Just a warning. If you use Afrin w/ Oxymetazoline hydrochloride to clear up your nose, it will do a great job at it. Unfortunately you won’t be able to smell from the nostril you used it in so you will miss out on the finer aspects of snuffing. I found this out the hard way. Vick VapoInhaler, however, does not affect your sense of smell and unclogs your nose nicely.
Im ashamed to admit that since my sinus’ started to flare up (due to smoking) 4-5 years ago, Ive used afrin everyday. I realize the bottle say stop after 3days use, but I just love to breathe through my nose what can I say, lol. Im going to try usinf that vapo-inhaler then, because my sense of smell blows, and now I might know why, as I never put the two together.
Get off the Afrin. It is a vicious cycle. Soon enough you will have to use the Afrin to clear you up from using the Afrin. Use a neti pot, or find a snuff that gets your nose to run.
cstokes is right, after a while it dries you up and causes more problems like a stuffed up nose.
I quit nasal decongestant about 3 weeks ago, it was hard because i had a long time addiction but now my nose is fine , i think this kind of medicine makes the thing worse in long time users, quit this stuff guys and i can assure you : after 3 or 4 days breathing through your mouth your nose will back to normal and you wont need the medicine 10 times a day 
Really please just say no to nasal spray it is highly addictive.
Yeah Im going to have to stop, I cant smell worth a damn.
Not only is this stuff addictive, but it raises your blood pressure.
Most nasal decongestants are a big scam. While they do work when you first use them, they all have a “rebound” effect, so that as they wear off, you are MORE congested than before you used them. I too love the feeling of being able to breathe through my nose (especially at night when I sleep) but I make a very big effort to steer around the various Otrivin/Dristan etc. products. Sometimes, I have gotten significant relief just from breathing in steam: fill a bowl with hot water, maybe some herbal tea or something, put a towel over your head to make a hood around the bowl, and breathe in through your nose for a couple of minutes. That works for me about 50% of the time, often for hours and hours. Sometimes I find that the saline nasal spray will also cause my sinuses to start draining, although that only works for me maybe 20% of the time. I bought a neti pot but haven’t used it yet…
OK history lesson kiddies: A neti pot was used by yogis as one of the six kriyas, or purifications as outlined in Patangali’s Yoga Sutras. Jala Neti is the Neti Kriya we are familiar with but the Neti Kriya has 2 parts. The second being Sutra Neti. This is where a wet string with the end sealed with wax to make easy usage is passed through the nose and out of the mouth. In modern times a catheter can be used. These techniques will get you squeaky clean.
Ryan, I am having enough trouble trying to pour water through my nose from one nostril to the other. I am not even contemplating pulling a string through my poor, much abused schnozz.
Yeah I know, it’s an advanced practice. But I thought someone would like to know about it.
@digitalsedition good news. after the swelling in my nose came dow and I rested some, my smelling came back. Might for you too
Yeah I have been using it for so long, Im concerned my nose is shot. When I get paid I think ill reup on my saline salt and try to kick the afrin monkey off my back.
I use my Neti pot most every day
I thought I was drowning when I used mine, not a lover of them. I’m single so now brew my tea in it.
If you experience congestion then your habit of taking snuff must be a prime suspect. Usage will also exacerbate a problem such as a deviated septum or polyps. Rather than take a decongestant try altering your snuff habit for a month or so and see if that makes a difference. From the age of about 45-50 I had to limit the intake of dry fine snuff to no more than two grams daily because it was starting to cause chronic congestion. Fortunately coarse moist snuff has never had the same effect and I manage around eight grams a day without consequence. A friend of mine takes J&H Wilsons No.99 and is permanently blocked up. She claims that a strong medicated snuff is all she can inhale and taste and refuses all other brands (except menthols). She is now addicted to inhalants as well as medicated snuff.
I use AYR saline Nasal Mist, I just can’t bring myself to by a netipot. Can’t stand to have that much water in my sinuses. feels like I’m drowning.