How to "get off" with "Naftizin"? The analogue of "Naphthyzine" without addiction

Naphthyzin nasal drops have been used by patients with colds for many years. The use of this drug is addictive, which is a problem. How to "get off" with "Naftizin", people dependent on it are often asked by otolaryngologists and doctors of other specialties. Since this topic is very relevant, it deserves consideration.

Brief description of the drug

The active substance "Naphthyzinum" is naphazoline. It is a chemical compound that affects alpha ₁ and alpha ₂ adrenergic receptors, which causes a vasoconstrictor effect. The vasoconstrictor effect extends when applied locally to the bloodstream of the nasal mucosa. In this case, swelling is quickly relieved and breathing is facilitated. The low price of Naphthyzin nasal drops is also a determining factor why many people use this particular drug. But not all of them know what the long-term use of this drug entails.

Action "Naphthyzin"

In inflammatory diseases of the nose, as in all other organs, the vessels dilate and swelling increases, which interferes with normal breathing.

The drug in the form of drops enters the mucous membrane of the cavities, where it has a greater effect on the alpha ₁ and alpha ₂ adrenoreceptors of blood vessels, narrowing them. The active substance "Naphthyzin" begins to work within a few minutes after its introduction. The duration of the effect is an average of three hours. During this time, swelling of the tissues goes away, breathing through the nose occurs without difficulty, and the discharge of the contents that are separated from the nose and sinuses is enhanced, which helps to cleanse them.

Nafazolin penetrates the general bloodstream, but does not enter the central nervous system. The lacrimal glands in communication with the lower nasal passage are capable of absorbing the active substance of the drops. Since the drug is excreted quickly, with rhinitis you have to use it repeatedly throughout the day.

Indications

Indications for the use of "Naphthyzin" are the following conditions:

• Acute rhinitis, characterized by swelling of the nasal mucosa, nasal congestion, and discharge from it.
• Sinusitis, which develops as a complication of rhinitis, manifested by inflammation of the sinuses of the nose (maxillary, frontal, ethmoid and sphenoid).
• Pollinosis, that is, a pathology of the nasal mucosa of an allergic nature, exacerbated during the flowering of herbs and trees.
• Eustachitis is an inflammation of the auditory tubes that most often occurs as a result of a complication of otitis media or tonsillitis. This is due to the fact that the Eustachian tube connects the nasopharynx with the tympanic cavity of the middle ear.
• Laryngitis, that is, an inflammatory process in the larynx, which is accompanied by swelling of its mucosa and a change in the vocal cords, up to the complete subsidence of the voice.
• Allergic edema of the larynx. The disease in many cases accompanies an allergic reaction, both to medicines, and to domestic and natural allergens.
• Bleeding from the nasal passages. Tapering vessels under the action of the drug temporarily stop the flow of blood.
• Preparation for rhinoscopy with severe swelling of the mucosa. In this case, the drug is prescribed to cleanse the sinuses, so that it is convenient to examine the nasal passages.
• With a local reaction of the mucous layer of the nasopharynx after surgery on the upper respiratory system.

Dosage and administration for adults and children

Adults and adolescents from 15 years of age are prescribed 1-4 drops of a 0.1% solution in each nasal passage. The tool is used no more than four times a day.

From 6 to 15 years, children can use 2 drops of a 0.05% solution, with three times the number of instillation procedures.

From a year to six years, 0.05% of the drug is used no more than three times a day, 1 drop in each nostril.

Since Naphthyzine is addictive, it cannot be used for more than the prescribed period. In adults, the course of treatment is one week, in children - three days.

