of the visual and auditory organs.

What are the signs of drug addiction?

It is easy to notice addiction to drops in the nose. Symptoms of addiction are easily identified by loved ones. After all, every time a person begins to look for a treasured jar with a remedy, they note the appearance of nervousness. Blocked air passages even interfere with speaking. The behavior is changing fundamentally. The main role is played by psychological habit in an effort to alleviate well-being. The addict tries to remove any discomfort in the nose with drops. The more often he turns to a pharmacy for help, the stronger the craving for the cherished bottle.

Uncomfortable conditions begin to appear from the drugs: burning, dryness of the mucous membrane, variable nasal congestion. The gap between instillations is getting smaller. There comes a time when the remedy ceases to help at all.

Runny nose and vasoconstrictors

Runny nose and its treatment are the reasons that a person develops addiction to nasal drops. How to get rid? Komarovsky says that it is necessary to give the child a breath of essential oils that will help get rid of congestion. For example, eucalyptus or coniferous tree. The doctor also highlights a direct dependence on a simple trip to the pharmacy for a suitable remedy and the further use of drugs for any occasion.

So, in the process of treatment, people believe that medications help get rid of mucus. However, in the annotations to medicines it is not written that there is no therapeutic effect. The chemical acts only on muscle tissue, expanding the lumen of the airways. To get rid of bacteria will have additional measures.

It helps to wash the nose, the use of other drugs that complement the list of side effects. So, "Sanorin" is often used to treat the common cold. He lays his nose well. But in combination with xylometazoline, which is part of vasoconstrictor drugs, it creates a toxic mixture that affects the mucous membrane. Symptoms get worse over time, and breathing does not become free.

What to do?

If addiction to nose drops has formed, how to get rid of addiction in a child? An otolaryngologist will help you with this. Children are generally not recommended to give chemical vasoconstrictors. You can remove the swelling by daily washing the cavities with sea salt. Apply "Avamys", a convenient tool Dolphin. Adults can try hormonal drugs, but it is better to choose them in consultation with the doctor. So, long-term use of the drug "Avamys" helps in several directions at once:

• relieves puffiness;
• removes the consequences of the destroyed mucosa;
• moisturizes the nasal cavity;
• restores the natural structure of the fabric, due to the natural substances used in the composition;
• eliminates congestion;
• has no side effects even during pregnancy.

To "Avamis" also develops addiction. It is not recommended to use it for more than two months. Therapy is combined with the use of antiallergic drugs. A stable reaction is formed on the substances contained in rhinitis preparations, which must be extinguished by long-term treatment. When the situation improves, they generally refuse any kind of vasoconstrictor. Additional positive measures in the fight for clean breathing are physiotherapy on medical devices. Climate change also has a beneficial effect on the condition of the nasal mucosa.

Backlash

Vasoconstrictors do not cure, but only help to free the passages from accumulated mucus. But they cause tangible harm - diseases of the circulatory system develop. In addition, deterioration in the work of the heart, the formation of thrombosis, memory loss are observed. Replacing the drops does not solve the problem, only leads to additional side effects. At first, a person notices an improvement in well-being, but only due to the subsidence of the allergic component. It is recommended to switch to natural products without the use of chemicals. Homeopathic medicines are suitable due to minimal side effects.

Operational ways to help

Medicamentous methods did not help to remove addiction to drops in the nose? How to get rid? The operation can be a radical means of solving congestion problems. Mechanical intervention in soft tissues helps to deceive the body and makes the respiratory system work as before. There are several modern surgical methods:

1. The laser cauterizes the broken mucosa. There are contact, superficial and submucosal methods of removal.
2. Cryotherapy uses the effect of tissue freezing.
3. Septoplasty - submucosal vasotomy under anesthesia.
4. Turbinoplasty is a reduction in the volume of the turbinates. Both the cartilage and the skull bone itself are corrected to give natural forms.

