Prior to flying...does anyone take Afrin nasal spray?

[cpdrn7]

Over the years, each time I come home from a vacation from flying, I come down within a week or so later --a serious sinus infection.
I was wondering if I took this the day before and the day of flight if that may help. I do not want to call the doctor and sound like a yahoo if unneeded! I knew I could ask my budget friends and they would know!!
Thanks in advance!!

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

This question is actually more appropriate to the Transportation Board where you'll find a large number of frequent fliers. So I'm going to move this thread there.

 

[WillCAD]

No help whatsoever.

First of all, Afrin is not an antibiotic; it will not kill any disease-causing organisms. It is a vaso-constrictor; it makes the blood vessels in your sinuses shrink temporarily, thus reducing swelling and temporarily opening swelled sinus passages.

WARNING: Over-use of Afrin and similar products can cause damage to the mucus membranes inside the nose that resemble chemical burns. Over time, your sense of smell can be permanently reduced, and you can develop a condition known as phantosmia, or phantom smells.

Afrin can temporarily relieve nasal swelling and allow you to breathe if you have a cold or sinus infection, but it cannot prevent or cure the infection itself. It can only offer temporary relief to one symptom of those infections.

 

[mousemom11]

Over the years, each time I come home from a vacation from flying, I come down within a week or so later --a serious sinus infection.
I was wondering if I took this the day before and the day of flight if that may help. I do not want to call the doctor and sound like a yahoo if unneeded! I knew I could ask my budget friends and they would know!!
Thanks in advance!!

I think asking your doctor if there is something you can do before or during your trip to prevent your recurring sinus infections is a legitimate question and not yahoo-ish at all.

 

[Tara]

You might want to try nasal irrigation, similar to neti pot use. http://www.sinucleanse.com/product/squeeze.htm

 

[uva185]

Over the years, each time I come home from a vacation from flying, I come down within a week or so later --a serious sinus infection.
I was wondering if I took this the day before and the day of flight if that may help. I do not want to call the doctor and sound like a yahoo if unneeded! I knew I could ask my budget friends and they would know!!
Thanks in advance!!

I think you should talk to your doctor.

I fly several times per month for the past 5+ years and have never gotten sick from a plane or trip.

Do you only get the sinus infection on trips that involve a plane? Have you ever gotten sick after the outbound flight or is it always after you return from vacation?

Seems like you may be compromising your immune system somehow during your travels which leads to the sinus infection. Could be a change in diet, more running around, less sleep, etc.

I have a friend that gets sick 9 out of 10 times he goes on a vacation. (Weekend trips, road trips, everything) He works extra hard to prepare to leave for the trip and his immune system essentially crashes and he gets sick while on vacation.

 

[SeansMom]

Interesting question; Have you been sick before you flew? Do you have ear or sinus problems? Do you have a compromised immune system?

Afrin is a safe drug if used as directed. It will open up your sinuses and eustasian tubes but if they aren't blocked, there isn't much need for that.

Perhaps you need an immune booster instead? Healthy diet, lots of water, and perhaps a daily multy vitamin. You can try a Neti Pot as suggested, but it may be easier to use a saline nasal spray every AM and PM a few days before and after you fly.

If in doubt, check with your nurse practioner/ARNP.

Good luck!

 

[angwill]

I too get used to get bad sinus infections but I would never use Afrin since it is not for repeated use. If I feel sinus congestion coming on I use my neti pot to clean out the passages and if I then get stuffy I take Aleve cold and sinus to keep my sinus passages open. My doctor told me that if you keep your breathing passages open you will not get an infection. The majority of times I prevent the infection from happening this way.

My sinus infections are caused by allergies to different things. If a hotel A/C filter or vent system is not clean the dust will cause sinus irritation and congestion. Ragweed and different pollens are another issue for me especially if I spend extended amounts of time outside. It could be that something in a new climate is causing problems and spending lots of times outside while at Disney could be the trigger. Thankfully I have never gotten a sinus infection on my trips to Disney. Now fall in the midwest is a killer for me though.

HTH

 

[HappyHappy]

Over the years, each time I come home from a vacation from flying, I come down within a week or so later --a serious sinus infection.
I was wondering if I took this the day before and the day of flight if that may help. I do not want to call the doctor and sound like a yahoo if unneeded! I knew I could ask my budget friends and they would know!!
Thanks in advance!!

Same here. My allergist suggested Afrin. I use it every time I fly (right before boarding). I also sit with a tissue over my nose and mouth for most of the flight (looks weird, who cares). No sinus infection since.