Contraindications

Knowing what “Naphthyzin” can be used from, it should be clarified which categories of patients the drug should not be prescribed:

• Infants under the age of one year.
• People with a high degree of arterial hypertension and frequent hypertensive crises.
• With an increase in thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism).
• A common atherosclerotic vascular lesion of a severe degree.
• In chronic atrophic rhinitis, accompanied by irreversible changes in the mucous layer of the nasal passages.
• Allergic reactions to the active substance naphazoline in history.
• Diabetes mellitus, accompanied by persistent vascular changes in the periphery.
• With angle-closure glaucoma, retinal pathology, including diabetic angiopathy.
• Along with the use of MAO inhibitors and the time for two weeks until they are completely removed from the blood. These include: Iproniazide, Nialamide, Selegiline and Razagilin.
• For people suffering from angina pectoris, drops should be used with great care.
• Future and lactating mothers should refrain from using vasoconstrictive drops. It can be used only in extreme cases, when the result of their use outweighs the risk to the child.

Side effects

"Naphthyzin" in an adult can cause the following undesirable manifestations:

• Soreness, itching, dryness and irritation of the nasal passages.
• Short-term redness of the skin of the face and nasal mucosa.
• With prolonged use, atrophic changes in the mucosa, persistent edema, dependence on "Naphthyzin".
• Headache, increased blood pressure.
• Tachycardia.
• Nausea, decreased appetite.

Side effects in children

In children, the side effects of Naphthyzin, as in adults, can occur in severe forms, the likelihood of an overdose in babies is greater. In this case, the child becomes lethargic, his body temperature changes, the pupils narrow, vomiting appears, the skin becomes pale bluish and sweaty.

If you suspect or the exact likelihood of an overdose of vasoconstrictor drops, you must immediately call an ambulance team. The child should be wrapped and drunk with water.

Overdose

"Getting off" with "Naphthyzine" as soon as possible is also necessary because there is a danger of overdose, which is caused by an increase in the consumption of drops with a decrease in efficiency.

Symptoms observed with an increase in the allowable rate of the drug:

• nausea turning into vomiting;
• narrowed pupils;
• heart rhythm disturbance and tachycardia;
• high blood pressure;
• hyperthermia, blue skin and mucous membranes due to narrowing of blood vessels;
• mental agitation, anxiety, fear.

With a mild overdose of drops, treatment is not required. The use of the drug should be discontinued, and the condition returns to normal within a day.

In severe poisoning with Naphthyzine, a depressing effect on the brain occurs, which can cause paralysis of the vasomotor and respiratory centers, leading to respiratory arrest and cardiac activity. This leads to clinical death.

In cases when the patient from an excess of vasoconstrictive drops, nervous excitement began to develop into a drowsy state with bradycardia, hypotension, up to a coma, it is urgent to call an ambulance, and when life processes stop, resuscitation measures are needed to restore them.

The consequences of such poisoning can be very serious. In elderly people suffering from vascular pathologies, an aggravation of the condition, the development of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke is possible. Children can develop pneumonia associated with inflammatory processes in the nasal and oral cavity, a sore throat, or vomiting in the airways.

Addiction to medicine

People who have been using the drug for a long time are thinking about how to "get off" with "Naphthyzine" when the drops lead them to persistent addiction. This is due to a decrease in tolerance, when large doses of the drug are necessary to achieve the effect. This complication occurs after a week of taking vasoconstrictor drops.

At the same time, it is impossible to call “Naftizin” a drug in its pure form, since it does not cause the effects that people dependent on it achieve by taking a dose of any harmful substance. From vasoconstrictive drops there is no euphoria, mood increase, they do not give strength and confidence, do not deprive sleep. But the withdrawal characteristic of the abolition of classical drugs, with the cessation of the use of nasal drops, does not occur.

Then why do addicts use Naphthyzin? Dependent people use these drops as a solvent for their main substance. Naphazoline alone will never lead to drug dependence, but its combined use with psychoactive components can enhance not only euphoria, but also side effects that affect all other organs and systems. The likelihood of a drug overdose in this case also increases, as does the possibility of death, since the prepared solution enhances the heroin effect. In addition, pathological changes are provoked by the introduction of this infernal mixture into the systemic circulation.