The main problem in women is addiction to nose drops: how to get rid of addiction during pregnancy? After all, xylometazoline is banned, and other means do not help improve breathing. Harm comes from both drugs and blocked airways.

Pregnancy and vasoconstrictors

Hormonal drugs are not at all suitable at the beginning of pregnancy. From congestion, you can use natural substances. Apply eucalyptus oil, onion infusion, warm salt and sand compresses. Electrophoresis or phonophoresis helps. Folk methods of dealing with a hot warm egg are noted, applied to the sinuses through a towel, drops of the home plant Kolanchoe.

Useful for the nose combined with warming the body with mustard and hot water. The legs are kept for more than 20 minutes, after which they are wrapped in warm woolen socks for at least two hours. Physical activity helps to maintain immunity and does not allow blood to stagnate in the body. Outdoor running is often the only non-surgical means of releasing a person from addiction in one month of training.

With a crooked septum, rhinitis is inevitable. Therefore, in order to finally defeat a runny nose, it will be necessary to return the previous forms of the nose in an operative way. Modern methods of plastic surgery make the procedure painless. After two weeks of restoration of cartilage tissue, it will be possible to forget about congestion.

Getting used to nasal drops is a frequent occurrence, since there is no desire to constantly feel nasal congestion. For this reason, many medicines recommended by the pharmacist are constantly available in the home medicine cabinet and are used for the initial signs of rhinitis.

However, few follow the instructions for the drug and violate the dosage, frequency and recommended duration of use, which is usually 3-7 days (the period is determined depending on the main active ingredient). Long-term use of vasoconstrictor drops can harm the human body, therefore, the instructions for the use of the formulations must always be followed. Be sure to read this article to the end to find out everything about dependence on vasoconstrictor drops.

Main reasons

Such neglect of the basics of the use of vasoconstrictor drugs leads to addiction or to the development of drug-induced rhinitis. The problem is common among all age groups and is often diagnosed in children, as parents often control the child's treatment.

Attention! The mechanism for the development of this disorder is simple. In the normal state, the vascular tone of the nasal canals is calibrated by the body. However, during the progression of the inflammatory process, blood plasma penetrates into the space between cells and leads to edema on the mucous membranes.

The video in this article will acquaint patients with the main causes of addiction.

Vasoconstrictor drugs have a number of substances that contribute to the narrowing of blood vessels and eliminate swelling and allow you to restore normal nasal breathing. In this case, only a symptom is eliminated - a runny nose, and the causes of rhinitis remain.

With prolonged use of such medications, the body's natural ability to control vascular tone is weakened to a minimum, and without repeated doses, they expand again.

This becomes the reason for repeated instillation of the medication. A habit is formed from this, and it is not easy to restore the body's natural vasoconstrictor mechanism. The harm of vasoconstrictor drops is pronounced, which is why it is necessary to pay attention to the timely diagnosis of drug-induced rhinitis.

addiction symptoms

The main symptom is an incessant runny nose and the need for constant reuse of drops, since without them nasal breathing is impossible.

In addition, patients experience headaches that gradually become migraine-like. During the examination of the nasal passages, swelling is observed, which is interspersed with hyperemic areas.

From other types (vasomotor, allergic), this rhinitis differs in the duration of the course and dependence on drops. This type of disease is not associated with the season and the presence of allergens in the air. Most often, pathology is formed in adults.

How to understand that this is a disease?

It can be difficult to detect dependence on vasoconstrictor drops, since the patient at the initial stage may not pay attention to exceeding the permissible doses and frequency of use.

Automatically, the patient uses a dose of 1-3 drops of the drug more than is permissible or resorts to the drug more often than expected, involuntarily shortening the interval.