Now, having said that, I also believe in mind over matter; the power of suggestion; the power of positive thinking; etc Since I fly once a year, I figure it can't hurt...

Talk to your doctor.

 

[mickeyluv]

Over the years, each time I come home from a vacation from flying, I come down within a week or so later --a serious sinus infection.
I was wondering if I took this the day before and the day of flight if that may help. I do not want to call the doctor and sound like a yahoo if unneeded! I knew I could ask my budget friends and they would know!!
Thanks in advance!!

I have chronic eustachian tube dysfunction and have had pressure equalization tubes put in my ears 4 or 5 times in my life. Actually still have one in my right ear that hasn't come out yet from the last tube placement which was about 7 months ago. We only fly about once a year and my Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor told me to use Afrin about 12 hours before I fly, the day of my flight. But he also said to ONLY use this for flying and to discontinue it right after. That is the only time I use Afrin and it worked for me last year when we flew to MCO. I would definitely ask my doctor if I were you.

 

[patsfan101]

Just be careful with Afrin use - never use it repeatedely - it is addictive! Your nasal passages constrict when it wears off and you end up needing it more and more often!

 

[pooch]

I go to WDW (not that it stops me from going!). This time, I called my doctor, he gave me an antibiotic (not really sure I need one?) to take at the first sign of trouble and I'm bringing Advil cold & sinus and Afrin. I do have to be careful with the afrin as, as suggested by the PP, it is addictive! The more you use it, the more you need it. I'm actually getting sick right now with the weather changes here in CT. My luck, I'll get used to the cooler temps here just in time to go to the heat & humidity of FL & start the cycle all over again!!!

 

[Disney Ella]

I have chronic eustachian tube dysfunction and have had pressure equalization tubes put in my ears 4 or 5 times in my life. Actually still have one in my right ear that hasn't come out yet from the last tube placement which was about 7 months ago. We only fly about once a year and my Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor told me to use Afrin about 12 hours before I fly, the day of my flight. But he also said to ONLY use this for flying and to discontinue it right after. That is the only time I use Afrin and it worked for me last year when we flew to MCO. I would definitely ask my doctor if I were you.

My doctor suggested the same thing. I only use it when I fly. That is certainly not long enough to get addicted to it and I would imagine you would have no problem using it, OP. My doctor said to use it 1/2 half hour before takeoff and 1/2 hour before landing.

 

[DisTwix]

My doctor suggested the same thing. I only use it when I fly. That is certainly not long enough to get addicted to it and I would imagine you would have no problem using it, OP. My doctor said to use it 1/2 half hour before takeoff and 1/2 hour before landing.

I tend to have a ton of ear congestion and have had some terribly uncomfortable flights in the past. My doc suggested Afrin about a half hour pre-flight, and I have to say, it really seems to be the trick. I'm not sure that it would stave off infection, and as others have stated it isn't to be used over a period of time, but for me, to use it one time before hopping on the plane is exactly what I need!

 

[cpdrn7]

We take three vacations a year...the two I fly for I end up with the sinus infection. My ears hurt sometimes during the flight and other times, I can hardly hear the rest of the day... This pattern has been going on about four years now...and I am finally figuring it out. I dont work anymore or less prior to any trip or stress --but I think I will call the doctor. Maybe it is the other germs I am exposed to while on vacation ..who knows. I do know though, of all the family members in my house, I am the sickly one...the one who always get its harder than anyone else. Also at work( I deal with the public) me and another girl are the sickly ones...

 

[WillCAD]

I tend to have a ton of ear congestion and have had some terribly uncomfortable flights in the past. My doc suggested Afrin about a half hour pre-flight, and I have to say, it really seems to be the trick. I'm not sure that it would stave off infection, and as others have stated it isn't to be used over a period of time, but for me, to use it one time before hopping on the plane is exactly what I need!

No, Afrin will not stave off any infections. It's not an antibiotic, it just reduces swelling in the nasal passages.

We take three vacations a year...the two I fly for I end up with the sinus infection. My ears hurt sometimes during the flight and other times, I can hardly hear the rest of the day... This pattern has been going on about four years now...and I am finally figuring it out. I dont work anymore or less prior to any trip or stress --but I think I will call the doctor. Maybe it is the other germs I am exposed to while on vacation ..who knows. I do know though, of all the family members in my house, I am the sickly one...the one who always get its harder than anyone else. Also at work( I deal with the public) me and another girl are the sickly ones...

