There is no such person who would not meet with difficulty breathing, nasal discharge, and congestion. Let's figure out what are the features of the disease and the possible danger of improper treatment of the common cold.
A runny nose in medicine is called a scientific term rhinitis from the Greek word rinos, which means nose.
Cause of a runny nose contact of the nasal mucosa with a variety of pathogenic microorganisms, viruses, as well as physical (hypothermia) and chemical factors (vapors of acids, alkalis, smoke) may appear.
Under the influence of the etiological factor, that is, the cause, the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity begins to become inflamed.
In the first stage the disease is edema, clear mucus from the nose (rhinorrhea) is released. As a result, it is difficult for the patient to breathe, he uses his mouth to breathe, sneezes. Often with nasal congestion, headache, loss of smell.
In the second stage diseases of nasal discharge take on a mucopurulent character, since a bacterial infection is attached.
Cold treatment
With normal human immunity and the absence of a tendency to manifestations of sinusitis, the runny nose goes away on its own. With a decrease in immunity and the addition of an aggressive bacterial infection, the body must be helped to cope with rhinitis so that the latter does not drag on for weeks and does not cause serious complications (otitis media, sinusitis, sinusitis, etc.).
Treatment of a common cold is aimed at moisturizing the nasal mucosa, combating the cause of the disease, symptoms.
1)Moisturizing mucous can be produced using seawater. Currently, in the pharmacy you can buy a variety of sprays containing seawater, which cleanse the nasopharynx, destroy pathogens, liquefy and remove crusts, moisturize, facilitating nasal breathing.
You can make a salt solution yourself: pour a glass of boiled water, add 0.5 teaspoon of table salt (or buy sea salt at a pharmacy), add 1-2 drops of iodine. Rinse the nose with this solution 3-5 times a day.
Thus, we act on the cause of the disease and moisturize the nasal mucosa.
2) There are many home remedies and methods for the treatment of rhinitis, for example, to bury beet juice (squeezed from fresh grated beets, to stand for 2 hours), carrot juice, aloe juice, breathe over the onion cut, breathe over diluted in hot water essential oils eucalyptus, rosemary, or tea tree oil. Most of these funds affect pathogens, nourish the mucous membrane with useful substances.
3) In the pharmacy you can buy special inhalers for the nose, which will also ease the course of the disease.
4) If others appear cold symptoms, or the body is weakened, you must take antiviral drugs, topical antibiotic sprays and drops, and immune-supporting medications.
If the duration of the disease is delayed, purulent-mucous discharge does not stop, the general condition worsens, pain and aches appear in the sinuses of the nose, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor to prescribe drugs against bacterial infection.
5) Symptomatic treatment consists in the use of drugs that facilitate breathing, that is, vasoconstrictor drops. In a modern pharmacy, there is a variety of such products from the cheapest Naphtizin to more expensive analogues. In the symptomatic treatment of rhinitis, one simple, but very important rule cannot be neglected: do not take vasoconstrictor drops for more than 5-7 days. Application for more than 7 days causes atrophy of the nasal mucosa and depression of the central nervous system. It is important to treat such means as at least - if nasal congestion does not allow breathing at all, and you need to speak in front of a large audience, or in cases of inability to sleep. It would be good if possible to try to use these drugs as little as possible for the following reasons.
Vasoconstrictors, especially naphthyzine, quickly become addicted to drops called medication rhinitis. Addiction to nose drops “infects” more and more people. The mucous membrane of the nasal cavity quickly reacts to drops, edema is relieved, but with prolonged use, the natural mechanisms of vasoconstriction and dilation are disrupted (the mucous membrane atrophies). The nose ceases to cope with swelling on its own, and only reacts to drops. This addiction to nose drops can last for years. Many people with addiction to drops always have a vial of vasoconstrictor in their pocket.
For the treatment of medication rhinitis first, drugs are prescribed that treat vasomotor rhinitis, which are often expensive. But people who have experienced the effects of medication rhinitis say that the drugs either did not help them, or were ineffective.
