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2.5 Overall Rating

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Ease of Use

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Most voted positive review

14 People found this comment helpful

My Army Doctors all have panic attacks when I tell them I am using Afrin, but other Rx nasal sprays (cortico-steroids and anti-histamines)have almost no effect, except side effects. I have asked them why Afrin is so bad, but the ONLY side effect is that you may become dependent on it. Being that I have literally been congested my entire life without pause, Afrin is a lifesaver! One could argue tha...

Most voted negative review

3 People found this comment helpful

I’ve been using this product for a while now but this last night it reacted differently. Burned the living crap out of my throat it’s been 12+ hours and still in tremendous pain. Definitely calling the company. This needs to be off the shelves. Easily one of the worst days I’ve ever had. I’ve never read worse reviews on a product in my life. DO NOT TAKE. BEWARE. My heart goes out to all those suff...

Shared reviews and ratings

Jelly | 25-34 | Male | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
3/14/2024
Condition: Stuffy Nose
Overall rating 1.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Burns like fire. Feels like something so corrosive it's dissolving my membrane. Been a few hours now and no relief despite my best efforts to relieve the pain

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Ron | 45-54 | Male | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
3/11/2024
Condition: Stuffy Nose
Overall rating 4.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

The only spray that helps me. Just don't overuse it or you will get rebound congestion like I did(

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Anonymous | 25-34 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
3/8/2024
Condition: Stuffy Nose
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Well it cleared my nose out alright. But now my throat is on FIRE which is now the new culprit keeping me from sleeping. If only I had read the reviews on here first! How is a product like this still on the market?? This burning is enough to make me go to the ER if it wasn't 2am and I hadn't read all these reviews saying nothing will help. Guess I'll lay here and suffer in tears for God knows how long. If I'm lucky maybe the burning will stop soon

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Jack | 19-24 | Male | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
7/4/2023
Condition: Stuffy Nose
Overall rating 1.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I put the bottle the right way up, squeezed firmly twice, and nothing came out. Assumed you had to hold your head back. Liquid poured straight down my nose and into throat, sore burning sensation ensued. Hold the bottle UPRIGHT as per instructions, do not make the same mistake as me (and judging from the site, apparently many others).

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Elizabeth | 13-18 | Female | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years |
4/25/2023
Condition: Stuffy Nose
Overall rating 3.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Afrin works like a charm and never caused me any burning for 4+ years and now my mom had me switch to equate nose spray with a lot oxymetazoline in it and it is causing so much pain in my throat nose ears and my eyes are watering non stop and my nose is running like crazy, if anything I don't recommend equate, it sucks, I just wish they would make a nose spray that doesn't cause you to be in pain, like I have to choose whether to not breath or be in pain, I can't choose and tbh I don't think anyone can, this company needs to do better and stop causing harm to your customers, this stuff needs to be banned, plus isn't dangerous to put all that stuff up your nose, y'all need to make something more naturalRead More Read Less

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Molly | 19-24 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
3/29/2023
Condition: Stuffy Nose
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

DO NOT BUY THIS. This product is horrible!!! I have been dealing with a bad head cold so my boyfriend picked this up for me on his way home. After two sprays in each nostril…. Instant regret. The burning and pain I experienced was insane. I’m on hour 5 now and the pain will not go away. Experiencing severe burning all up my nose and down my throat. I feel like I drank battery acid. I have tried saline rinses, cold water, popsicles, warm water& salt gargle, ibuprofen, cough drops, and NOTHING is relieving the pain!!! I thought I was having an allergic reaction but I’m happy to have stumbled across this page to realize I’m not alone or crazy.. Read More Read Less

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Tom | 35-44 | Male | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
3/6/2023
Condition: Stuffy Nose
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

So grateful for this stuff! Clears my congestion when I have a cold so I can sleep!

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IRegretMyChoice | 25-34 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
2/20/2023
Condition: Stuffy Nose
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

THE REVIEWS ARE RIGHT!!! This spray is absolutely horrible! It feels like I stuck a lighter up my nose and down my throat. Thank god I only sprayed it in one nostril because holy f. I didn’t even know this was a thing… until I was sick one night and sprayed this new nasal spray up my nose. I instantly regretted that choice as my nostrils and throat begin to burn like I had snorted battery acid. Here we are 2 hours later and I’m still in severe pain!!! I had to Google “why is my nose burning after using decongestant spray”. Wish I would have done this research first ??Read More Read Less

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Donna | 35-44 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
2/12/2023
Condition: Other
Overall rating 1.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

It burned all the lining inside my nose, it is now infected with pus and blood, i only sprayed once, its 4 days later and i wake up at night with a throbbing nose. I would never recommend this ingredient.

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CanadianIce | 35-44 | Female | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Patient
1/18/2023
Condition: Stuffy Nose
Overall rating 1.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Have been using this product off and on for years but tonight it somehow ended up dripping into my throat and I would only wish this on my worst enemies! After a few hours of intense pain I finally Googled and while I am relieved others have also experienced this I am sad to see people saying this pain lasted 12+ hours. Won’t be using this again.