Ear pain can be a symptom of sinus infections, but just because you get ear pain doesn't automatically mean you have a sinus infection. Ear pain is common when people fly due to changes in air pressure during takeoff and landing, just like when you dive into the deep end of a pool. Even when an airplane is fully pressurized, the pressure is lower than ground level, so some people wind up with ear pain through the whole flight, and it lasts a while after landing. But it's worst during takeoff and landing, when the pressure changes occur quickly.

Your doctor may be able to give you some ear drops that will ease the pain, and there is a commercial ear plug product called EarPlanes available that helps some folks avoid it, as well.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've used Afrin....actually used it back when it was a prescription drug. And I got addicted to it. Used it every day...several times a day. I couldn't breath without it. Finally went to an allergist about it...his question to me was this..
'Have you ever used cocaine??' Seems my membranes looked exactly like those of a coke addict's nose!! A bit scary!! I managed to get off the Afrin and use it only very occasionally in order to sleep if I'm really congested.
But...I would imagine that while Afrin isn't an antibiotic, it would prevent the build up of mucus, which would help prevent an infection in the sinuses. But, it might be worthwhile to think about an allergy decongestant. I like Tylenol Sinus..it works really well. I take it before flying now...just in case. It seems to help prevent any congestion from building up.

 

[WillCAD]

I've used Afrin....actually used it back when it was a prescription drug. And I got addicted to it. Used it every day...several times a day. I couldn't breath without it. Finally went to an allergist about it...his question to me was this..
'Have you ever used cocaine??' Seems my membranes looked exactly like those of a coke addict's nose!! A bit scary!! I managed to get off the Afrin and use it only very occasionally in order to sleep if I'm really congested.
But...I would imagine that while Afrin isn't an antibiotic, it would prevent the build up of mucus, which would help prevent an infection in the sinuses. But, it might be worthwhile to think about an allergy decongestant. I like Tylenol Sinus..it works really well. I take it before flying now...just in case. It seems to help prevent any congestion from building up.

That's a good point Diane - I actually use decongestants with pseudophedrine in them to relieve my allergy symptoms and sinus swelling. I used Drixoral for over 20 years, but that was discontinued a few years ago, so now I use Zyrtec-D. Pseudophedrine doesn't have the "rebounding" effect that a vasoconstrictor like Afrin has, so it's not addictive. With my many, many allergies, and my sinuses being so sensitive to weather changes (I get pressure headaches EVERY time a weather front moves through), I wind up taking a Zyrtec-D several times a week. During the spring and fall allergy seasons, there are periods of a couple of weeks where I take it every day.

I seriously doubt that vasoconstrictors like Afrin have ANY effect on infection. Mucus buildup only happens if you're already infected, anyway, so even if Afrin prevents mucus buildup - in my experience, it actually does the opposite - you'd already be infected, anyway. Using it for temporary relief from nasal swelling is fine, but don't count on something with no antibiotic properties to prevent or cure an infection, because it won't. It will only provide temporary relief from one symptom of those infections.

Yes, I use Afrin, though I use it sparingly and at 1/3 the dose recommended on the bottle, when I need instant relief and can't wait for the pseudophedrine to kick in. And I have wound up with damage to my nasal membranes whenever I've over-used it.

Before leaving home to get on a plane, I take a Zyrtec-D to mitigate any allergy symptoms I might have from travelling and prevent sinus swelling from the pressure changes, and I may take a low dose of Afrin, if my nasal passages are swollen. Fortunately, I've never had any ear trouble while flying, but if I ever do, I'll try EarPlanes, and I'll see my doctor for some ear drops.

 

[jenelope]

I think I would be more inclined to try Chloraseptic Allergen Block gel than Afrin. I don't know about the OP, but most of my sinus infections start with nasal allergies, so it might be worth trying something non-medicinal to prevent that.

I come down with cold symptoms about halfway through every long WDW trip these days. It's happened enough that I am putting cough drops and cold medicine on my packing list this year. Thank you for the reminder! My flight home last year was absolutely miserable, in spite of the 200% marked up Contac pills from the hotel gift shop.

 

[Flossbolna]

I started using a saline nasal spray on those long intercontinental flights from Europe. I once read that one of the problems of air travel is the very dry air and that if your nose dries out it is much less able to fight off any bacteria and viruses flying around. This made sense to me and while I can't proove that I did not get sick after a flight because of it, it seems to help. And besides, I can feel it how my nose dries out during the flight, so using the saline spray actually adds to my personal comfort, so I will continue using it! I spray my nose about every one to two hours during the flight. Sometimes I even use a saline spray that also has panthenol in it.

Just make sure to get a new spray for every trip as those bottles really should be used only for a short times once they are opened.