I take a steroid nasal spray prescribed by the doctor. Keeps my nose clear usually (Flixonaise). But it was running out last week, and that along with having a cold left me pretty much bunged up for most of the time.

I was having to blow my nose as the only way to clear out the gunk. Yuk.

I’ve had this cold for just over three weeks now and it finally seems to be clearing – with a little help from some sprays.

Yesterday I bit the bullet abs went back to taking Otrivine.

How does it work?

Otrivine adult nasal drops contain the active ingredient xylometazoline, which is a type of decongestant.

When this medicine is administered into the nose, the xylometazoline works by acting on alpha receptors that are found in the walls of blood vessels in the linings of the nasal passages and sinuses. It causes these blood vessels to contract and narrow, thereby decreasing blood flow into the linings of the nose and sinuses. This reduces swelling and the feeling of congestion. It also reduces the production of mucus, helping to relieve a blocked nose.

The nasal drops help relieve congestion in a few minutes and the effect of the medicine lasts for up to 10 hours. Two or three drops should be used in each nostril two to three times a day, for up to seven days.

I say, I went back to Otrivine: a few years ago I had an addiction, or dependency on it. :-O. I think I’d been recommended it and hadn’t read the instructions, after 10 days (the recommended limit on taking it) I kept taking it.

What happened after that was that I kept getting bunged up and I was reliant on it to stay clear! Even when I didn’t have a cold.

So I’ve noted when I started taking it and I should stop taking it just after the marathon. (if I still need it, which I doubt). I think the little penicillins are doing just fine on their own.

Oh and I had thought about doing 5 miles this morning as I’m kind of itching for a run, but I opted to stay in bed!! Taper taper taper. 18.5 miles this week. 🙂