[Knipps]

Originally Posted by redbanditZ28

Wait, explain this to me again. I think you mentioned something the last time I posted that.

When I took Afrin, I couldn't get off it because my nasal passages would close if I didn't keep snorting it. This doesn't happen with Zicam. Why is that?

Originally Posted by Knipps

No offense, but you weren't addicted.. you built up a tolerance and just treated it with more product
http://health.howstuffworks.com/question546.htm

when you use lots of decongestants you're bound to get what's a "rebound" congestion

Your nasal passages would clog because your body was creating more mucous to fight the decongestant. While with Zicam your getting Zinc Gluconate which is fairly "natural" & I use that term loosely.

This is the stuff in Afrin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxymetazoline

It causes down-regulation of alpha-2 receptors, and therefore becomes less effective after a few doses. If overused it can cause a "rebound congestion" (rhinitis medicamentosa) where the mucosal surface of the sinuses are damaged due to ischemia (lack of oxygen), become swollen, and therefore become congested after the drug wears off. As a result, a user can develop physiological tolerance to the drug, manifested by prolonged nasal congestion without continued use of the medication.