How Long Does Afrin Take to Work? Plus, 4 More Afrin FAQs
Key takeaways:
Afrin (oxymetazoline) is an over-the-counter (OTC) spray used to help relieve nasal congestion. Afrin starts to work in 5 to 10 minutes and lasts for up to 12 hours.
Afrin isn’t a steroid. It’s an alpha-1 receptor agonist. Afrin works by tightening the blood vessels in the nose and sinuses. This reduces nasal swelling and opens your nasal passages for easier breathing.
Using Afrin for more than 3 days in a row can worsen congestion (“rebound congestion”) and make it harder to treat. Check with a healthcare professional if your congestion doesn’t get better after 3 days of using Afrin.
Afrin is available OTC 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.
Access savings on related medications
Table of contents
Whether you have nasal congestion from allergies or a sinus infection, you likely want relief from this annoying symptom as soon as possible. Afrin (oxymetazoline) is an over-the-counter (OTC) nasal spray that can help relieve congestion quickly.
If you’ve never used Afrin before, it’s normal to have questions. Maybe you want to know how long Afrin takes to work. Or perhaps you’re wondering how long it will last. Below, you’ll find answers to five frequently asked questions about Afrin. That way, you can decide whether or not Afrin might be the right nasal decongestant for you.
1. How long does Afrin take to work?
One benefit of Afrin is that it works very quickly. Many people experience congestion relief within 5 to 10 minutes of using it. This makes it appealing for people looking for fast relief for a stuffy nose.
The right dose: Knowing how much Afrin to use can help you get the most out of it. Learn more about the standard Afrin dosages for adults and kids.
Tips for best use: Using nasal sprays can be tricky. Review pharmacist-backed tips for using nasal sprays correctly so you can get your full dose every time.
About rebound congestion: This side effect is the reason you should only use Afrin for up to 3 days in a row. Read more about rebound congestion and how it’s usually treated.
2. How does Afrin work?
Afrin is a nasal decongestant spray. It’s not a steroid, but rather an alpha-1 receptor agonist. Afrin activates receptors (binding sites) in your nose and sinuses, causing blood vessels in those areas to shrink. This relieves nasal swelling and congestion, making it easier to breathe through your nose.
Depending on how severe your nasal congestion is, a healthcare professional may recommend using Afrin along with a steroid nasal spray, such as Flonase (fluticasone propionate). Since they work in different ways, this combination may help target congestion better for some people.
3. How long does Afrin last?
Another benefit of Afrin is that it keeps working for several hours. Typically, one dose of Afrin lasts for up to 12 hours. This makes it a great option for people seeking lasting relief from their congestion.
But keep in mind that Afrin doesn’t have preventative benefits. If you’re looking for something that can help stop congestion before it starts, consider a nasal steroid spray instead. These nose sprays are some of the most effective for long-term prevention of several nasal symptoms — especially if allergies are causing them.
4. How long can you use Afrin?
You shouldn’t use Afrin for more than 3 days in a row. Using nasal decongestant sprays for too long can actually worsen congestion (called rebound congestion). If you’re still experiencing nasal congestion after 3 days of using Afrin, discuss other options with a healthcare professional.
5. Does Afrin raise blood pressure?
If you don’t have hypertension (chronic high blood pressure), Afrin shouldn’t raise your blood pressure. There is limited research suggesting Afrin isn’t likely to raise blood pressure for people who don’t have existing blood pressure problems.
However, Afrin isn’t typically recommended if you’re living with hypertension. The research on how nasal decongestant sprays impact people with blood pressure problems is limited. But we know that oral decongestants, such as Sudafed (pseudoephedrine), can raise blood pressure to unsafe levels for people with hypertension. So healthcare professionals will sometimes recommend avoiding Afrin to be on the safe side.
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 as low as $4.73 with a free GoodRx discount.
The bottom line
Afrin (oxymetazoline) is an over-the-counter nasal decongestant spray. It takes Afrin about 5 to 10 minutes to start working. And one dose usually lasts for up to 12 hours.
Afrin isn’t a steroid. It works by tightening the blood vessels in your nose and sinuses, which helps open your nasal passages so you can breathe easier.
To avoid rebound congestion, you shouldn’t use Afrin for more than 3 days in a row. If you still have congestion after 3 days of use, contact a healthcare professional for further guidance.
Why trust our experts?
References
Bellew, S. D., et al. (2018). Effect of intranasal vasoconstrictors on blood pressure: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Emergency Medicine.
Dean, J. S., II., et al. (2023). Alpha-1 receptor agonists. StatPearls.
Kumar, R. S., et al. (2022). Efficacy and safety of fluticasone furoate and oxymetazoline nasal spray: A novel first fixed dose combination for the management of allergic rhinitis with nasal congestion. Journal of Asthma and Allergy.
Was this page helpful?
Related Articles
Browse medications
View AllResearch prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.