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Dumbdoctor | 25-34 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
12/28/2022
Condition: Stuffy Nose
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

If I could use every curse word on here I would. Do NOT use this stuff. I swear the pain made me feel like I wanted to die at one point. I’m still going through it. It feels like I put a ghost pepper up one of my nostrils. It’s one of the absolute worst pains of my life. I’m a DOCTOR btw. DO NOT USE THIS STUFF. I will never ever use it or prescribe it to a patient ever. It’s been 3 hours, my God

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Marc | 25-34 | Male | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
12/11/2022
Condition: Stuffy Nose
Overall rating 3.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

This stuff is strong!! unfortunately the directions are poor so many first timers including myself have burnt the living daylights out of our nasal passages. Don’t let the medicine seep from your nose into your throat! Keep your forehead down when using the medicine and for a few moments after. If this medicine touches your throat, it’s going to be in pain for the next 12+ hrs. Good luck!

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Rebekah | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
12/9/2022
Condition: Stuffy Nose
Overall rating 1.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Burning like nothing I ve ever experienced. Do not use!!

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Sam | 19-24 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
12/3/2022
Condition: Stuffy Nose
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

It immediately burned the back of my throat. I thought I was having an allergic reaction until I read these reviews. This went straight into the trash. I used this an hour ago and it won’t go away. I’ve gargled numbing solution, saline water, hot water, used a Nettie pot, I ate soup to try to wash it down, and chugged a bottle of water. This medicine is NOT worth the risk of the pain. Try something else.

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Evileve | 25-34 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
11/11/2022
Condition: Stuffy Nose
Overall rating 2.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Tonight I took a hopeful drive to the local Rite Aid, looking for a solution to a stuffy nose. Instead I found the newest war torture method to hit the market! I used two sprays in each nostril and somehow felt both a simultaneous rush of freezing cold air and burning hot stinging. This nasal spray defied the laws of temperature, gravity, and the human will to live. Still, as a rational human being I assumed it must end soon, right? WRONG. The battle of fire and ice waged inside of my nostrils for two hours (and continues to as I write this), burning my eyes, ears, throat, and nose: the remix of “heads shoulders knees and toes” from hell. This nasal spray turned the poetic concept of “the itch you can’t scratch” into a tortuous reality, an itchiness deep inside of my face, neck, and throat with no relief in sight. To the poor souls reading this in the future, it’s okay we’ve all made this mistake. Except now I’m probably recovered and living in luxury. Now drink some hot tea, use some cough drops, and shove some Vaseline up your incinerated nostrils while you wait it out. PS: Worked really effectively, will use again (with a very tiny spritz instead of the regular dose).Read More Read Less

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evileve | 25-34 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
11/10/2022
Condition: Stuffy Nose
Overall rating 2.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Tonight I took a hopeful drive to the local Rite Aid, looking for a solution to a stuffy nose. Instead I found the newest war torture method to hit the market! I used two sprays in each nostril and somehow felt both a simultaneous rush of freezing cold air and burning hot stinging. This nasal spray defied the laws of temperature, gravity, and the human will to live. Still, as a rational human being I assumed it must end soon, right? WRONG. The battle of fire and ice waged inside of my nostrils for two hours (and continues to as I write this), burning my eyes, ears, throat, and nose: the remix of “heads shoulders knees and toes” from hell. This nasal spray turned the poetic concept of “the itch you can’t scratch” into a tortuous reality, an itchiness deep inside of my face, neck, and throat with no relief in sight. To the poor souls reading this in the future, it’s okay we’ve all made this mistake. Except now I’m probably recovered and living in luxury. Now drink some hot tea, use some cough drops, and shove some Vaseline up your incinerated nostrils while you wait it out.Read More Read Less

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Torture victim | 13-18 | Male | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
11/7/2022
Condition: Stuffy Nose
Overall rating 3.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I dont think I could use this on my worst enemy the burning won’t stop and it’s been hours praying for those who are suffering

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Dayv | 35-44 | Male | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
9/30/2022
Condition: Stuffy Nose
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

This is INSANE! My nasal passages are on FIRE. I tried steam, I tried saline rinse. Nothing helps. Its been about 24 hours with no relief.

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Mandy | 25-34 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
9/26/2022
Condition: Runny Nose
Overall rating 3.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Well it stopped my nose from running. But boy I would rather have the runny nose than this pain. I feel like I swallowed battery acid and then ate fire. I can't talk it hurts so bad. The devil himself must have made this stuff in h*ll. Never again!!!!

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Jay | 45-54 | Male | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
9/9/2022
Condition: Stuffy Nose
Overall rating 4.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I have used a generic Afrin for a stuffed up nose and it was almost instant relief. I believe that most people who have the burning issue with this medication already have inflamed irritated tissues and this medication made it worse for them and they probably used way too much medication to begin with. One spray in each nostril does the trick. If you use too much it will be uncomfortable and painful. I made that mistake the first time also... plus you should be humidifying the air when you use this medication. It will dry out you nasal passages making the irritation worse for a while. Also, if you already have a sinus infection this medication will do nothing to help with that. You should be on an anti-biotic for any infection. Saline rinse also helps with the inflamed irritated nasal tissues until you heal some from whatever is causing you sinuses to swell. I just used common sense and a little Google knowledge to get me through my nose issues...Read More Read Less

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