Assignment task:
Respond to two peers by addressing their post based on the peer's patient education plan.
Peer 1:
When discussing decongestants with my patient, I would inform them to limit their use of the decongestant to 3-5 days at a time to limit the chance of rebound congestion (Adams et al., 2020). Some people may use decongestants for 7-10 days before experiencing symptoms of rebound congestion (Wahid & Shermetaro, 2023). I would also explain that rebound congestion occurs anywhere from 3 days to 6 weeks after the prolonged use of decongestants and can cause worsened congestion and runny nose (Wahid & Shermetaro, 2023). Since this can lead to a cycle of prolonged drug use and recurring and worsening congestion, I would encourage patients to use decongestants for only a few days at a time as needed and to consult their primary care provider for worsening symptoms.
Resources
Adams, M. Holland, N. & Urban, C. 2020. Pharmacology for Nurses: A pathophysiologic approach. (6th ed.) Pearson.
Wahid, N. W. B., & Shermetaro, C. (2023). Rhinitis Medicamentosa. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
Peer 2:
Rhinitis medicamentosa is commonly known as rebound congestion and occurs when the nasal mucosa becomes inflamed due to the excessive use of topical nasal decongestants. After reading the article "Rhinitis Medicamentosa," I would explain the cause and risk factors of rebound congestion to a patient complaining of frequent nasal congestion and rhinorrhea as follows: I would educate the patient about something called rebound congestion, which is also known as rhinitis medicamentosa which is a result of using particular nasal sprays or decongestants too much (more than 8-10 days) (Wahid, 2023). Nasal sprays help clear the nose when it is stuffy, but if you use them too often, they can worsen your congestion over time. Like your nose, building a tolerance will require more medicine to work properly. Using nasal decongestants too frequently or too long could also contribute to the problem, and certain types of nasal sprays, such as those with imidazoline derivatives, can increase the risk. Treating this typically involves discontinuing topical decongestants; recovery typically takes around one year (Wahid, 2023).
References
Wahid, N. W. B., & Shermetaro, C. (2023, September 4). Rhinitis Medicamentosa. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.