The next stage of rhinitis treatment,caused by addiction to drops - surgical. A number of surgical procedures are proposed, which in practice are also often ineffective. People who have coped with medication rhinitis have helped patience: you need to give up the drops and be patient for about a week. In addition, with the subsequent occurrence of rhinitis, they used more expensive vasoconstrictor drops such as Tizin. As a result, after colds, the addiction to drops did not return or it was possible to get rid of it more quickly.
Many people do not think at all that medicines have side effects, and you need to use them wisely and strictly according to the instructions, making sure first of their necessity. Quite often this situation occurs with drops or sprays for instillation into the nose, which have a vasoconstrictor effect.
As soon as a person begins to feel nasal congestion, as discharge appears, and the sense of smell is disturbed, he buys nasal products at the pharmacy and, without carefully reading the instructions, applies them. Moreover, he does this too often or more than the prescribed period, without consulting a doctor, but relying only on his subjective feelings. As nasal congestion appears, so the mucous membrane receives a new portion of vasoconstrictor drops.
Gradually, the intervals between instillations become shorter, more and more drops are required, and the treatment course is arbitrarily stretched by the patient to several months. The patient, being confident in the correctness of his actions, causes considerable damage to his health.
What is the danger of vasoconstrictor nasal drops
Before you start using any remedies for the common cold, you need to understand the form of the disease. By origin, rhinitis can be viral-bacterial (infectious), allergic, vasomotor (neurogenic), hormonal (runny nose of pregnant women). With the flow - acute or chronic, according to the reaction of the nasal mucosa - hypertrophic or hypotrophic.
Only a doctor is capable of understanding each form of the disease and prescribing adequate treatment. But in life, when a runny nose appears in himself or in his child, a person goes to the pharmacy, where he is always advised to purchase vasoconstrictor sprays or nose drops (vasoconstrictors). Given the pathogenesis and causes of the forms of the disease, the use of these funds is justified in almost all types of rhinitis, but differs in significance and dosage.
So, in the treatment of infectious rhinitis, vasoconstrictor drops play a leading role, reducing the edema of the mucous membrane and the formation of mucopurulent secretions. But with a runny nose of an allergic nature, antihistamines or hormonal agents come first, and the use of vasoconstrictor drops performs an auxiliary function. Therefore, in different forms of the disease, they differ both in the required single dose and in the duration of the treatment course.
Not understanding these important points, the patient begins to use nasal drops as soon as congestion appears. After all, the positive effect occurs almost immediately: free nasal breathing and full sense of smell are restored.
But the action of the means quickly ceases, and the person resorts to them again. Gradually, he can no longer do without drugs, unable to wean himself from them, carries them with him everywhere and thinks that he is being treated correctly and effectively.
This is the insidiousness of nasal vasoconstrictors. They form addiction, which, of course, is not narcotic, but requires very close attention and making a lot of effort to get off it.
Unjustified use of drops can lead to the occurrence of such a serious disease as drug rhinitis, which requires long-term therapy. And the third undesirable effect of vasoconstrictor agents - despite their local use, they can have a systemic effect on the body.
Addictive to vasoconstrictor drops formed gradually and almost imperceptibly. The capillaries of the nasal mucosa, having received a dose, narrow, as it were, according to an "external" order. Their tone increases, the release of blood plasma into the intercellular space of the epithelium stops, the production of mucous secretion decreases.
At the same time, the normal neuro-reflex regulation of vascular tone is disrupted, it practically stops working. The capillaries get used to external regulation by means of vasoconstrictors and await a new dose. Until she enters, their narrowing and reduction of puffiness does not occur.
Rejoicing at the excellent effect of the instillation of drugs, the person after a while again feels congestion, which forces him to increase the dose and shorten the intervals between doses in the hope of a lasting positive result. Often the patient does not even realize that the addiction has already formed, and cannot "get off" from it on his own. He needs competent advice and medical attention.
With the constant flow of vasoconstrictors into the nasal cavity, the capillary network is in a forced spasm state. As a result, all tissues do not receive oxygen and nutrition, metabolism is disturbed in them, and dystrophic changes begin. The cells of the mucous membrane gradually die, it becomes thin, dry, vulnerable and hypotrophic.
A condition called medication rhinitis gradually develops. So, in an effort to cure a common cold, the patient receives a more serious pathology, which must be treated for a long time and persistently.
