Millions Suffer From Addiction to OTC Nasal Sprays

Main Category: Ear, Nose and Throat
Article Date: 13 Jul 2005 - 0:00 PDT

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One of the most common complaints by patients suffering from chronic sinus problems is nasal obstruction and over all congestion. Aside from making it uncomfortable to breathe, this condition can also cause headaches, lack of sleep, and a lowered resistance to general sinus infections.

Due to the severity of their symptoms, chronic sinus sufferers eventually turn to chemical nasal sprays in an attempt to combat their chronic congestion. In turn, a growing percentage of these patients are reporting an addiction to Over The Counter (OTC) nasal sprays, and many physicians are concerned about the connection between these OTC products and a worsening of chronic sick sinus symptoms.

The product names are well known and each helps support a Billion dollar company, but these companies have made clear the fact that if their products are mentioned by name in this article, lawsuits will most definitely follow.

The most popular OTC nasal sprays use many of the same chemically active ingredients such as Phenylephrine, Xylometazoline and the most popular Oxymetazoline. Not only are these chemicals bad for your body, but they can also lead to addiction and recurring symptoms that worsen over time. Worse yet, repeated use of these sprays is also known to damage the sensitive membranes inside the nasal passages which can lead to chronic nose bleeds.

"The whole thing becomes a revolving door of addiction," says Wayne Perry, president and founder of SiCap Industries, the company made famous for introducing the world's first commercially available hot pepper nasal spray.

Known as "Sinus Buster," Perry's spicy concoction has been thoroughly embraced by thousands of physicians and nearly 50 thousand dedicated users. Officially launched in 2004, Sinus Buster has become one of the most talked about Nutraceutical products of the past year. Not only does it have a solid reputation as the most effective natural remedy for chronic headaches and sinus conditions, but it's also recommended by hundreds of doctors as an alternative to addictive OTC nasal sprays.

"I've been addicted to various nasal sprays all my life. They start working at first, but then I start needing more and more to keep it working. Finally I started getting nosebleeds and my doctor told me to get off the nasal sprays. He suggested saline spray and that did help stop my nosebleeds, but it didn't do anything to stop my sinus problems. I almost went back to the drug store nasal sprays. Then I read an article about Sinus Buster and how it could help with nasal spray addiction and my congestion. Since the first day I started using that stuff my sinus problems have been under control and I never felt better," says Robin Burgensen, a loyal Sinus Buster user from central Ohio.

"We have hundreds of doctors who say they use Sinus Buster to help get their patients out from under OTC nasal spray addiction. Not only is Sinus Buster safe to use as needed, but within a few days, most nasal spray addicts are completely clean from the chemical sprays. They do continue to use Buster regularly for relieving chronic congestion and related symptoms, but after a few months they end up only using it when they need it. For most people, the more they use intranasal capsaicin, the less they need it. On the other hand, the more you use a chemical nasal spray, the more you end up needing it. Eventually it causes the same problems most users are looking to relieve in the first place. Basically Sinus Buster can wean anyone off of chemical sprays while also relieving their sick sinus symptoms and it's as safe to use as saline. It's completely natural and even pregnant women can use it," adds Perry.

It may sound as though patients are trading one addiction for another, but unlike natural pepper spray, chemical OTC nasal sprays are in a dangerous category all their own. While the natural (Capsaicin) in Sinus Buster fights the root causes of congestion, inflammation and pain, chemical sprays artificially mask symptoms. The active medications in these sprays cause the tiny blood vessels within the mucous membranes to constrict which appears to provide temporary relief at first, but once the chemicals wear off the symptoms return with a vengeance. The more often a person uses chemicals such as phenylephrine, xylometazoline and oxymetazoline, the worse their chronic symptoms become over time. This is the cycle that leads to classic nasal spray addiction.

Unlike "All Natural" nasal sprays, chemical sprays cause a variety of problems when used for more than two or three days at a time. Chemical sprays eventually cause rebound congestion and headaches which is what leads to addiction in the first place. Chemical ingredients also damage the sensitive lining inside the nose. Moreover, long term use of these chemical sprays can also damage the liver and other vital organs.

Although it's a well regarded fact that chemical nasal sprays can be as addictive as Morphine, there have not been any large studies focusing on the number of people actually addicted. Many researchers estimate numbers approaching the 10 million mark in the United States alone -- based on reports from independent physicians.

"We know there are at least 50 million Americans suffering from long term chronic sinus problems, and according to the experiences of ENTs and MDs, as many as one out of four of these people are addicted to popular over the counter nasal sprays," Perry explains.

According to Perry, the companies that produce the most popular nasal sprays are well aware of the complications. In fact, Perry believes these companies rely on the addictive nature of their products to keep sales booming - similar to cigarette manufacturers.

And Perry isn't alone in criticizing the OTC nasal spray industry. Physicians around the world generally recommend against using chemically based over the counter nasal sprays of any kind. In turn, those same physicians recommend using an "All Natural" solution to help wean patients off the chemicals. Now it seems, all natural hot pepper nasal spray is proving to be the most effective tool for breaking the nasal spray addiction cycle.

To find out more about Sinus Buster hot pepper nasal spray, visit the company website at (www.sinusbuster.com). Samples and information kits are also available for verified medical and media personnel upon request.

SICAP INDUSTRIES, LLC

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