Dristan Nasal Spray

[nii]

Wasn't really sure where to put this but here it goes.

This past winter was pretty bad for me flue wise. Since Dec of 08 to this past June 09, I got sick 3 times. I usually get sick maybe once every 2-3 years, and even then it lasts at MOST 4-5 days. But this year i got pretty bad flue like symptoms that lasted a MIN of 7-9 days.

So during my last 'cold' i went to the drugstore to pick up some advil 'night time' pills to help me sleep. RIGHT beside them were these nasal sprays that i didnt even know existed. Stuff to help with nasal congestion. I hadnt slept in days precisely because of this problem, so I figure, what the hell lets give er a try it. The nasal spray i happened to pick up was Dristan. Worst, ****ing, decision, EVER.

The first night i tried it, it worked AMAZINGLY well. Little did i know, once you stop using it (regardless of whether you have a cold or not) you get instantly congested WORSE than when you were sick. So the inevitable happened, i got 'addicted'. I used it for 6 straight weeks, each week getting progressively worse (up to 5 times a day). Every time i tried to stop using it cold turkey, i got so stuffed up, i literally couldnt blow my nose (my ears would pop before air would pass through my nose).

So it turns out there are whole forums with people who cant get off this shit because the withdrawl can last up to 20 weeks. Started reading about pp who have used it for years and years and dont plan on getting off anytime soon.

So decided to get off it, it took 3 weeks to get back to normal. So if anyone is reading this and has ever thought about using this product or anything like it(not the saline solutions or 'ocean water' sprays, the ones with drugs in them), I beg you dont do it.


DRISTAN NASAL SPRAY - KEEP YOUR ****ING DISTANCE

[_Ragnar_]

I couldnt agree with you more that shit is nasty.

[faller]

Been on it for years now myself, second time round for me. First time i went to a nose, ear, throat specialist and he gave me this stuff to use while getting off dristan, i was back to normal in about a wk. and a half.

Than i was in a logging camp one time, got sick and all stuffed up and couldn't sleep at all. You can't do this job half asleep, it'll get you killed so i started on the dristan again. Dristan and me are old friends, lol.

[waderow]

try a saline nasal wash.

[tiramisu]

Interesting. I have medicated the poop out of myself through 10 or 15 nasty colds using nasal inhalers for the worst parts of them for 3-4 days in combination with ibuprophen and sometimes tylenol.

I've never had significant rebound and certainly nothing approximating addiction.


How long does it take to build up a dependence?

[nii]

Been on it for years now myself, second time round for me.
Lol I couldn't believe how many people have the same story as you. Certain professions (i know scuba divers and anyone that changes elevations ) are more prone to getting on, and staying on.

try a saline nasal wash.
Saline sprays do NOTHING compared to this stuff, while i was on it was absolute heaven.

Interesting. I have medicated the poop out of myself through 10 or 15 nasty colds using nasal inhalers for the worst parts of them for 3-4 days in combination with ibuprophen and sometimes tylenol.

I've never had significant rebound and certainly nothing approximating addiction.


How long does it take to build up a dependence?
Well i can only speak for myself, but my cold only lasted about 6 days. The problem is, in the middle of the night/morning i would wake with congestion so bad i couldnt breathe through my nose at all. But the symptoms were the same for me after day 2 of using the stuff. So if i didnt use it for 6 or so hours, BAM congestion (regardless if i was sick or not). I called my doc up and told him the story, he told me to never use ANY nasal spray with certain drugs in it, because they are notorious for causing these dependencies. But there are nasal sprays that dont contain drugs (for example the 100% ocean water or saline solutions ), do you know which type of spray you used?

[tiramisu]

Lol I couldn't believe how many people have the same story as you. Certain professions (i know scuba divers and anyone that changes elevations ) are more prone to getting on, and staying on.

Saline sprays do NOTHING compared to this stuff, while i was on it was absolute heaven.

Well i can only speak for myself, but my cold only lasted about 6 days. The problem is, in the middle of the night/morning i would wake with congestion so bad i couldnt breathe through my nose at all. But the symptoms were the same for me after day 2 of using the stuff. So if i didnt use it for 6 or so hours, BAM congestion (regardless if i was sick or not). I called my doc up and told him the story, he told me to never use ANY nasal spray with certain drugs in it, because they are notorious for causing these dependencies. But there are nasal sprays that dont contain drugs (for example the 100% ocean water or saline solutions ), do you know which type of spray you used?

I generally buy the bottle of dristan that says (12 hours).
I usually look for pseudo ephedrine

[nii]

I generally buy the bottle of dristan that says (12 hours).
I usually look for pseudo ephedrine

Yea thats exactly what i was using, guess I'm a weak bastard when it comes to this stuff.

[faller]

I used far less Dristan when i was takeing Thermaleans, its a pretty good decongestant. I take the 12hr. stuff also, the other shit does absolutly nothing for me, i'd be spraying every 10 min.

[BobbyBuchetti]

yeah the shit sucks, but i got off it after a few years. took about 2 weeks to breathe again

[faller]

My problem is i've always had a hard time breathing threw my nose. I read somewhere a while back that in the States they can "drill" out your nasal pasage. Apparently it works.