There is also a danger of systemic action of nasal vasoconstrictor drops. This can happen with their overdose, especially if a person has some concomitant diseases. Entering the bloodstream vasoconstrictor drugs have a spasmodic effect on the vessels of the whole organism.
As a result, blood pressure rises, palpitations, shortness of breath, headache, nausea and sleep disorders appear. Overdose is very dangerous in childhood, when vasoconstrictors can cause the need for emergency hospitalization of the baby in the toxicology department of the hospital.
How to wean from vasoconstrictor nasal drugs
Before you start solving a problem, you must first realize its existence. Only when the patient realizes that he has already developed an addiction to vasoconstrictor drugs, that he is already in full swing with hypotrophy of the nasal mucosa with the development of medication rhinitis, only then he will have the strength to fight this problem. And a doctor will help him in this.
It is necessary to seek medical help, because only a specialist can competently deal with each problem situation. It is the doctor's task to conduct an examination, clarify all complaints, make an examination and confirm the presence of addiction or a drug-induced rhinitis. He will also definitely prescribe the necessary treatment and will monitor it.
But the first step must be taken by the patient himself. To get rid of the vasoconstrictor drops, you need to discard them outright. This is the very first stage of treatment and the most difficult. After all, the hand will constantly reach for the desired bottle, all thoughts will be only about it, the nasal mucosa will cry for help, and the capillaries will ask for the long-awaited dose in unison.
As practice shows, to make it easier to control yourself, you need to say a resolute "no" to the drops-vasoconstrictors in the morning and load yourself with urgent work. It is important not to forget to throw the medicine bottle into the trash chute and bypass the pharmacy.
It will be very difficult for the first few days, then the neuro-reflex regulation will begin to gradually recover, and the capillaries will "remember" that they can work independently. The functionality of the mucous membrane will begin to recover, its edema will decrease and disappear, the production of mucous secretion will take on normal volumes.
To help the body cope with addiction, overcome the psychological barrier, and at the same time normalize the condition of the mucous membrane, you can take some therapeutic measures. And first of all - to make not only the abolition of drops-vasoconstrictors, but replace them with other means, mainly of plant origin (sometimes at first there is a replacement for vasoconstrictors in a very reduced dosage).
It is proved that the instillation of freshly squeezed juice of carrots, red beets, aloe, onions (diluted with water 1: 1) with the addition of 1 drop of heated honey not only has a substitution effect. These agents additionally disinfect the mucous membrane in the most gentle way and help the epithelial layer to regenerate faster.
Decoctions of herbs act similarly. The well-known calendula, sage, chamomile pharmacy provide invaluable help in the fight against addiction and rhinitis medication.
Measures to rinse the nose and moisturize the mucous membrane are excellent. You can use both pharmacy products and prepare the solution yourself. One teaspoon of ordinary table or sea \u200b\u200bsalt dissolves in 1 liter of water. This solution can be instilled into the nasal passages in 3-4 drops, you can also wash it, up to 6 times a day.
Physiotherapy will help restore the functionality of the mucous membrane. The doctor will advise which methods from the huge arsenal of physiotherapy can be used in the case of a medication rhinitis and addiction to vasoconstrictors. UHF, phonophoresis, electrophoresis, acupuncture have a good effect. At home, warming up the nose with bags of hot salt or boiled potatoes and eggs is feasible.
In severe cases, when the changes in the mucous membrane that have occurred are so great that they do not lend themselves to conservative treatment, the patient is recommended to operate. In each specific situation, the most optimal method is selected (laser, conchotomy, vasotomy, cryotherapy, turbinoplasty).
To not bring yourself to the point of need long-term treatment or surgical intervention, it is necessary to remember the dangers of using vasoconstrictor drops. Strict adherence to dosages will help to avoid serious consequences.
Topical decongestants are local vasoconstrictor drugs that eliminate swelling in the mucous membranes and normalize nasal breathing. Addiction to nasal drops develops with irrational use of drugs.