Based on this, the key signs of developing dependence on nasal vasoconstrictor drops can be identified:

1. A single dose prescribed in the instructions for the drug is not able to facilitate nasal breathing - congestion persists.
2. The drug is used for a longer period than the maximum recommended (more than 7 days).
3. The patient is not able to go somewhere without medication - the medicine is always with the person.
4. If the drug is not available for some reason, the patient becomes anxious.
5. The patient uses the medicine reflexively - instillation occurs at the first sign of difficulty breathing.

Many patients may be dependent on nasal preparations for many years and do not seek medical help from specialized specialists. At the same time, any attempts to get rid of the problem do not become successful. The consequences of such an attitude can be negative.

With prolonged neglect of the resulting dependence on the nasal drug, drug-induced rhinitis may have the following manifestations:

1. Dryness and swelling of the mucous membranes of the nasal passages.
2. Spontaneous occurrence of localized bleeding.
3. The occurrence of intense headaches, which can become regular.
4. Constant feeling of itching and tingling in the mucous membranes of the nose.
5. Increased tearing and frequent sneezing.
6. Partial (hyposmia) or total (anosmia) loss of smell.

If you experience such symptoms, you need to consult with your doctor, who will select the best tactics for getting rid of the common cold. Also, with its minor manifestations, it is possible to try to get rid of this type of rhinitis on your own.

How to get rid of addiction?

It is possible to solve the problem of naphthyzinic addiction on your own only in its early stages. Action can only be done with the help of willpower. How to wean from vasoconstrictor drops, the doctor will tell the patient.

There are 3 main options for getting rid of this problem:

• abrupt rejection;
• gradual failure;
• drug replacement.

The first option requires serious volitional efforts from the patient and is most effective for mild dependence. In such a situation, it is enough for a person to wait a few days until the addiction of the mucosa to the drug disappears.

However, the mucosa restores its natural ability to contract only after 10-15 days, but improvements are noticeable on days 2-5.

Attention! Gradual withdrawal consists in a slow increase in the intervals between the use of a nasal remedy and a gradual decrease in the usual dose of the drug. Often, the usual drug is used for children or diluted with saline. If it becomes necessary to use the full dose, it is allowed to instill the drug into 1 nasal canal at night. This will facilitate nasal breathing, while the mucosa of the second nasal passage will continue to recover.

Replacing the drug involves switching to funds with a completely different main active ingredient. At the same time, such a transition must be combined with the use of homeopathic preparations and the performance of inhalations. This option has many subtleties, so getting rid of addiction is required under the supervision of an otolaryngologist.

Important! Inhalations and homeopathic remedies can enhance the positive effect and bring addiction recovery closer when choosing any of the methods. But the specialist is obliged to determine the necessary concomitant funds.

The method is required to determine the outcome from the personal preferences of the patient and his personal qualities. However, first of all, a person must be convinced of the need to get rid of Naphthyzinum addiction.

Regardless of the method, a number of rules must be observed:

At the same time, it is required not to avoid moderate physical activity and to observe a normal sleep / wakefulness regimen (sleep at least 8 hours at night).

Folk methods of struggle

Alternative methods can bring only temporary relief and help smooth the transition from the usual nasal preparation and its daily use to normal life. There are 2 relatively harmless recipes that will not cause harm in the absence of an allergic reaction from the body.

It is required to take an aloe leaf, whose age is from 3 years. It is required to squeeze the juice out of it and dilute in purified water in the proportion of 1 share of juice to 2 shares of water. This composition is required to drip into the nose daily during the period of resolving the issue of dependence, 3-4 times a day. The dosage is 4-5 drops.

Natural liquid bee honey is needed, which is mixed with purified water in a ratio of 1:1. The resulting product is used every 6-8 hours, instilling 4-5 drops.

Conservative and operational methods of struggle

If independent attempts fail for 2-4 weeks, you need to contact an ENT specialist.

He will select the best treatment option, which may include the following measures:

1. The use of local corticosteroids - they are characterized by the opposite effect. Flixonase, Nasonex, Avamys are more often used. Baconase.
2. Physiotherapy procedures - restore blood flow in damaged areas of the mucous membranes. More often - electrophoresis.
3. Surgery (vasotomy) is the last option when other methods have shown their failure.

