SERIOUS QUESTION: Could I be psychologically addicted to Vicks inhaler?

Question

Hi, I recently got a Vicks Vapor Inhaler because I was nasally congested. I've used these inhalers for colds since I was like 5. I'm 13 now. I find that whenever I don't use the inhaler for like an hour, I get all stuffed up. But I blow my nose to try and get the blockage out and nothing is on the tissue. When I put the inhaler in and take deep inhalations into it, The blockage clears. I know this has to be a psychological addiction because there is nothing in Vicks Inhalers that is physically addictive. I know there is Levomethamphetamine in the inhaler which is probably causing these problems. Though, I'm not sure. I know that nasal sprays can cause rebound congestion which basically means your nose is addicted to it. Can this happen with the VapoInhalers? The congestion is pretty annoying when I don't use the inhaler after an hour. I can hardly lay down with it. If my nose is addicted to this, How do I get off of it? If I keep asking my mom to get me inhalers, She'll know something is up. These inhalers don't last forever. Best answer gets 10 points!!!

Answer 1

What you describe is not psychological addiction. What you describe is physical dependence. The Vicks inhaler contains Levmetamfetamine. It is similar to methamphetamine, but it is a mirror image chemically. It has the same effects on your nose, but it doesn't get you high at all.



What are those effects on your nose? Vasoconstriction. It causes the blood vessels in your mucus membranes to constrict. This reduces the production of mucus, and it can physically open up the passages as well, because the tissues shrink when they are filled with less blood. Two things can happen when you stop the Levmetamfetamine:

1. Whatever condition that was causing congestion is now untreated, so your congestion returns

2. The mucus membranes, having become adapted to that vasoconstriction, flood with blood when the Levmetamfetamine is withdrawn, causing what is called rebound congestion. This can occur as mucus, but you can also have the tissues fill with blood and inflate but stay fairly dry.



Do not switch to a nose spray. That will just continue the same problem.



You need to quit the Levmetamfetamine. Use hot showers to reduce the discomfort. In a day or two everything will be back to normal.



If I am making dependence sound like addiction, that is because dependence is part of addiction, but addiction involves several other elements in addition to dependence.



You'll be fine. You just have to quit cold turkey.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.



RE:

SERIOUS QUESTION: Could I be psychologically addicted to Vicks inhaler?

Hi, I recently got a Vicks Vapor Inhaler because I was nasally congested. I've used these inhalers for colds since I was like 5. I'm 13 now. I find that whenever I don't use the inhaler for like an hour, I get all stuffed up. But I blow my nose to try and get the blockage out and...

Answer 3

I was dismayed when I learned that Vicks USA had added Levomethamphetamine to their product. This is an active substance that can be overused with detrimental effects. Decongestant pills usually contain pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine, both of which are stimulants - basically speed. I have tried pseudoephedrine pills and I find they cause insomnia and anxiety. I have not even tried phenylephrine pills. Decongestant pills tend to increase heart rate and blood pressure, and can cause chest pain (angina) in some people. A closely related decongestant, phenylpropanolamine (PPA), was withdrawn from the US market because it caused stroke. So I decided to give the Indian version of Vicks Inhaler a try, according to the Vicks India website, it contains Wintergreen, Pudinah Ke Phool (Mentha arvensis) and Karpoor (Camphor), - all natural ingredients, which means you can use it as needed. It has almost the exact same effect and aroma that we all associate with the Vicks we all know and love here in the USA. If you never tried this product, I'll just say it's my go-to when sick. Clears sinuses and portable with no addicting substances. Just be known this product does ship from India.These are great to carry with you while traveling! I leave one at work and several at home for the whole family. I ordered them from an online herbal store in India (AyurvedaBay.com), they offer free worldwide shipping and I receive my orders pretty quickly from all the way from India. Here is the direct link to the product page if anyone is interested - https://www.ayurvedabay.com/vicks-inhaler.html

Answer 4

Vicks Vapoinhaler

Answer 5

You're reccommended to only use nasal decongestants for a max of 7 days otherwise as you say - rebound congestion will happen. I say stop using the inhaler for a while (Esp as you're using it almost every hour) and you'll gradually see that you won't even need it. If you do there are other different classes of decongestants like oxymetazoline spray (which again only use for seven days) but they aren't really that pleasant but that may help you get over using decongestants altogether!



Another thing is that you may actually have a sinus problem if you keep getting congested - go to your doc if it persists!

Answer 6

Well... If yur absolutely sure that's ways going on... Then I suggest yu TREAT it like an addiction . XD. Ask yur parent or sibling to put it somewhere yu can't find. Then deal with the stuffy noses and stuff for a while. And eventually yull find that yu don't need it anymore.

Answer 7

Just buy the canadian version, there is no Levomethanphetamine.

Refer to corporate documentation. or the .ca version of the company site.