They contain substances that negatively affect the tone of the blood capillaries and, as a result, lead to the development of a drug-induced rhinitis. According to practical observations, dependence on topical anticongestants develops within 7-15 days. During this period, vascular dystonia occurs, therefore, a sharp refusal from drugs leads to swelling of the nasopharyngeal mucosa and difficulty breathing. In this regard, the patient is forced to use vasoconstrictors over and over again. The article will consider the causes and mechanisms of the development of addiction, as well as effective ways therapy of medication rhinitis.
Addiction to nasal drops occurs when using only those drugs that contain adrenergic receptor stimulants. The absorption of these components into the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx leads to irritation of the so-called α1 and α2 receptors, which are localized in the arterioles. Subsequent narrowing of the blood capillaries and a decrease in their permeability allows you to eliminate swelling in the nasal passages and facilitate breathing.
The process of getting used to nasal products is almost imperceptible. When an allergic or infectious rhinitis occurs, each person seeks to quickly eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of the disease - congestion, abundant nasal discharge, nasal voice, etc. Topical anticongestants, which restore nasal breathing within 2-3 minutes, cope best with this task.
Some of the more well-known addictive drugs and rhinitis medications include:
- "Nazivin";
- Sanorin;
- Galazolin;
- "Naphtizin";
- "Tizine";
- "Rinonorm"
- Rinostop;
- "Snoop";
- "Knoxprey";
- "Rinorus".
Most drugs from the decongestant group cannot be used during pregnancy, as they have a systemic effect on the body and can provoke premature birth.
Few know that an overdose of vasoconstrictor drugs leads to very disastrous consequences. If you use the drugs for more than 7 days in a row, in the future this will cause the development of drug or atrophic rhinitis. Moreover, sympathomimetics (substances that stimulate the synthesis of norepinephrine) relieve only the manifestations of the common cold, but not the causes of its occurrence.
The mechanism of development of addiction
Addiction to nose drops occurs due to a violation of the vascular tone, which permeates the nasopharyngeal mucosa. Most topical anticongestants contain substances that are antagonists of α1- and α2-adrenergic receptors:
- naphazoline;
- xylometazoline;
- tetrizoline;
- indanazolamine.
Stimulation of receptors localized in small arterioles leads to their narrowing and, accordingly, less blood filling of the mucous membranes. Due to this, the swelling in the tissues decreases, as a result of which the diameter of the choanas (internal nasal openings) increases. In other words, the use of vasoconstrictor aerosols and sprays helps increase nasal patency and facilitate breathing through the nose.
Inhibition of the secretory function of goblet cells secreting nasal mucus leads to the development of atrophic rhinitis.
It is important to remember that anti-congestants negatively affect the tone of the blood capillaries. Exceeding the dosage and period of use of drugs is fraught with the emergence of a "rebound" syndrome. After drug withdrawal, the arterioles in the nasopharynx expand, which increases their permeability. Subsequently, this leads to tissue edema, difficulty breathing and impaired secretory function of the glands in the nasopharynx.
Symptoms of addiction to decongestants
If the patient literally cannot live without topical decongestants, this indicates the development of addiction to nasal drops. Overuse of drugs leads to the fact that the blood vessels in the nasopharynx can no longer independently regulate their tone. To eliminate the feeling of congestion and abundant nasal discharge, a person is forced to use vasoconstrictors every day, 2-3 times a day. 
Itching and burning in the nasopharynx
Anticongestants disrupt the activity of the goblet cells, which are found in the mucous membrane. Insufficient production of nasal secretions leads to dehydration of tissues and, as a result, the formation of small cracks on their surface. Violation of the integrity of tissues leads to the appearance of itching or severe burning.
It should be understood that dehydration of the nasopharynx sooner or later leads to a decrease in local immunity. This means that any pathogenic microorganisms that have penetrated the respiratory system can provoke inflammation in them. That is why people suffering from "drip" addiction often suffer from sinusitis, flu, rhinopharyngitis, posterior rhinitis, etc.
Loss of smell (anosmia)
Anosmia is a disorder of smell, in which a person ceases to feel and distinguish smells. Most often, people who are addicted to decongestants suffer from partial anosmia, i.e. hyposmia. It develops due to the destruction of the olfactory bulbs by stimulants of adrenergic receptors.
