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Afrin Nose Spray & Smell Loss

I've got a bit of a cold and it's allergy/pollen season here in Atlanta so that's not helping either, but I have used Afrin very sparingly over the past couple of days to help with symptoms. I have not used Zicam spray, I've read those can cause damage to olfactory nerves. I did notice yesterday that my sense of smell was gone although I could still breathe through my nose (still a bit congested, but able to breathe). My question is, has Afrin ever been known to cause loss of smell? Is this a temporary thing just due to sinus inflammation or has the Afrin permanently damaged something? I'm a 28 year old male and I've never experienced such a drastic loss of smell. Any help?
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Avatar universal
Hey everyone, I too had this issue! I had a really bad cold due to finals week and my immune system being down because of all of the stress!! So I just took Afrin and ibuprofen and hoped for the best because I've used both before with no problem. On the 5th day of use (about once a day) I realized at lunch with friends that I couldn't taste A THING, or smell ANYTHING. I was terrified and panicked. Immediately went to my doctor and he said he had heard of this before and had some options for me. He wrote me a script for Prednisone to decrease all the swelling from my acute rhinitis, and recommended Sudafed as well. He also said the most effective way of "washing out" the Afrin use is to use Saline Washes (which I have read many of you have!). I took both medicines and used the rinse twice before I went to sleep. On about hour 36 from the time I realized I had no taste/smell, it was restored! It was faint at first, but progressively my taste and smell has gotten back to normal. So, be patient, I know how panicking it can be, but your body will rid itself of that Afrin (threw it right in the trash) and return to normal in time. Definitely recommend the saline solutions and if your doctor recommends, a oral steroid for inflammation which was probably the primary cause anyway! Good luck all!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I starting using Afrin for the first time about 2 weeks ago due to severe nasal congestion. At first it was great, it really worked. Until...about a week into using it, I completely lost my sense of smell and taste. I stopped immediately. That was about a week ago. I visited my doctor yesterday and she said she's had numerous patients that have come to her with the same thing. She told me "Afrin is the devil." When she looked up my nose she said my nasal tissue is literally shredded and it going to take time to heal. She said my loss of smell and taste she completely come back 100% with time. She prescribed a high dose antibiotic and told me to do a saline rinse every few hours with a pure saline spray.  All I can do now is follow her instructions and wait. This really *****, I wish I never used Afrin!!!!
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I used Afrin ONCE! yesterday and my sense of smell and taste were GONE!  I stopped using immediately.  I can taste today. Smell is slowly coming back. This product should be BANNED!!!  I am very upset!
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
How do you feel now? I have the same issue right now and scared. pls help.
Avatar universal
I have been addicted to Afrin for 20 years.  I have no sense of smell and car barely taste.  I wonder if my senses can be restored.  Has it affected your senses also?  
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I was addicted for 7 years....it was a rough 24 hours but I broke the addiction by using saline spray.... but I also lost almost all my sense of smell and taste.  Years later.. I still have little or no sense of smell or taste.  At the moment I am trying aroma therapy sniffing certain essential oils... but I see no results yet..
Avatar universal
As well as the rest of you I lost my sence of smell and taste after using three times OMG how aweful this has been since FEB 2015 I've seen 2  E.N.T.Doctors and they can't help nothing they can do so I talked with lawyer nothing he can do So who can do something what kind of life is this now coulden't even smell the flowers this year so aggervated.With all these people you think someone could make this right this product should come with warning label WILL LOSE SMELL AND TASTE FOREVER guess what I would not buy that but I did no warning now this effects my life forever thank you AFRIN....Shame on you
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
How do you feel now? I have the same issue right now and scared. pls help.
Avatar universal
As well as the rest of you I lost my sence of smell and taste after using three times OMG how aweful this has been since FEB 2015 I've seen 2  E.N.T.Doctors and they can't help nothing they can do so I talked with lawyer nothing he can do So who can do something what kind of life is this now coulden't even smell the flowers this year so aggervated.With all these people you think someone could make this right this product should come with warning label WILL LOSE SMELL AND TASTE FOREVER guess what I would not buy that but I did no warning now this effects my life forever thank you AFRIN....Shame on you
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I was a nose spray junkie for 7 years.. I used it after getting hooked on it from a cold, then I could not stop as it felt like I would suffocate,.. I used it numerous times daily..so I talked to a pharmacist who suggested saline spray and a rough 24 hours of withdrawal...  but it worked, I was able to break the habit of Afrin however it was to late for my sense of taste and smell.   Now 20 years or so later, my sense of smell and taste are still gone.    
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