Drug-induced rhinitis - dangerous complications and treatment at CELT

According to statistics, vasoconstrictor nasal sprays and drops are the most popular means for treating a runny nose. These medications are available and can be purchased at any pharmacy without a doctor's prescription. Most patients consider rhinitis to be a banal ailment and limit themselves to the recommendations of pharmacists who select nasal drops without taking into account the diagnosis, severity and form of the disease, and the presence of complications.

Often the patient violates the recommended dosage regimen and duration of treatment. As a result of such “active” therapy, drug dependence on intranasal drugs develops. It is very difficult for a person to refuse drops, despite the fact that they only temporarily relieve swelling of the nasopharynx and do not allow them to cope with rhinitis.

At CELT you can consult an otorhinolaryngologist.

Initial consultation – 3,000
Repeated consultation – 2,000

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Causes of drug-induced rhinitis

Infectious or allergic rhinitis is manifested by inflammatory reactions, one of the symptoms of which is swelling of the nose. The body tries to cope with this process, and blood circulation increases in the nasal passages. As a result, an increase in the size of blood vessels contributes to the development of nasal congestion. Nasal breathing becomes difficult, the sense of smell is lost, the person rushes to get rid of these unpleasant symptoms with the help of decongestants (vasoconstrictor drops - vasoconstrictors).

From vasoconstrictor drops, blood vessels narrow, swelling quickly subsides, breathing through the nose is restored, and the sense of smell is normalized. The therapeutic effect of decongestants lasts 4-12 hours, after this period the lumen of the blood vessels increases again, swelling and congestion of the nasal passages returns. The patient knows how to get rid of the unpleasant condition and again uses vasoconstrictor drops.

If nasal vasoconstrictor drops are used correctly, addiction does not occur. The recommended period of use of the drugs is 3-7 days. Dependence manifests itself if the patient neglects the instructions for use and violates the frequency and duration of therapy. This is due to the fact that tachyphylaxis develops when the body’s response to repeated use of medications decreases. A person uses the same nasal remedies, but the vessels react poorly to them. To achieve a therapeutic effect, decongestants must be instilled more often.

The main active components of the drugs are substances such as nasazoline, oxymetazoline, xylometazoline, phenylephrine. Violation of the frequency and duration of therapy leads to the fact that the own regulation of capillary tone suffers. Up to the complete destruction of reflex regulation. The capillaries get used to narrowing from nasal drops and wait for the arrival of active components from the outside.

The longer a person uses vasoconstrictor drops, the stronger the addiction and the less chance of restoring their own regulation. You can only get rid of addiction to nasal drops with the help of an ENT specialist.

Immunomodulators

The issue of immunity and ARVI is always acute. People with strong immunity get colds less often and recover faster. Immunomodulators help strengthen general and local immunity, thereby increasing the body's protective functions.

Let's talk about local immunomodulators, which do not affect the general immune system, but work directly at the site of infection. After the effect of a local immunomodulator in the form of a spray on the nasal mucosa, it will be easier for the local immune system to cope with the root cause of the disease - a viral or bacterial infection4.

Nasal spray IRS®19 activates the local immunity of the nasal mucosa and acts on both viruses and bacteria.

Symptoms of drug-induced rhinitis

The main symptoms of addiction to nasal drops:

Nasal congestion does not go away on its own, but only after using vasoconstrictor drugs.
Severe dependence on nasal drops. Often a person does not leave home without a bottle of medicine. The constant need for vasoconstrictors is similar to addiction to drugs.
The nasal passages are constantly blocked, and it is difficult for a person to breathe, even if sinusitis, sinusitis or other underlying disease is completely treated.
Burning, itching, and dry mucous membranes appear in the nasal sinuses.
Colorless mucous discharge is constantly released.
The sense of smell is partially or completely lost.

Indirect symptoms of dependence on vasoconstrictors:

Systematic violation of the dosage regimen and non-compliance with the duration of medication. The patient reduces the intervals between instillation of drops and uses the drugs for more than 7 days.
There is a feeling of panic when a person feels nasal congestion, but does not have decongestants on hand to relieve his condition.

A patient who has discovered such symptoms should come to an appointment with an ENT doctor!

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What are the dangers of abusing decongestants?

Uncontrolled use of vasoconstrictor drops leads to the fact that the capillaries are constantly in spasm. They stop functioning normally, blood flow is disrupted, and nearby tissues suffer because they do not receive the required amount of oxygen and nutritional components.

Systematic drying of the mucous membranes and disruption of its restoration threatens the development of malnutrition and the formation of drug-induced rhinitis. In an effort to get rid of seasonal runny nose as quickly as possible, a person acquires an illness that requires serious treatment.

The next danger is psychological addiction. A reflex is formed in the brain that normal breathing can only be restored with the help of medications. Using vasoconstrictor drops makes a person feel better; he does not think about the alarming consequences for his own health. Improper use of decongestant drops harms the entire body. Violation of the dosage regimen is especially dangerous in childhood. There are cases when a child has to be hospitalized because the mother intensively instilled drops into his nose. The danger is that vasoconstrictor drugs enter the general bloodstream and negatively affect all tissues and organs. Arterial hypertension may develop, shortness of breath, headache, insomnia, etc. may appear.

Most often, dependence on nasal drops is formed due to illiteracy of the population. Not everyone knows that harmless medications can cause intoxication of the entire body. If dangerous symptoms are detected, it is important to immediately seek medical help and receive timely treatment.

Overdose

After a significant overdose or accidental ingestion, the following symptoms may appear: constriction of the pupils, nausea, vomiting, cyanosis, fever, tachycardia, arrhythmia, collapse, cardiac depression, arterial hypertension, pulmonary edema, respiratory disorders. In addition, mental disorders may appear, as well as depression of the functions of the central nervous system, accompanied by drowsiness, decreased body temperature, bradycardia, arterial hypotension, respiratory arrest and possible development of coma.