Another reason for using drops with naphazoline in the composition is their ability to return to normal pupils of drug addicts, expanded under the influence of cocaine, marijuana, hashish and other psychoactive substances. These nuances should be known to those who work with addicted people, suspect or identify individuals who use drugs.

Meanwhile, there are no reasons for the cancellation of "Naphthyzin" in such problem patients with nasopharyngeal diseases, which are accompanied by swelling of the mucous membrane. With the stopping of instillation of drops in the nose, the disease takes its course, and drug dependence remains only on the drug used by a person.

How to get off "Naphthyzinum"?

Given the many negative factors regarding the use of drops containing naphazoline, many patients of otolaryngologists and therapists want to switch to another drug.

How to refuse “Naftizin” if rhinitis does not go away, and the mucous membrane of the nasal passages already reacts in an undesirable way? Initially, after reading the instructions for use and after listening to the doctor’s instructions, the patient should know that these drops should not be used for more than two weeks. If a person continues to use this drug for a longer period, then over time he will feel that the effect is not the same as it was immediately. So addiction arises.

Changes of an atrophic and hypertrophic nature, developing in the nasal mucosa, lead to additional unpleasant sensations, which are abundant in a patient suffering from rhinitis. Therefore, having weighed all the pros and cons, carefully listening to the reactions of your body, the right decision would be to abandon the Naftizin remedy. To do this with a long experience of instillation of this medication should be gradually, by daily alternation of nasal cavities. If it is not at all possible not to drip the selected nostril, then you need to reduce the dosage by reducing the amount of the drug or lowering the concentration from 0.1% to 0.05% solution with further dilution with water to the minimum saturation.

What to do next? When a person completely stops instilling "Naphthyzinum" in the nose, and the signs of chronic rhinitis and swelling persist, then you should replace it with a lighter drug or alternative means of dealing with chronic runny nose. These include:

• A solution of salt, which can be done independently, observing the proportion: one cup of lukewarm water (200 ml) per teaspoon of salt. You can use the sea. It should be completely dissolved in water. With this solution, you can instill a nose, as often as the patient's condition requires. It is useful not just to inject the liquid, but even rinse the nasal passages with salt water. An alternative to a home-made solution can be medicines based on sea salt and artesian water, in which the proportion of substances is well observed. These are “Aqua Maris”, “Salin”, “Aqualor”, “Otrivin More” and others. Their use is safe even in pregnant women.
• The juice of the aloe plant (agave) is a very effective remedy, as it has pronounced anti-inflammatory and, therefore, vasoconstrictive properties. It is necessary to take a leaf of a plant, wash it, remove the existing thorns, squeeze the juice through gauze or garlic, and drip it with a pipette into each nasal passage. The rest of the sheet can be stored in the refrigerator.
• Special exercises conducted in the fresh air, including alternating breathing with different nostrils, as well as superficial and with an extended exhalation. Such a technique should be carried out at least twice a day.

An alternative to continuous instillation of drops are surgical methods to combat the disease. With the help of medical intervention, it is possible to get rid of a certain number of blood vessels of the mucous membrane of the nasal passages, the expansion of which leads to severe swelling and difficulty breathing.