Vasotomy may involve the removal of part of the damaged mucous membranes, performed with a scalpel or minimally invasive methods, the main ones being the following:

• laser vaporization;
• vacuum resection;
• radiocoagulation;
• ultrasonic disintegration.

Vacuum resection and ultrasonic disintegration are the most sparing methods due to the short rehabilitation period compared to traditional resection. In some cases, a septoplasty is performed along with the operation, during which the nasal septum is aligned.

Restoration of the mucosa after surgery

After surgery, to restore the nasal mucosa, it is enough to wash the nasal cavity with weak saline solutions for 2 weeks and lubricate the damaged areas with natural sea buckthorn or peach oils.

Regardless of the option to get rid of the problem, even if there was no intervention from the surgeon, it is required to restore the mucous membranes.

This can be done using the following tools:

• Tuya-GF;
• Pinosol;
• Delufen;
• Malawit-Rino;
• Euphorbium compositum.

At the same time, do not neglect natural oils that will complement oil-based preparations.

Dependence on drops during pregnancy

Vasoconstrictor nasal preparations are not recommended during the gestation period. However, nasal congestion and the impossibility of normal nasal breathing can cause oxygen starvation in the mother's organs and in the child. Therefore, during pregnancy, it is required to treat a runny nose, but a specialist should select the drug.

If the pregnant woman has previously used addictive nasal drops on her own, and the drug-induced rhinitis is at the initial stage, the otolaryngologist will most likely recommend a sharp withdrawal or a gradual withdrawal.

Attention! In severe forms of addiction to nasal preparations, there is a possibility of continuing to use the usual remedy until the moment of delivery.

List of nasal drops that do not provoke dependence

All nasal vasoconstrictor medications are addictive.

But, there are no less effective drugs that do not lead to addiction, they relieve congestion, nasal infections and strengthen local immunity:

1. Spray with interferon enhances immunity and increases resistance to ARVI-group viruses. The most popular are Ergoferon, Nazoferon. The price of the funds is affordable, the advantage is the lack of addiction.
2. Pinosol (a herbal preparation is shown in the photo) is an oil-based remedy that relieves congestion.
3. Weak salt solutions - clean the nasal canals, remove accumulated mucus, moisturize the mucous membranes. The most popular options are saline, No-salt, Humer.

How to refuse vasoconstrictor drugs is already known, but patients should remember that it is possible to alleviate the condition in the event of a runny nose without the use of potent medications, leading to dependence on them and provoking the onset of difficult to stop rhinitis.

When we have a runny nose, we are ready to do anything to get rid of it as soon as possible. We buy a bunch of drugs (drops, sprays) and start self-treatment. Well, yes, do not go to the doctor because of a common cold, right? However, nose drops should be used with a runny nose correctly, strictly observing the dosage. And yet, some patients do everything at their own peril and risk: they bury their nose more often than they should, exceed the dosage, use several drugs of the same type at once, etc. As a result, there is an addiction to drops in the nose. And here is the paradox: although the runny nose recedes at first, but soon returns again, swelling appears, the nose is blocked, and without these nasal miracle drops it is generally impossible to live.

In medicine, this dependence is called drug rhinitis. This condition occurs when drugs are used incorrectly. Not without reason in the packaging of each drug there is an instruction with a separate paragraph on the dosage in it. Nasal drops narrow the walls of blood vessels, but if they are used excessively, the nasal mucosa begins to die. As a result of this, the effect of taking drops becomes short-term, and the consequences are serious: drug dependence occurs. It turns out that they treated the usual runny nose, but got swelling, nasal congestion, addiction to drops, but the runny nose never went away.