It is very difficult to restore the activity of olfactory receptors. The destruction of most of the nerve pathways connecting the olfactory bulbs with the corresponding zones in the cerebral cortex leads to irreversible processes. According to practical observations, even minimally invasive surgeries and physiotherapy procedures do not allow to restore the sense of smell in full.
Chronic nasal congestion
Due to failures in the autonomic regulation of blood vessels, an abundant blood supply to the mucous membrane occurs. The increased supply of oxygen and nutrients to tissues leads to overactive goblet cells. They begin to produce more and more nasal secretion, which does not have time to evacuate from the nasal cavity.
Blockage of the internal nasal openings with mucus creates an obstacle to the passage of air through the nasal passages into the laryngopharynx. Difficulty breathing leads to a lack of oxygen in the body and the development of side symptoms:
- nausea;
- headache;
- decreased appetite;
- insomnia;
- increased heartbeat;
- lethargy;
- lacrimation.
Phenylephrine-based drugs have the mildest vasoconstrictor effect, since they do not cause a significant decrease in blood flow in the nasopharynx.
It is important to remember that increased blood supply to the mucous membranes leads to their hypertrophy (pathological proliferation). If you do not get rid of the addiction in time, it will be possible to eliminate its consequences only through surgical intervention.
How to get rid of decongestants?
It is possible to get rid of "drip" dependence on its own only at the initial stages of its development. To do this, it is recommended to replace vasoconstrictors with drops based on sea water - Morenazal, Physiomer, No-Salt, etc. If the nasal congestion persists within two weeks, it is recommended to seek help from an ENT specialist.
Depending on the degree of impairment of vascular tone and hypertrophy of the mucous membranes, treatment is carried out by conservative or surgical methods. Conservative therapy involves the use of medications and physiotherapeutic procedures, and surgical therapy involves resection (removal) of hypertrophied and atrophied areas of the mucous membrane.
Topical corticosteroids
Nasal corticosteroids refer to hormonal drugs anti-inflammatory action. They are used to treat allergic and non-infectious inflammation in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Synthetic steroid hormones quickly restore the integrity of damaged tissues and eliminate inflammation, thereby improving airway patency.
To ease the manifestations of the "rebound" syndrome and quickly restore nasal breathing, it is recommended to use:
- "Nazonex";
- "Polydexa";
- "Beconase";
- Avamis.
Hormonal topical drops should not be included in the treatment regimen for bacterial or fungal rhinitis.
Topical corticosteroids can affect the microflora in the nasal cavity. Therefore, they are used only as directed by a specialist in the dosages recommended by him. Abuse of hormonal drugs is fraught with a decrease in immunity, which can lead to the reproduction of opportunistic fungi. The formation of mycotic (fungal) flora in the nasopharynx leads to the development of fungal rhinopharyngitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, etc.
Irrigation of the nose with saline
Salt water irrigation (flushing) of the nasal cavity is one of the most effective methods of dealing with nasal congestion. Isotonic and hypertonic solutions are among the anticongestants that do not affect the tone of the vessels in the nasopharynx. To eliminate nasal obstruction (obstruction), it is recommended to flush at least three times a day nasal cavity such drugs:
- "Marimer";
- Dolphin;
- "Quicks";
- "Aqualor".
Hypertonic solutions containing more than 0.9% sodium chloride should not be used if atrophic rhinitis occurs.
Enhanced production of nasal mucus is a direct indication for the use of hypertensive drugs. They "draw" from the tissues an excess amount of intercellular moisture, thereby reducing swelling. But if prolonged use of decongestants has led to atrophy (thinning) of the mucous membrane, hypertonic solutions are replaced with isotonic seawater. It restores the function of the goblet cells, but does not lead to dehydration of the nasopharyngeal mucosa.
Vasotomy
Surgical intervention is resorted to only in case of ineffectiveness of drug and physiotherapy treatment. If necessary, atrophied and hypertrophied areas of the mucous membrane are removed using minimally invasive methods, which include:
- ultrasonic disintegration - a procedure to reduce the thickness of the mucous membrane, during which soft tissues are destroyed by ultrasonic waves;
- radiocoagulation - superficial cauterization of the ciliated epithelium in the nasal cavity, which increases the inner diameter of the nasal canals;
- laser vaporization - laser "vaporization" of hypertrophied areas of the nasopharyngeal mucosa.
