From relief to reliance

How nasal sprays turn into silent addictions

- Pramita Bose

Are you suffering from a blocked, runny nose? And need to clear its passage to breathe normally? You reach out for a nasal spray bottle to get instant relief.

You spray it a couple of times and the liquid works well to subside things for better. After a while, you again feel the urge to clean your congested nose and use the spray consecutively. This is repeated several times throughout the day ..

Even when you commute to your workplace, you make sure to carry another spray in your purse in case you need it on the go. This becomes a compulsive habit and before you realise its severity, you are already an addict.

The nasal obstruction could be caused by "colds, allergies or sinus infections. However, latest medical reports and ongoing case studies reveal nasal spray addiction as a growing health concern," ENT specialist Dr Mayur H. Ingale raises an alarm.

The obsession

Nasal spray addiction is a typical indicator of modernday behavioural pattern linked to anxiety, stress, erratic lifestyles and the tendency to pop in pills or apply sprays habitually. It precisely highlights the overuse and dependency on over-the-counter (OTC) decongestant nasal sprays, particularly those containing oxymetazoline, xylometazoline or phenylephrine (provide momentary relief by compressing blood vessels in the nasal passages).

"When administered beyond the recommended three-five days, the nose develops a rebound effect i.e., rebound congestion, leading to a cycle of urgent and recurrent usage of the spray to breathe comfortably," explains Dr. Rajan Bhargav, ENT surgeon, Regency Health Kanpur. Medically, this condition is called Rhinitis Medicamentosa (RM).

Demerits

Instead of improving nasal blockages, the prolonged use of nasal sprays at the drop of a hat can worsen the situation for their users.