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|Afrin Solution

Afrin Solution

Afrin Solution is used for:

Relieving nasal congestion due to the common cold, hay fever, other upper respiratory tract allergies, or sinus infection. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Afrin Solution is a decongestant. It works by shrinking swollen and congested nasal tissues (mucous membranes) by constricting blood vessels. This results in relief of congestion (stuffy feeling), improved drainage of mucus, and improved breathing through the nose. Local application (eg, nose drops and sprays) causes more intense and rapid vasoconstriction than oral medicines (eg, tablets, syrups).

Do NOT use Afrin Solution if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Afrin Solution
• you are also taking furazolidone or a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (eg, phenelzine)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Afrin Solution:

Some medical conditions may interact with Afrin Solution. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have high blood pressure, enlarged prostate, diabetes, overactive thyroid, or heart disease

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Afrin Solution. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because the effectiveness of Afrin Solution may be decreased
• Cocaine, furazolidone, MAO inhibitors (eg, phenelzine), or tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because side effects, such as headache, fever, or high blood pressure, may be increased
• Bromocriptine or cocaine because the actions and side effects of these medicines may be increased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Afrin Solution may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Afrin Solution:

Use Afrin Solution as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• To use nose drops, gently blow your nose. Lie down and tilt your head back. Breathe through your mouth. Insert the dropper tip in the nose no more than 1/3 inch. Try not to touch the dropper tip to the inside of your nose. Place the correct number of drops in your nose. Continue to lie down with your head tilted back for 2 minutes.
• To use a nose spray, gently blow your nose. Sit down and tilt your head back slightly. Place the tip of the spray container into the nose. Using a finger from your other hand, press against the opposite nostril to close it off. Breathe gently through the open nostril and squeeze the spray container. If you are using more than 1 spray, wait for 1 to 2 minutes between sprays. After using the medicine, rinse the tip of the spray unit in hot water and dry with a clean tissue to prevent contamination.
• If you miss a dose of Afrin Solution and are using it regularly, use it as soon as possible. If it is much more than 1 hour since your missed dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Afrin Solution.

Important safety information:

• Do not use Afrin Solution for more than 3 days unless advised to do so by your health care provider. Frequent or long-term use of Afrin Solution may cause nasal congestion to recur or worsen.
• Do not share Afrin Solution with anyone else; this may cause the infection to spread.
• Diabetes patients - Afrin Solution may affect your blood sugar level. Your doctor may need to change the amount of diabetes medicine you are taking.
• Afrin Solution is not recommended for use in CHILDREN younger than 6 years of age. Safety and effectiveness in this age group have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Afrin Solution during pregnancy. It is unknown if Afrin Solution is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Afrin Solution, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Afrin Solution:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Increase in nasal discharge; sneezing; stinging; temporary burning.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue).

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately.

Store Afrin Solution at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) in a tightly-closed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Afrin Solution out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Afrin Solution, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Afrin Solution is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Afrin Solution. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.