In some cases, during the operation, surgeons do septoplasty, thanks to which it occurs. To reduce the likelihood of developing an infection in the tissues operated on, patients are advised to flush the nasal cavity with isotonic drugs.
Conclusion
Inappropriate use of topical (local) vasoconstrictor agents often causes chronic nasal congestion and medication rhinitis. Adverse reactions occur due to a violation of vascular tone, which is provoked by stimulants of adrenergic receptors - naphazoline, xylometazoline and indanazolamine.
Antagonists of adrenaline receptors are included in most nasal vasoconstrictor drugs. It is they who make the vessels in the nasopharynx narrow. Drug abuse leads to the development of local vascular dystonia. Therefore, the rejection of vasoconstrictor drops leads to the expansion of the arterioles in the nasopharynx, as a result of which it swells. This is precisely what is one of the key reasons for the occurrence medicinal rhinitis and difficulty in nasal breathing.
As soon as the cold sets in, coughing and sneezing are heard everywhere. Many of us simply do not pay attention to the common cold. Sometimes they just get the first drops they come across and begin to fill their noses with them, as a rule, rarely any of them think about the consequences.
For this reason, many become addicted and the nose can no longer breathe without these drops. It will be very difficult to deal with this problem. You need tremendous willpower to fix this problem.
Thanks to these drugs, the vessels of the nasal mucosa are narrowed, due to which the edema passes. You definitely need to find out the reason why you get swelling. Until you eliminate this cause, the runny nose will continue to torment you.
It is believed that these drops can be used for no more than five days. If you use them for longer than this period, you will become addicted. People who have this problem are forced to bury their nose several times a day. These drops have to be taken with you to work or to study, going to bed you have to lay them next to you. 
You need to understand that your addiction is a disease and you need to fight it. People suffering from this disease have a reduced sense of smell, headaches appear, the mucous membrane of your nose becomes simply dry.
In this case, the brain also suffers due to the fact that blood circulation in your nose is inadequate. People become lethargic, irritable, and reduced efficiency. This problem does not allow to live fully.
In order to get rid of this problem, you need to gradually wean them. This should be done when you will be at home for a long time. You will need to take a bottle of drops and fill it halfway with salted water.
At first, you will need to bury your nose much more often, because the dosage of this medicine has been reduced by half due to the added water, and your body is used to a higher dosage. Over time, he will get used to the lower dosage. Next, you need to dilute baby drops with water.
These drops have a lower dosage than adult drops. As soon as you use them, you need to dilute these drops with a large amount of water, so that the medicine in the bottle is only a fourth part.
Then you have to give up these drops altogether, you have to show tremendous willpower. But in order for your nose to breathe at night and you do not suffocate, you can drop one nostril, but you should only bury it with a very weak solution.
- You can not use them for more than a week, dig in a maximum of 2-3 times a day.
- It is best to use drops only before bed and use during the day saline solutions for rinsing the nose.
- In some cases, dependence on drops has a psychological basis, it is better to take a walk outside and enrich the body with oxygen, and breathing may improve.
- Visit a specialist and consult about the appropriateness of using this or that tool.
- If the runny nose has an allergic basis, then it is worth visiting an allergist, supplementing the treatment with antihistamines.
- Instead of pharmacy products use recipes traditional medicine, do foot baths, breathe over the steam of potatoes, lubricate your feet with warming oils.
- You can apply boiled eggs to the maxillary sinuses, hold them at the bridge of the nose until they are completely cool.
- Rinse the nose with a solution of sea salt, several times a day, then drip the nose with onion juice diluted in half with plain water.
So that there is no need to fight a runny nose, you need to regularly ventilate the room, avoid dryness in the house, humidify the air, walk more in parks, forest areas, avoid allergens, and strengthen the immune system.
On the recommendation of a specialist, it is advisable to consume herbal decoctions and infusions; it is useful to bury the nose with them during the cold season. To do this, you can use the juice of red geranium, calendula, instill 2 drops in each nostril 3-4 times a day.
