Afrin
Encyclopedia
Afrin is a brand of nasal spray
used to ease nasal congestion that is available over-the-counter in the USA. 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
.
s. Some of these commercials showed men, women, and children 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. Currently, there are reports of anosmia
with prolonged use of Afrin.
Nasal spray
Nasal sprays come in a variety of forms. Medicated such as Astelin, Afrin and Nasonex and natural such as Sinusoothe and Sterimar. Although delivery methods vary, most nasal sprays function by instilling a fine mist into the nostril by action of a hand-operated pump mechanism.-Antihistamine nasal...
used to ease nasal congestion that is available over-the-counter in the USA. The generic name for this medication is Oxymetazoline
Oxymetazoline
Oxymetazoline is a selective alpha-1 agonist and partial alpha-2 agonist topical decongestant, used in the form of Oxymetazoline hydrochloride, in products such as Afrin, Dristan, Nasivin, Logicin, Vicks Sinex, Visine L.R., Sudafed OM, and Zicam. It was developed from Xylometazoline at E.Merck...
hydrochloride
Hydrochloride
In chemistry, hydrochlorides are salts resulting, or regarded as resulting, from the reaction of hydrochloric acid with an organic base . This is also known as muriate, derived from hydrochloric acid's other name: muriatic acid....
. 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
Rhinitis medicamentosa is a condition of rebound nasal congestion brought on by extended use of topical decongestants that work by constricting blood vessels in the lining of the nose.-Presentation:This condition typically occurs after 5 to 7 days of use of such medications...
(rhinitis medicamentosa). This can cause a dependency on the product; recovery may take some time.
Afrin is distributed by Schering-Plough HealthCare Products
Schering-Plough
Schering-Plough Corporation was a United States-based pharmaceutical company. It was founded in 1851 by Ernst Christian Friedrich Schering as Schering AG in Germany. In 1971, the Schering Corporation merged with Plough to form Schering-Plough. On November 4, 2009 Merck & Co...
.
History
Afrin was first sold as a prescription medication in 1966. After finding substantial early success as a prescription medication, it became available as an over-the-counter drug in 1975. Schering did not engage in heavy advertising until 1986. From the late-1980s to mid-1990s, Afrin featured in many notable television advertisementTelevision advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
s. Some of these commercials showed men, women, and children 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. Currently, there are reports of anosmia
Anosmia
Anosmia is a lack of functioning olfaction, or in other words, an inability to perceive odors. Anosmia may be either temporary or permanent. A related term, hyposmia, refers to a decreased ability to smell, while hyperosmia refers to an increased ability to smell. Some people may be anosmic for one...
with prolonged use of Afrin.