Afrin (Oxymetazoline) Dosage Guide

Key takeaways:

Afrin (oxymetazoline) is an over-the-counter nasal decongestant spray. It can quickly relieve congestion caused by allergies, the common cold, or sinus infections.
There are different Afrin products available for adults and children. The usual dose is 2 or 3 sprays in each nostril every 10 to 12 hours as needed. Don’t use more than two doses in a 24-hour period.
Afrin should only be used for up to 3 days in a row. Using it for longer than this can cause rebound (returning) congestion.
Afrin is available as both a brand-name medication and a lower-cost generic. If your healthcare team writes you a prescription for Afrin, GoodRx can help you save over 50% off the average retail price at certain pharmacies.

A stuffy nose can be downright annoying. It disrupts your sleep. It can restrict your ability to move and exercise. It can even impact how well you communicate and carry out school or work responsibilities. Thankfully, there are decongestants available to help you breathe easy again.

Afrin (oxymetazoline) is a popular over-the-counter (OTC) nasal decongestant. This nasal spray can help quickly relieve nasal congestion caused by allergies or the common cold. It can also be used if you’re experiencing a sinus infection. But knowing how to properly use Afrin can help you get the most out of it while limiting side effects.

Below, we discuss typical Afrin dosages for adults and children, including when to stop using it.

What’s the typical Afrin dosage for adults?

Afrin comes as a nasal spray. The typical Afrin dosage for adults is 2 or 3 sprays in each nostril every 10 to 12 hours as needed. Don’t use more than two doses in a 24-hour period. And don’t use Afrin for more than 3 days in a row (more on this later).

To use Afrin, insert the tip of the bottle into your nostril and lean forward. Press down to spray the medication into your nose. Avoid tilting your head back, as this can cause the medication to run down the back of your throat.

Check out our other GoodRx Health article for more detailed instructions on how to correctly use nasal sprays.

Afrin (Oxymetazoline)

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What Afrin products are available for adults?

There are numerous Afrin products available for adults. They all include the same active ingredient: oxymetazoline 0.05%. They also have the same dosage instructions, as described above.

Available adult Afrin products include:

The product you choose will likely come down to personal preference. The “no drip” products are designed to help prevent the medication from running down your throat or back out your nose after using them. The “extra moisturizing” version includes glycerin to help promote moisture in your nose.

The “severe congestion” versions also contain camphor, eucalyptol, and menthol as inactive ingredients. These added ingredients can feel soothing, but they don’t provide any extra congestion relief.

Talk with your pharmacist if you’re unsure which Afrin product is best for you. They can help choose the one best suited to your needs.

What’s the typical Afrin dosage for children?

The typical Afrin dosage for children is the same as for adults: 2 or 3 sprays in each nostril every 10 to 12 hours as needed. Your child should not use more than two doses in a 24-hour period. And they should not use Afrin for more than 3 days in a row.

There are two children’s Afrin products available:

Children’s Afrin No Drip Extra Moisturizing (intended for ages 6 years and older)
Children’s Afrin Extra Moisturizing (intended for ages 2 to 5 years)

These two products have different amounts of the active ingredient, oxymetazoline. Read the label carefully when selecting a product, especially if your child is under 6 years old. You shouldn’t use any Afrin product for children under 2 years old.

Good to know: All Afrin products labeled for adults also include dosage information for children 6 years and older. So you can safely use them for children this age if preferred.

Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions?

No, there aren’t any recommended Afrin dosage adjustments for health conditions. But if you have certain health conditions, you should talk with your medical care team before using it.

Ask your medical care team before using Afrin if you:

Have heart disease
Have high blood pressure
Have a thyroid condition
Have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
Have trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate
Are pregnant

What happens if you use Afrin for longer than 3 days in a row?

It’s important that you avoid using Afrin for longer than 3 days in a row. Using Afrin longer than this can cause rebound congestion. This is when nasal congestion comes back and may be worse than before you used Afrin. It can be tricky to treat and may take months to go away.

Rebound congestion happens because your nose becomes dependent on a decongestant nasal spray, such as Afrin. The best way to prevent it is by limiting how often you use these medications.

Manufacturers and health experts typically recommend using Afrin for no more than 3 days in a row. If you feel you still need the medication after that, contact your medical care team for next steps.

What should you do if you take too much Afrin?

Taking an extra dose or two of Afrin by accident shouldn’t cause severe harm. But it may lead to side effects such as:

Nasal burning or stinging
Sneezing
Headache
Dizziness
Heart palpitations

In some cases, using excessive amounts of Afrin can be serious. There are reports of people experiencing severely high blood pressure and heart failure. In these cases, people were both using excessive amounts of Afrin and combining it with other nasal spray decongestants, such as Neo-Synephrine (phenylephrine). These complications aren't typical and emphasize the importance of using Afrin only as recommended.

How to save on Afrin

There are ways to save on Afrin, which is available OTC as both a brand-name and generic medication. If your medical care team writes you a prescription for Afrin, GoodRx can help you save over 50% off the average retail price of the generic version. Generic Afrin’s price at certain pharmacies is less than $4.73 with a free GoodRx discount.

The bottom line

The typical Afrin (oxymetazoline) dosage for adults and children is 2 to 3 sprays in each nostril every 10 to 12 hours as needed. Don’t use more than two doses in a 24-hour period. To prevent rebound (returning) congestion, avoid using Afrin for more than 3 days in a row.

Be careful when selecting an Afrin product for children ages 2 to 5 years old. Be sure to pick a product that’s labeled for children in this age range. If you’re unsure which Afrin product to choose, you can ask your pharmacist for help.

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Written by:

Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA

Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA, is a licensed pharmacist specializing in chronic disease, and health and wellness. Brewer is a medical writer and works in private practice.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. Ulrich’s experience includes direct patient care in hospital and community pharmacies.

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