Taking a Flight With Your Child? Here’s Why You Should Bring Afrin With You

Flying with a child can test the organization and patience of even the most seasoned travelers. Of all the things you need to have on-hand for your flight, oxymetazoline (Afrin) may not be at the top of your list. But if your child has a cold, ear infection, or is prone to nosebleeds, Afrin might be the most important thing you pack. 

Colds and upper respiratory tract infections cause swelling and inflammation of the lining of your nose. This blocks your nasal passages and makes you feel stuffy. Oxymetazoline is a nasal spray that can relieve this nasal congestion. 

It works by telling the blood vessels in the lining of your nose to clamp down (constrict). Once your blood vessels constrict, they can’t leak more fluid into already swollen tissue. This lessens swelling overall. The result is that you’ll almost instantly feel less stuffy and can breathe better. This clamping-down action can also help stop a nosebleed if your child develops one mid-flight. 

The results are temporary. Oxymetazoline will wear off and the stuffiness will come back. But oxymetazoline’s effects can last for hours, usually long enough to get through your flight. Here’s how to safely use oxymetazoline for kids during air travel. 

Is it safe to give Afrin to kids?

Yes. It’s safe for kids aged 6 and older to take oxymetazoline. Oxymetazoline is sold over the counter (OTC), so you don’t need a prescription.

Oxymetazoline is sold as a generic medication and under many brand names. In addition to Afrin, other brand names for oxymetazoline include:

• Dristan

• Genasal

• Mucinex Full Force

• Mucinex Children’s Stuffy Nose Spray 

• Neo-Synephrine

• Sudafed Nasal Decongestant

• Vicks Sinex

• Zicam Intense Sinus Relief

Some of these brands make nasal sprays that don’t contain oxymetazoline. And some of these products contain oxymetazoline plus other medications, like antihistamines. Make sure to check the active ingredient label on the product’s box. This way you can be sure the product contains oxymetazoline. If it contains additional ingredients, avoid double dosing with another medication. 

Oxymetazoline is meant to be used short term. It’s best to talk with your child’s primary care provider if your child needs the medication for longer than a few days. Taking oxymetazoline too long can put your child at risk for rebound congestion. 

If your child is younger than 6 years old, it may still be safe to give them oxymetazoline. But you should touch base with your child’s primary care provider first. They can offer guidance on dosing instructions.

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Can you give your child Afrin before a flight?

Yes, you can give your child Afrin before a flight. Oxymetazoline can help keep your child comfortable on their flight if:

• They’re sick with a cold or ear infection.

• They’ve recently recovered from a cold or ear infection in the last week.

• They’re prone to nosebleeds.

If your child is sick or recently recovered from an illness, it’s best to give them a dose of oxymetazoline a half hour before takeoff. If you’re on a long flight and it’s safe to give another dose, you can also give oxymetazoline 30 to 60 minutes before landing time. 

Children who are sick with colds and ear infections or recently got over these illnesses are at risk for developing ear or sinus pain during a flight. Oxymetazoline can help prevent ear pain and sinus pressure.

When the plane takes off, the pressure inside the cabin goes down. Even though the cabin is pressurized, this still doesn’t increase the pressure all the way to normal levels. So, when the pressure goes down, the air behind the eardrum and inside the sinuses expands. This isn’t usually an issue since the body can vent the extra air out. But if your child has an ear infection or cold, swelling and inflammation can block these mechanisms. This can lead to ear pain, headaches, and sinus pain. 

When the plane descends, air contracts. Inflammation also keeps the body from being able to draw in extra air to keep things even. So, children may also experience pain during descent. 

Oxymetazoline constricts blood vessels and lowers swelling. This makes it easier for air to leave and enter the middle ear and sinuses, which prevents pain from starting. 

Changes in air pressure and low humidity inside the cabin can also trigger nosebleeds. If your child is prone to nosebleeds, they might develop one while on the plane. Oxymetazoline constricts blood vessels. So, by applying direct pressure and giving your child oxymetazoline, you can help stop that nosebleed in real time.

What’s the recommended Afrin dose for kids?

Children 6 years and older should receive 2 to 3 sprays in each nostril every 12 hours. If your flight is fewer than 12 hours long, the dose you give before takeoff should still work during landing.

Here’s how to give your child oxymetazoline:

• Shake the bottle before using. 

• Squeeze a few times to prime the pump. 

• Place the opening of the nozzle against your child’s nostril. The nozzle will be larger than your child’s nostril. Do not try to force the nozzle into your child’s nostril. Just make sure the opening aligns with their nostril so the medication can get inside.

• Hold the bottle at the base and squeeze to deliver a spray. 

• Repeat for the second and third sprays.

Make sure your child is sitting upright when you give them oxymetazoline. This ensures that the bottle produces a light mist and delivers the right dose. If your child is lying down or you turn the bottle upside down, the bottle will release a liquid rather than a mist. This releases 75 times more medicine than necessary and can lead to overdoses.

What should I do if my child takes too much Afrin?

An extra spray or two probably won’t give your child any symptoms. Similarly, giving a second dose too soon probably won’t harm your child either. But you should contact a poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 if your child receives too much oxymetazoline. The poison control center can tell you what symptoms to look out for and what steps you should take next. 

Children have accidentally given themselves overdoses by chewing or sucking on the medication bottle. This can cause them to swallow the liquid oxymetazoline. As little as half a teaspoon of oxymetazoline liquid can cause life-threatening toxicity in small children. 

Make sure to keep the bottle in a safe place where your child can’t reach it. Call a flight attendant for help if you realize your child got too much oxymetazoline. They can communicate with a medical controller on the ground for next steps. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Ronald W. Dworkin, MD, PhD

Ronald W. Dworkin, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist who has been practicing anesthesiology in a community hospital for 30 years. He has taught in the honors program at George Washington University for over 10 years and works as a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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