In case of overdose associated with oral administration of the drug, gastric lavage and activated charcoal are prescribed.

Complications arising from drug-induced rhinitis

The most common adverse effects of rhinitis medicamentosa are:

persistent swelling of the nasal passages;
night snoring;
lack of smell;
nasal voice;
headache;
frequent sneezing and watery eyes;
feeling of itching, tingling and burning in the nose;
tissue atrophy;
dryness and hyperplasia of the mucous membranes;
nosebleeds;
displacement of the nasal septum.

In most cases, doctors manage to rid the patient of drug addiction using conservative methods. Surgery is used when treatment is ineffective.

About the habitual runny nose

Everyone knows the main tasks of the nose - participation in breathing and smell. It is extremely important for a person to breathe through the nose and hear the entire spectrum of smells. The resulting runny nose affects the entire functionality of the nose, reducing the sense of smell and preventing proper breathing.

The nose also has protective functions. The mucous membrane inside the nose has bactericidal properties and fights infections. This is achieved through the formation of muconasal secretion or mucin (mucus), which neutralizes viruses and bacteria. Most people are familiar with the removal of mucin from the nose by the process of blowing their nose. Additional protection is provided by heating the air after passing through the nasopharynx, which kills many viruses and bacteria.

Thus, already at the entrance gates to the body, viruses and bacteria encounter a strong defense mechanism. However, people get sick, which means infection wins over defense. This is possible when the body’s defenses are initially weakened, the infection is unusual or too strong1,2.

Most often, the cause is weakened general and local immunity, which for an adult is absolutely logical, given the modern rhythm of life. Lack of physical activity, poor quality nutrition, stress and much more have a negative impact on the immune system, which ultimately results in colds, including a runny nose.

The infection, having reached the mucous membrane with weakened local immunity, begins to actively spread, causing the usual symptoms of a runny nose - stuffiness, mucus discharge, itching. In most cases, a runny nose develops within a week, then the body manages to cope with it, but there remains a high risk of complications. In advanced stages of a runny nose, the body is no longer able to cope on its own, and you can’t do without medications, but it’s better not to let it get to that point3.

It is advisable to use various auxiliary medications at the first signs of a runny nose and even earlier. Ointments, drops, sprays are used. But why are sprays more effective than other forms of medication?

Our doctors

Debryansky Vladimir Alekseevich

Doctor - otorhinolaryngologist, doctor of the highest category

33 years of experience

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Zharova Galina Gennadievna

Doctor - otorhinolaryngologist, member of the European Society of Rhinologists, doctor of the highest category

Experience 39 years

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Gogolev Vasily Gennadievich

Doctor - otorhinolaryngologist

19 years of experience

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Treatment of addiction to nasal drops

The first stage is awareness of the problem. It is necessary to accept that an addiction to nasal drops or sprays has formed. Addiction worsens the quality of life and threatens serious complications.

The next step is to seek help from a competent ENT doctor. A specialist will help distinguish medicinal rhinitis from seasonal or allergic rhinitis, decide how serious the complications are, and select adequate treatment to restore nasal breathing. The sooner the patient contacts the doctor, the more successfully vascular function will be restored.

Drug addiction sometimes takes years to form, so you can’t get rid of it in a couple of days. Nasal breathing improves gradually. Medicines, physiotherapy methods and surgical interventions are used. To make you feel better, the doctor prescribes intranasal anti-inflammatory drugs containing synthetic glucocorticosteroids. The drugs improve the condition of the mucous membrane, facilitate the discharge of mucus, and relieve the symptoms of inflammation. The therapy is complemented by physiotherapeutic procedures - laser treatment, medicinal extracts (herbal medicine), the use of ultraviolet irradiation, tube quartz treatment, etc.

Moisturizers

Most often, saline-based products are used as moisturizers. A regular solution of sodium chloride (saline) or sea water. Such products are characterized by high safety.

The purpose of the saline solution is to clear the nasal passages of accumulated mucus with pathogenic microorganisms and dilute it. Such preparations are largely hygienic, which does not negate their usefulness as an aid. They are especially relevant in spray format3.

Surgical methods of treatment:

Laser bloodless operation (vaporization), in which altered mucous membranes are removed by evaporation.
Radio wave thermal reduction.
An ultrasonic waveguide makes it possible to reduce the volume of blood vessels, after which healthy capillaries are formed in their place and nasal breathing is restored.
Submucosal vasotomy, conchotomy.

Long-term use of vasoconstrictor drugs leads to serious consequences. Addiction will not go away on its own; specialist help is needed. You can get the necessary treatment at the CELT clinic. Here are high-quality diagnostics and effective therapy. Make an appointment with an ENT doctor right now.

Contraindications to the use of Nazivin

Atrophic rhinitis; angle-closure glaucoma; hypersensitivity to the components of the drug.

You should adhere to the recommended concentrations of the drug intended for different age categories.

Carefully

In patients taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors and other drugs that increase blood pressure for up to 10 days after their use; with increased intraocular pressure, during pregnancy and lactation, with severe forms of cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, angina); with thyrotoxicosis and diabetes mellitus.

Our services

The administration of CELT JSC regularly updates the price list posted on the clinic’s website. However, in order to avoid possible misunderstandings, we ask you to clarify the cost of services by phone: +7

Service name	Price in rubles
Appointment with a surgical doctor (primary, for complex programs)	3 000
Endoscopic rhinoscopy	1 500
X-ray of the paranasal sinuses	2 200

All services

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