What do Afrin products treat?
Afrin products are used to help reduce symptoms of a stuffy nose from conditions like a cold, hay fever, or allergies. This makes it easier to breathe through your nose and reduces sinus congestion and pressure.
The active ingredient in most Afrin products for congestion is nasal oxymetazoline. It helps reduce symptoms of a stuffy nose by narrowing your blood vessels. This lowers swelling, inflammation, and congestion in your nose, allowing you to breathe better and helping to drain your sinuses, leading to less sinus pressure.
There are Afrin products to reduce stuffy nose symptoms for adults and children as young as 2 years old.
There are also Afrin products that are “drug free,” meaning they do not contain any medicine. Most of these products contain saline (a mixture of salt and water). Saline nasal sprays can help moisturize your nasal passages, clear out mucus if you have nasal congestion, and wash away pollen, dust, or other particles that can cause allergies or irritation. Some of these products can be used by adults and children as young as 6 months old.
What are the possible side effects of Afrin products?
Some possible side effects of Afrin products may include temporary burning, stinging, sneezing, or a runny nose right after using the medicine.
Stop using the medicine if you develop a rash or hives. Get medical help right away if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing or swelling of the face, lips, or throat.
What should I know before using Afrin products?
Afrin Products With Oxymetazoline. Talk to your health care provider before using an Afrin product with oxymetazoline to reduce your stuffy nose if you have any of the following conditions.
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Thyroid problems
- Trouble peeing because you have an enlarged prostate
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
Do not use an Afrin product with oxymetazoline more often than every 10-12 hours (no more than two doses per 24 hours). Do not use Afrin for more than three days. Using an Afrin product more often or for longer than directed may lead to rebound congestion, where your symptoms can get worse or come back. Stop using an Afrin product for congestion and talk to your health care provider if your symptoms do not go away.
Afrin products with oxymetazoline come in two different forms, a nasal spray or a pump mist. Afrin nasal spray products are squeeze bottles. Afrin children’s products and “no drip” products use a pump mist instead of a spray. The pump mist is designed to prevent the medicine from dripping down your throat or nose after using it. Both Afrin nasal sprays and pump mists work quickly and can last up to 12 hours.
Children’s Afrin products and Afrin No Drip products with oxymetazoline need to be shaken before each dose and primed before the first use. Shaking Afrin products helps mix up the medicine to make sure you get the right dose. Priming means you need to press the pump several times into the air before using it for the first time. This helps make sure the medicine comes out properly. Follow the directions on the label of the specific product you are using.
Medicine-Free Afrin Products. Afrin saline products do not contain any active ingredients (medicine). These products can be used as often as needed or as recommended by your health care provider. Some products are used as a nasal spray (mist) or can be used to flush and irrigate the nasal passages (jet spray). Follow the directions on the label of the specific product you are using.
There is also a medicine-free vapor inhaler for adults and children as young as 12 years. It contains eucalyptol, menthol, and rosemary oil. It is inhaled through each nostril and can be used as needed. Do not use this product if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
You should not share any Afrin product with other people. This could spread germs and increase the risk of infection.
There may be side effects, additional warnings, and interactions with other medicines that are not listed here. These may vary depending on the ingredients in the specific Afrin product you are using. Always check the label before taking any over-the-counter medicine.
Which Afrin product is right for my symptoms?
Use the table below to help you find the best product to treat your symptoms.
| Desired Product Characteristics | Available Products |
|---|---|
| Stuffy nose relief for adults and children 6 years or older |
|
| Provides a cooling sensation (contains menthol) while reducing symptoms of a stuffy nose for adults and children 6 years or older |
|
| Helps soothe dry irritated nasal passages (contains glycerin, which moisturizes) while reducing symptoms of a stuffy nose | For children between 2 and 6 years old:
For adults and children 6 years and older:
|
| Provides a soothing chamomile scent while reducing symptoms of a stuffy nose for adults and children 6 years or older |
|
| Saline to help clear out and hydrate nasal passages | For infants and children 6 months and older:
For adults and children 6 years and older:
|
| Medicine-free scented vapor nasal inhaler for adults and children 12 years and older |
|