It is also necessary to eat a balanced diet, devote time to physical activity, drink plenty of fluids in order to avoid drying out. oral cavity and nasopharynx, you can temper the body with douches, this should be done gradually, so as not to lead to inflammatory process organism.
I wish you health and well-being.
Rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa, which is always accompanied by nasal congestion. If the patient visits the ENT on time, then the treatment, in most cases, does not take more than 5-7 days. The doctor will definitely warn you that adrenergic agonists, which include vasoconstrictor drops, are applied no more than 5 days, or as indicated in the instructions for the drug.
Just think of a runny nose, so many of us will say that we go to the doctors right away? Indeed, if you undertake medical procedures at home, sit at home for a day or two, take care of yourself, intensively undergo treatment, then you may not need a doctor.
Self-diagnosis is a necessary thing, but you need to understand it. The snot should not contain greenery, pus, bloody streaks (only single cases are allowed), fetid discharge.
If a runny nose accompanies a transparent mucous discharge, nasal congestion, the color of the snot does not change more than light yellow shades, quite such inflammation can be quickly removed at home, without getting addicted to nose drops.
But our patient, as a rule, is lazy, give him super drops, which will give an instant effect, and will allow him to work calmly. And this is understandable. People are often afraid of losing a prestigious job, so there is no time to get sick, especially to wash your nose and do inhalation in the office. Hence, there is dependence on vasoconstrictor drops, which solve the problem as the patient wants it.
But walking in a vicious circle continues, at one fine moment a person realizes that something is wrong with him, and such a runny nose begins to disturb not only physically, but also morally. I'm tired of running to the pharmacy, and the effect of adrenergic agonists has become less noticeable. Is it addictive? Quite right, it's the same.
According to the statistics of pharmacological sales, vasoconstrictor drops occupy a leading position, while seasonality does not affect the purchase in any way. This is easy enough to explain. The period autumn-winter-spring is accompanied by the rampant of viruses, and spring-summer is the time of flowering of plants, i.e. allergy season.
Regardless of the cause of inflammation in the nose, congestion is always present. In some people, it is observed throughout the day, in others only at night, etc.
Naphthyzine addiction - what is it?
The problem of dependence on vasoconstrictor drops is also called "naphthyzine" (after the name of the most famous adrenomimetic). Therefore, readers on the Internet can find just such a name - "naphthyzine addiction". In medical terminology, this will sound like toxic-allergic rhinitis, i.e. runny nose, the cause of which is already the toxic effect of the drug itself.
Naturally, few people are satisfied with such a picture, and the patient, in order to get rid of such drops in the nose, begins to think and look for ways to solve the problem with addiction. This problem is especially acute when vasoconstrictor drops are used for a long time (a year or even more).
The reason for the addiction is simple and straightforward. One thing is written in the instructions for the drug, but the patient does another, everything is banal and simple. For some reason, many patients believe that vasoconstrictor drugs treat the common cold. This is not true. The action of these drops eliminates only one negative symptom - nasal congestion, and this is where the drug's "work" ends.
In the instructions for adrenomimetics, as a rule, there are recommendations that nasal instillation should be carried out no more than 3-7 days. Where then such long-term treatment regimens come from? Why don't we observe what we have written?
In half of the cases, patients simply do not read the instructions, it seems long and complicated for them. And when the drug helps, albeit temporarily, then such a remedy instantly enters into confidence, and becomes the number one remedy for lazy people who do not want to read the instructions and be treated correctly.
Hence the conclusion: the cause of addiction is an overdose, the medical diagnosis is rhinitis medicamentosa.
How to get rid of nose drops
What are the symptoms of addiction to vasoconstrictor drops?
Due to a violation of the tone of the vessels located in the thickness of the mucous membranes, their ability to narrow and expand is lost. Against the background of prolonged use of auxiliary drops, self-regulation of the work of the blood vessels of the nose is almost completely disrupted. Hence the following symptoms follow:
- nasal congestion becomes chronic, and is eliminated only by adrenergic agonists;
- burning and itching in the nasal cavity;
- transparent snot;
- difficulty breathing through the nose;
- headache;
- fatigue;
- violation of the olfactory ability;
- anosmia;
- a feeling of discomfort in the projections of the sinuses of the nose.