To get rid of addiction to drops in the nose, you should use the following tips:

• Stop taking nasal drops that you have been using for a long time. The body, probably, has long been accustomed to them and reacts to them, at best, like water. Simply put, these drops are no longer your runny nose. It makes sense to try others, but use them no more than twice a day, otherwise a new addiction will arise.
• Another option is to decrease the dosage. If you used to bury your nose 4-5 times a day, then try limiting yourself to just 1 time at night, and at other times try other ways to treat a runny nose. Medication habituation can be reduced by reducing the amount of medication you send up your nose. In this case, you can bury your nose 2 times a day, but only a drop at a time. Your task is to constantly reduce the number of instillations and the amount of medicine for each instillation.
• The next way is to look for an alternative medicine. As soon as the snot runs, you immediately reach for the nasal drops. But for the treatment of a runny nose, there are a number of other methods and techniques, ranging from instillation of honey, onions, foot baths with mustard and other grandmother's secrets to walks under the moon in the fresh air and procedures with an inhaler. You can buy sea salt at the pharmacy and wash your nose with it. You can also heat ordinary salt, put it in a bag and apply it to your nose - you get the heating of the sinuses. In general, there are a lot of options. It is clear that using drops is fast and convenient, but if addiction has arisen, you will have to tinker with finding other methods of treatment.
• Or maybe your runny nose is allergic? Then ordinary nasal drops will be ineffective, antihistamines are needed here. But first, go to the allergist, because you need to identify the allergen.

So, we found out a number of ways to treat addiction to nasal drops. But if such dependence has not passed within 2 weeks, then it is time to consult a doctor, otherwise the condition may turn into chronic rhinitis - snot will run from every sneeze of others. The treatment of the common cold will also become chronic.

Some people simply do not know which doctor to go to with such a problem. Everything is simple here: an otolaryngologist deals with diseases of the nose, he is also an ENT doctor, he is also an ear-nose-throat. A runny nose appeared in the form of an allergy to poplar fluff, cat hair or another allergen - contact an allergist.

Often, with a severe runny nose, many of us use vasoconstrictor drops so often that we ourselves do not notice how such a habit develops into a real drug addiction. How do you get rid of nasal drops?

Complex therapy methods allow coping with dependence on topical anticongestants (vasoconstrictor drops). As part of the conservative treatment of drug-induced rhinitis, anti-inflammatory and decongestant drugs are used, general stimulating sanitizing procedures, as well as physiotherapeutic methods - laser therapy, acupuncture, electrophoresis, etc. The irrational use of anticongestants often causes the development of uncontrolled vasodilation - excessive relaxation of the muscle fibers in the walls of the arterioles that permeate the nasopharynx.

Violation of vascular tone leads to swelling of the nasal mucosa and, as a result, the development of drug-induced rhinitis. Treatment of non-started forms of the disease is carried out with the help of drugs and physiotherapy procedures. With atrophic and hypertrophic changes in the tissues of the nasopharynx, surgical methods of therapy are used - conchotomy, cryotherapy, etc.

Why does addiction occur?

How to get rid of addiction to nose drops? Before answering this question, we need to find out why decongestants are addictive. With a runny nose, most people are limited to the use of vasoconstrictor aerosols or drops. They contain substances (adrenaline receptor stimulants) that cause the arterioles in the nasopharynx to narrow. The reasons for the development of drug rhinitis lie in the long-term use of anticongestants.

The abuse of vasoconstrictors entails the development of tachyphylaxis - a rapid decrease in the response to the action of the drug after its use. To remove puffiness, a person is forced to constantly increase the dose of applied drops. All nasal anticongestants belong to the group of vasoconstrictors, i.e. substances that affect the work of adrenaline receptors, which are located in the walls of blood vessels.

The systematic use of decongestants sooner or later leads to the appearance of the "rebound" effect. Rejection of vasoconstrictors activates compensatory mechanisms, during which the body tries to restore normal blood supply to the tissues in the nasal cavity. This is expressed in the expansion of blood vessels and increased production of nasal secretions.

