Hands up, who here likes breathing through their nose? (Vicks Sinex Nasal Spray)

Member Name: Grummy

Product:	Vicks Sinex Nasal Spray
Date:	05/08/09 (77 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Breathe through your nose even with the harshest of colds and congestion

Disadvantages: Dependancy can develop through misuse

What do you do when you have a cold and you feel awful because you want to breathe through your nose again and you can't? Get up and carry on with your day and suffer in silence? Proclaim to the world that you are dying because you have 'man flu' (could just be a man thing)? Or do you look for a remedy that will help you get by? Well, that is what nasal decongestants do. when treated like other medicines and not abused or 'overdosed' a nasal decongestant can clear your blocked nasal passages allowing you a half day or more of clear breathing through your nose, almost as if you didn't have a cold at all, (except for the headaches and the sore throat and chest etc). Nasal sprays contain an ingredient (called a 'topical decongestant') called Oxymetazoline Hydrochloride, usual just called Oxymetazoline. This ingredient is a vasoconstrictor and works simply by narrowing blood vessels in your nose which causes the muscle wall to contract thus blocking the flow of nasal mucus.
Sounds delightful doesn't it? Well, OK, so it doesn't, but thats how it works and truth of the matter is, they DO work. From personal experience I have found that some work better than others, for reasons I can't explain, and the Vicks brand one was by far and away the best one I tried. It gave me the best relief, for the longest period, and is of an even price to other options. indeed some are more expensive, some less, all depending on where you shop, but Vicks variety provided the best value for money in my opinion.
Now, there are some negatives to using the nasal decongestant sprays that people need to be aware of. First of all, Oxymetazoline is a very addictive substance n that if NOT treated as you would another medicine and is abused or overdosed, you can develop a dependency on it leading to what is called 'rebound congestion'. Essentially, you damage the blood vessels in your nose and the your sinuses swell up unless you continue to use the nasal spray. According to my GP after I had a severe cold last year, he told me in no uncertain terms that one spray per nostril every 6-8 hours, and for no longer than a week at most. Fortunately very rarely do colds last longer than a few days, and as I mentioned previously, Vicks nasal spray worked so well that I need one spray every eight hours for complete sinus relief.
I DO highly recommend using this product as the product in general works wonderfully when used sensibly and in moderation. I also highly recommend that people wanting to use nasal sprays choose the Vicks brand as it provides the best relief for the best price, generally around the £3 mark, give or take 50p.
One last note, many people I know choose not to use nasal sprays as the method of application is daunting. There is no easy way to use nasal decongestants, it is up your nose, head slightly tilted back spray and breathe in deeply through the nostril you have the spray in. Yes it can make you gag and retch, especially the first time, and will produce a lot of excess runny mucus for you to dispose of in the traditional manner, but once you have done both nostrils and breathe in deeply for the first time and fell the air rush through your nasal passages, those few moments of discomfort are worth every second. Just make sure if you use it that you use it sensibly.

Summary: This product is a near miracle and the Vick brand offers the best relief for the best price.