Yeditepe University Hospital Otolaryngology Specialist warned about unconscious use of nose drops. "Most of the nasal drops that have been used for months or even years can be used for up to 3 days," says our specialist, who says that when this period is exceeded, some of the drops are addictive and there are some risks of overuse.

Yeditepe University Hospital Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist, who gives informative information about nasal drops, says that when the air taken from the nose is not enough, when it is not possible to breathe comfortably, nasal drops are used and most products on the market open the nose quickly as soon as they are used, allowing the patient to breathe easily. Noting that there are basically two types of drops, Dr. Pata said, "The first group is drops called short-term decongestants, which are used for 1-3 days. The second group can be used for months or even years." However, the drops that are used extensively by a considerable number of people today belong to the first group. Pata explains, "Because these drops open the nose in a few minutes and relieve the patient's breath like a miracle."

Stating that the tissue called concha in the nose is filled with blood and swells and can prevent breathing, our specialist said, "The change that the drop causes in the body is that it shrinks the swollen adenoid. As the adenoid shrinks, the way the air passes through the nose opens and the person begins to breathe much easier," adding: "This discomfort arises due to the disorder in the opening and closing of the vessels in the nasal tissue. The discomfort may occur later, or it may be found structurally in some people."

It is Addictive!

Our specialist summarizes the risks that may arise when nasal drops are used unconsciously as follows: "After 10-15 days of use of the drops that should be used for a short time (3 days), some risks arise. First, the nose loses its sensitivity to the active substance in the drop after a while and begins not to give the same reaction at the same dose. The drop, which is squeezed with a sheet or 2-3 drops at first, needs to be squeezed with two or even three sheets or 6-7 drops in order to have the same effect after a while, and this situation increases in the frequency of use and leads to addiction." And at the end of weeks and months, these sprays become so addictive that they have to be kept in the pockets of clothes or handbags and used throughout the day.

Emphasizing that atrophy, which is an irreversible disorder, is another result of the continuous use of nasal drops, our specialist explains the disease as follows: "There are glands in our nose. Our nose remains moist thanks to these glands. If decongestant nasal drops or sprays are used too much, the secretion of these glands decreases first and then may stop completely. When atrophy develops, these glands no longer work, and the nose begins to dry. Atrophy is a rare but irreversible disease that can cause results such as crust, inflammation, and bad smell in the nose."

Using Drops Is Not the Solution!

"The solution is surgery or non-surgical methods," says our specialist, who states that the solution to not being able to breathe through the nose is not to use nasal drops, and adds:

"First of all, it is determined why breathing is not comfortable, and then the problem is sometimes solved with drugs and sometimes with surgical methods. If surgical intervention is to be performed, the most important thing to be considered is not to disrupt the functions of the nose. Conchae is especially important for nasal functions. The nasal airway should be opened without damaging the concha with any surgery to be performed. At this point, the most frequently used methods are radiofrequency or laser, or electrocautery to shrink the conchae called adenoid. Each method can be performed in a few minutes and the patient can continue their daily life."