Afrin (nasal spray)

Afrin is a brand of nasal spray used to ease nasal congestion that is available over-the-counter in the United States. The generic name for this medication is "Oxymetazoline hydrochloride". While useful in the short-term, 12 hour relief, for sinus congestion, prolonged use (in excess of three days) may result in rebound congestion ("rhinitis medicamentosa"). This can cause a dependency on the product; recovery may take some time.

Afrin is distributed by Schering-Plough HealthCare Products.

Trivia

From the late 1980s to mid 1990s, Afrin featured many notable television advertisements. Some of these commercials showed men, women, and kids using other brands of nasal sprays, and then standing upside down or hanging upside down from playground equipment to prevent their nasal spray from dripping out. This was juxtaposed with Afrin users having no problems.

Afrin was once believed to have helped the growth of hot house tomato plants by spraying the popular no-drip spray on the leaves of the plants. This was rumored to keep insects away, but no studies have ever been conducted to prove or disprove this theory. Fact|date=March 2008

Afrin is recommended for those who have frequent nose bleeds. Websites such as www.wikihow.com write "Decongenstant sprays such as these contain oxymetazoline nasal which constrict blood vessels and stop bleeding within seconds."

External links

* [http://www.afrin.com Official website]
* [http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/otcdrugprofiles/drugs/fgotc013.shtml Afrin at PDR Health]