The irrational use of anticongestants is fraught with hyperplasia (enlargement) of the mucous membranes and glands that produce nasal secretions.

If you do not stop using decongestants within 7 days, this will lead to drug rhinitis, the development of which is based on vasodilation. It is quite difficult to cure addiction, since the rejection of vasoconstrictor drugs negatively affects a person’s well-being - there is a constant nasal congestion, abundant clear discharge, sneezing, etc.

Is it possible to give up the habit of dripping decongestants in the nose on my own? It is possible to get rid of "drip" dependence without the participation of an otolaryngologist only at the initial stages of its development. If vasoconstrictor drugs have been used for years, most likely, it will be possible to eliminate the manifestations of drug rhinitis only through physiotherapy and surgical intervention.

There are several ways to get rid of addiction:

• Sharp rejection. If you have been using vasoconstrictor medications for a relatively short time, a sharp rejection of the drugs will help to cope with the problem. As a rule, the “rebound” effect persists for several days, after which the vascular tone is restored, and the runny nose goes away by itself;
• Gradual withdrawal. Get rid of chronic dependence gradually, deliberately increasing the intervals between the use of anticongestants. To reduce the concentration of substances in the drug, it is recommended to dilute it with saline or mineral water;
• Drug replacement. The most dangerous are anticongestants, which contain xylometazoline. To get rid of the "drip" dependence as soon as possible, it is recommended to replace the drug with drops, which include phenylephrine or naphazoline. After 1-2 weeks, it is recommended to switch to homeopathic nasal preparations, as well as hypertonic solutions for washing the nasopharynx.

Vitamins C, B5, P and E help strengthen the walls of blood vessels and eliminate swelling in the nasal passages.

You can independently treat dependence on drops with the help of drugs that increase vascular tone - Dihydroquercetin, Ascorutin, Cavinton. With their help, it will be possible to eliminate vasodilation and, as a result, manifestations of drug-induced rhinitis.

Medical treatment

How to get rid of addiction to drops in the nose? If a person cannot refuse decongestants on his own within a month, he should seek help from a specialist. The attending physician will assess the condition of the nasopharyngeal mucosa and determine how much she is "used" to vasoconstrictors. In the absence of tangible hypertrophic or atrophic changes in the soft tissues, the patient will be prescribed anti-inflammatory and decongestant drugs that do not affect vascular tone.

Topical corticosteroids

Treatment of "drip" dependence is almost always accompanied by the use of local hormonal drugs, i.e. topical corticosteroids. They have pronounced anti-inflammatory properties, so they can be used to relieve swelling and inflammation in the turbinates and internal nasal openings:

• "Rinoklenil";
• "Nasobek";
• "Beclomethasone Orion Pharma";
• "Flixonase".

Hormonal drugs are contraindicated in people suffering from fungal diseases.

In cases where the patient cannot immediately refuse decongestants, the doctor simply reduces the dose of drugs and prescribes corticosteroids in parallel. In the process of treatment, the regularity of the use of vasoconstrictors gradually decreases, due to which the body almost painlessly weaned from vasoconstrictors.

Antihistamines

How to wean from the drops of vasoconstrictor action? Conservative treatment of drug rhinitis is often accompanied by the use of antiallergic drugs. Like decongestants, they reduce swelling in the nasopharynx, but do not affect adrenaline receptors. To restore normal vascular tone in the mucous membrane, it is recommended to drip such drugs into the nose:

• "Sanorin-Analergin";
• "Levokabastin";
• "Allergodil".

Antiallergic drugs prevent the release of inflammatory mediators that lead to swelling of the nasopharynx and, as a result, blockage of the nasal passages. If the symptoms of drug rhinitis bother you constantly, you can replace decongestants with antihistamine drops for a while.

