"Naphthyzin" for many years was the most popular product in our country. The quick action, low price, the ability to buy medicine without a prescription attracted many suffering from nasal congestion. However, a large number of patients from those who actively used the drug, were surprised to understand that after a week its effectiveness fell sharply, but it became very addictive.
I myself experienced the unpleasant consequences of addiction to this medicine. Even when the runny nose has long passed, the nose refused to breathe without the next dose of drops. Without them, my head hurt, my eyes watery. It’s good that in the forest where we lived for two months, I broke a bubble. After several painful days without a “dose,” I finally began to breathe on my own.
Today, this drug has several analogues. These include preparations "Galazolin", "Sanorin", "Nazol". All of them give a lot of side effects and are addictive. Even if the bottle contains the inscription "Naphthyzinum for children," this does not mean that the medicine is less harmful than the drug intended for adults. It is simply a lower concentration of the therapeutic substance naphazoline. This yellowish poorly water-soluble powder has a bright vasoconstrictor property. It reduces the flow of blood to the vessels located in the sinuses. That is why breathing is facilitated.
As well as the adult composition, "Naphthyzin" for children is not intended for the treatment of sinusitis, sinusitis, any other diseases. It is intended simply to ease breathing, to help overcome the acute period of the disease. The use of "Naphthyzin" is based on its ability to reduce puffiness, to have a very weak effect on inflammation, reducing it. Therefore, most often the drug is used to endow conditions in acute rhinitis, sometimes to stop bleeding or to relieve symptoms of sinusitis. In addition, the medicine is an auxiliary tool for rhinoscopy.
Actually, on this the beneficial effect of the drug with the name "Naphthyzinum children" ends.
Only contraindications and adverse reactions remain, due to which the medicine is practically not used in pediatrics today.
"Naphthyzinum for children" (and an adult too) is contraindicated:
- babies up to a year;
- people with unstable pressure;
- with any heart disease;
- diabetes
- eye diseases;
- during pregnancy, lactation.
It should be noted that if a medicine for children is used by adults to avoid adverse reactions, then this is a mistake: there are no less negative consequences, just the time of their onset is postponed.
The drug "Naphthyzinum", child or adult, can cause an unpleasant outcome. Here are just some of the undesirable manifestations: nausea, tachycardia, headache, increased pressure.
But if such consequences occur rather rarely, then addiction always occurs. It is expressed in the fact that the dose of the drug is acting less and less time, forcing either to shorten the intervals between drug administration, or to increase these doses.
So, do not use the drug at all? "Naphthyzinum for children" can be used, but do this with extreme caution.
First, drip into the nose no more than two drops. Children under five years of age drip 0.025 percent, over five - 0.05%.
Secondly, the medicine is used only on the advice of a doctor and not more than three times a day.
Finally, do not use the product for more than 4 days.
There is only one answer to the quite logical question of what to do if addiction in a child or adult has already occurred. You just need to throw the medicine away. The first few days the patient will experience a feeling of great discomfort, but gradually breathing will be restored, the dependence will pass.
If you use the medicine constantly, then there is a chance that the nasal mucosa will be permanently damaged by Naphthyzine.
Therefore, the easiest way is not to buy an outdated composition, but on the advice of a doctor to use the latest drugs with a mild sparing effect. Especially when it comes to children's health.