• Laser moxibustion. It is carried out lying under local anesthesia, affecting the front surface of the mucous layer of the nasal concha. The procedure is painless, manifested only by slight tingling sensations. After such an operation, in rare cases, olfactory disturbances, inflammation or atrophic processes in the mucous membrane may occur. If such complications arise, then you should seek help from the otolaryngologist.
• Ultrasound vasotomy. It removes dilated superficial vessels using ultrasonic waves. More often it is performed under local anesthesia. The manipulation does not last long, and after a week the mucous membrane heals and breathing returns to normal. This procedure is usually well tolerated; the disadvantages include possible inefficiency (in a small percentage of cases) or a return of the disease.
• Radio wave coagulation. It is carried out using special equipment under local anesthesia using a solution of lidocaine or ultrocaine. The electrodes act easier than surgery, and breathing is restored within four days after manipulation in the nasal cavities.
• Method of cryodestruction. It is based on the use of nitrogen to remove blood vessels at low temperatures using a special apparatus. This manipulation is short-term (up to two minutes) and effective, but damage to healthy tissues of the nose and longer recovery is possible.
• Cauterization of blood vessels with silver nitrate is a chemical method of exposure to the mucous membrane, with damage to blood vessels and bleeding from cavities. Cauterize silver under local anesthesia, after manipulation, irritation and burning are possible.
• Coblation is a modern method of getting rid of chronic rhinitis, which consists in exposing the mucous layer of a plasma substance at very low temperatures, causing the destruction of dilated vessels. The procedure is characterized by low invasiveness and quick recovery.
• Conchotomy is a classic surgical method, which is surgery using a special loop. It is carried out with the inefficiency of more gentle methods with a pronounced degree of hypertrophy of the mucosa, which is cut off by a loop in most cases under general anesthesia. The operation is performed using a gentle method with the use of micro-tools to ensure the speedy restoration of the patient's respiratory functions and health. Even after such serious manipulation, a relapse of the disease is possible.

Analogs of drops

If the above methods are not suitable for any reason, then "Naphthyzin" should be replaced with analogues of a longer duration. These include the German drug Rinonorm-Teva, which contains xylometazoline, which is an alpha-adrenergic agonist, like naphazoline. This active substance is characterized by a longer vasoconstrictor effect and low ability to dissolve in blood plasma, which gives it an advantage over the first. Rinonorm-Teva is less likely than the drug we are discussing to cause side effects, such as dryness and irritation of the mucous membranes, increased swelling, increased blood pressure, nausea, headache, tachycardia. However, it should be noted that there are consequences that are not mentioned when using drops with naphazoline in the composition. Very rarely (<1/10 000) patients can be disturbed by insomnia, increased nervous agitation, and a breakdown of the heart rhythm. It is not possible to take xylometazoline-based drugs for a long time because of the development of tolerance to the substance, which requires an increase in dose. Obviously, an analogue of "Naphthyzine" without addiction does not exist.

Drops identical to naphazoline can not be taken with chronic and atrophic rhinitis, angle-closure glaucoma, children under two years old, people who have undergone removal of the pituitary tumor, with allergies to the active substance and taking MAO inhibitors. Special care should be taken with this medicine for hypertension, people with heart problems, decreased production of thyroid hormones, diabetics with vascular changes on the periphery, as well as those who take bromocriptine.

Rinonorm-Teva analogues containing xylometazoline: Galazolin, Fornos, Otrivin, Snoop, Xylen, Xylometazolin, Zvezdochka NOZ, Ximelin, Rinomaris, Ximelin IVF ”,“ Xymelin IVF with menthol ”,“ Rinorus ”,“ Sanorin-Xilo ”,“ Rinostop ”,“ Tizin Xilo ”,“ Rinotayss Doctor Tayss with sea water ”.

Drug interactions

"Naphthyzine" reacts with drugs with MAO inhibitors ("Iproniazide", "Nialamide", "Selegiline", "Razagilin"), which are in the body for two weeks after the last dose.

Local anesthetics (Novocain, Lidocaine, Ultracaine, Mepivacaine, Trimecaine) can prolong their effect on the mucous membrane as a result of vasoconstriction under the action of Naphthyzine.

The combination with vasoconstrictive drops of other companies and groups can lead to aggravation of side effects and early addiction.

Price policy

The price of Naphthyzin nasal drops of domestic production in the pharmacy chain varies depending on the size of the bottle, from 45 to 58 Russian rubles.

The drug is dispensed from pharmacies without a doctor’s prescription, but you should remember the rules for its use and the ability to be addictive. From what "Naphthyzinum" helps, the attending doctor should decide.