Nasal wash solutions

You can get used to vasoconstrictors in just five to ten days, but it is quite difficult to refuse their use. How do you wean yourself off nasal decongestants? Pronounced decongestant properties have hypertonic and isotonic salt solutions.

As a rule, the treatment of "drip" dependence involves the use of hypertonic drugs, which contain more than 0.9% sodium chloride. Medical rhinitis is cured with the following nasal remedies:

• "Dolphin";
• "Aqua Maris Strong";
• "Morenasal";

To achieve the desired results, nasal lavage should be done at least 4-5 times a day. If the symptoms of drug rhinitis are alleviated, completely refuse decongestants or replace them with homeopathic remedies.

Physiotherapy

What to do if medicines do not help to cope with nasal congestion? If at the doctor’s appointment the patient declares “I have been dripping vasoconstrictor drops for more than 5 years”, in 90% of cases, pathological changes are found in the nasopharynx during instrumental examination. It should be understood that decongestants negatively affect the functioning of the glands that secrete nasal secretions. If you drip drops constantly, this will lead to insufficient mucus production and, as a result, dehydration and thinning (atrophy) of soft tissues.

Treatment of atrophic and hypertrophic changes in the nasal mucosa is carried out with the help of physiotherapy procedures. They help strengthen the walls of blood vessels, restore the secretory activity of the glands in the nasopharynx and thereby stop the manifestations of drug-induced rhinitis.

Laser therapy

How to cure drug rhinitis? To eliminate the symptoms of vasomotor and drug-induced rhinitis, laser therapy is often used. Laser study has a beneficial effect on transcapillary processes in arterioles that are located in the nasopharynx. With the passage of 7-10 sessions of laser treatment, you will completely get rid of addiction and vascular dystonia.

Instrumental therapy has an anti-inflammatory, vasoconstrictive and anti-edematous effect on the ciliated epithelium, which covers the turbinates. To mitigate the effect of laser study, after the procedure, it is recommended to instill moisturizing drops into the nose - "Physiomer", "No-Sol", "Quicks", etc.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the most effective methods of treating chronic and drug-induced rhinitis. During the procedure, the specialist inserts thin needles into regional and segmental points that are on the face. Stimulation of acupuncture points allows you to restore the normal innervation of the muscle fibers that are responsible for the expansion and narrowing of the arterioles in the nasal cavity.

It should be noted that the mechanism of action of acupuncture is currently poorly understood. Many doctors are skeptical about this treatment method, although practical results speak in its favor. Physiotherapy does not eliminate psychological addiction to nose drops, but it helps to eliminate somatic disorders caused by vasodilation, i.e. violation of vascular tone.

electrophoresis

Electrophoresis is an instrumental method for the treatment of ENT diseases, based on the introduction of drugs into the nasopharynx by means of an electric current. Commonly used drugs are:

• thiamine (vitamin B2);
• pantothenic acid (vitamin B5);
• rutin (vitamin P);
• dimedrol.

Electrophoresis is contraindicated in people with impaired blood clotting and diseases of the cardiovascular system.

To reduce discomfort during electrophoresis, analgesic substances should be instilled into the nose. The duration of the session depends on the degree of vascular dystonia and the condition of the nasopharyngeal mucosa. The therapeutic effect is observed after 10-12 sessions of electrophoresis.

Conclusion

Abuse of vasoconstrictor drops inevitably leads to drug-induced rhinitis. The basis of the development of the disease is vasodilation - the expansion of blood vessels associated with the relaxation of muscle fibers in the vascular walls. Pathological processes are provoked by active substances contained in decongestants - oxymetazoline, xylometazoline, naphazoline, etc.

How to treat dependence on vasoconstrictors? To wean from anticongestants, you need to replace them with nasal preparations of a different type - homeopathic, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory (topical corticosteroids), etc. In case of ineffectiveness of drug treatment, physiotherapy (electrophoresis, laser treatment) is prescribed, which helps to restore vascular tone and nasal patency.