If the patient noticed that life without drops has become unbearable, an addiction similar to a drug has appeared, immediately contact an otolaryngologist for qualified help in order to end this problem once and for all.
What does medicine offer - how to relieve addiction to drops?
Otolaryngologists propose to cure dependence on drops both conservatively and operatively. Note that when the problem is chronic, and the patient has long "made friends" with drops, most likely, there is a negative restructuring of the nasal mucosa, its hyperplasia (thickening). In this case, ENT surgeons propose to remove the overgrown tissue with subsequent correction of immunity..
Sometimes an operation is proposed to eliminate the defect of the nasal septum, which often becomes a problem lingering rhinitis with complications. In principle, if the nasal septum is really the cause of all troubles, you should not refuse cardinal treatment.
Practical experience shows that literally from the first week after surgical treatment, when postoperative edema and hyperemia have subsided a little, patients notice a significant improvement in nasal breathing. You can often hear words of gratitude from them: “Doctor, I was reborn as if into the world, you gave me back my sense of smell and free breathing. Has the addiction to nasal drops left me now? "
Of course, such reviews are always pleasant to hear, and any self-respecting doctor gets pleasure if he managed to cure a patient.
Surgical interventions for hyperplasia do not always lead to complete healing, relapses occur quite often, and after a short period of time. Even if cleaning of hyperplasia of the nasal mucosa is performed, then in parallel with surgical treatment adequate immunocorrection should be carried out so that subsequently there is no tendency for cell growth.
Therefore, it is better to try to eliminate hyperplasia conservatively..
How to stop dripping nose drops without surgery?
First, you can try to solve the problem at home, and if there is no effect, resort to the help of medical institutions.
Home treatment
If the addiction to drops has not become irreversible, try to abruptly abandon the drops, and say to yourself - no! For a couple of days, some discomfort will persist in the nasal passages, which will gradually disappear. It can take 10 to 30 days for the mucosa to heal, but it's worth it.
Experts advise rinsing the nose with saline up to five times a day, using moisturizers, and being outdoors more. If the proposed methods do not help, proceed to plan "B":
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- we continue to use the same drops, but with the lowest magnification. For example, they dripped 4 times a day, now we switch to three times use, after a few days - only in the morning and in the evening, and so smoothly completely displacing the vasoconstrictor drug;
- dilution with boiled water 1: 1 will help to weaken the effect of drops;
- if possible, we increase walks up to 3-4 hours a day;
- do not forget about wet cleaning indoors;
- eliminate allergens if you suspect something specific;
- try to soar your legs before going to bed;
- sleep in a comfortable position without throwing your head back;
- eat right, observe the drinking regime (drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day), use vitamins during epidemics.
Traditional healers suggest eliminating addiction to drops by the following methods:
- honey water (a teaspoon of liquid honey + the same amount of boiled water). Instill 3 drops in each nostril three times a day;
- aloe juice (a teaspoon of juice + 10 ml of boiled water). We bury drops 4 times a day until the condition improves;
- homeopathic thuja 200 (take 5 peas 2 times a week on an empty stomach for a long time);
- breathing meditation.
Don't expect instant improvement, healing will come gradually. If no positive dynamics is observed within two weeks, then you will have to start treatment under the supervision of a doctor.
Treatment in a hospital setting
With a persistent dependence on drops, when the mucous membrane acquires atrophy or hypertrophy, the following methods will help to resolve the situation:
- laser treatment;
- phonopharesis;
- phytotherapy;
- cryotherapy;
- mineral treatment;
- homeopathy;
- capillary therapy;
- turbinoplasty;
- conchotomy;
- septoplasty;
- therapeutic moxibustion;
- inhalation in an inhalation environment;
- physiotherapy.
How to treat naphthyzine addiction
Can you find safe vasoconstrictor drops?
No, you will not find such funds. All drugs that affect the activity of blood vessels are addictive. Safety will be respected only if the patient begins to pay attention to such points:
- clearly study the instructions;
- correctly dispense drops;
- observe the intervals between instillations;
- it is necessary to complete the course of treatment on time (according to the instructions).