Anonymous
map-marker Denver, Colorado

Great for the price

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Afrin works well. It didn't work 100% for me this particular day, but in its defense, I have a really GNARLY head/chest cold.

I must be one of the lucky ones, though. I didn't have to use the Jaws of Life to open the bottle. I just turned the cap and it opened. All the other reviews, however, make me nervous about purchasing it again in the future, if I should ever need to.

I originally bought it when I was having nosebleeds due to being put on a blood thinner by my cardiologist. Many people told me that Afrin can stop a nosebleed. Who woulda thunk it?!

It did indeed, about 90%, stop the nosebleeds! That's why I keep it on hand.

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Jolynne Tva
map-marker Prescott Valley, Arizona

Can’t open bottle.

I decided to stop using the product because theres only a 50% chance I can open it up regardless of how many tutorials. Im disappointed because the product works great.
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Anonymous
map-marker Mooresville, North Carolina

Cap is horrible!!!!!

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I cannot open the cap on the nasal spray I will try to return it tomorrow. I dont have children and dont need a childproof cap. I also have no use for a product that I and my husband cannot open!!!
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User's recommendation: Don’t waste your time with this one!!!!!

Pe K

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Verified Reviewer

Nasal product cap broke off when I tried to open it

Afrin - Nasal product cap broke off when I tried to open it
Afrin - Nasal product cap broke off when I tried to open it - Image 2

First time user of this particular nasel spray. I failed to read the opening instructions onTHE BOX before I disposed of it.

Imagine thinking one shouldnt have to find their glasses and read the operating instructions on THE BOX before using this very common product. It is the most complicated nasel spray Ive ever seen and when I went to use it in the middle of the night I failed to turn on the lights, find my glasses, read the instructions on the box I had carelessly thrown away and I broke the top ifff, never having a chance to get a single spray out of it!

Manufacturer is oercistant that this is my fault since I throw the box out with the vert important opening instructions on it.

Ten minutes of agieing this and they are sending me an email, to which I am to send photos of the broken spray bottle before theyll either commit to a replace sent or refund. Had I anticipated how complicated this was to operate I surely would have kept me receipt and gotten my refund, no questions asked from my drug store!

Its still money out of their pocket for a fdefective product. Im

View full review
Loss:
$5
Cons:
  • Unpleasant way to clear sinuses

Preferred solution: Full refund

User's recommendation: Return product to drug store- less irritation

Anonymous
map-marker Orange City, Florida

Can’t open it

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Good lord who designed this cap ! I cant open it ! I went to the Internet to see how to open it and so many other people using pliers etc! I still cant open it ! Its no good if you cant open it ! Redesign the cap !!!
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Pros:
  • I like the product when i am able to use it
Cons:
  • Bottle suck
  • Could not open

User's recommendation: Don’t buy it

Anonymous
map-marker Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Cannot get the cap off

My husband and I have tried and tried but we cant get the cap off. Gentle pressure, hard pressure, multiple YouTube videos- nothing! Ridiculous! We can put a man on the moon but you cant design a cap that adults can open. Whats even more ridiculous is that people have been complaining about this for years and yet you havent changed the bottle. I will definitely be buying other brands! You suck! Love, Karen
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User's recommendation: Do not buy this product

Anonymous
map-marker Lexington, Kentucky

The bottle

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I cant get the bottle open. I love the product, as I have used it in the past, but now that theyve made the bottle close to impossible to open, its time to find a different product.
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Anonymous
map-marker Jacksonville, Florida

NO PUMP!!!

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I bought 3 different kinds of afrin praying one of them would have a pump. Now it's a *** squeeze bottle.
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Anonymous
map-marker Carrollton, Texas

Bottle still sucks

Its 2021, my mom and I are out of town in a hotel with nothing close by or open.. bottle top wont come off .. you need to fix this problem!
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Markl T

Product packaging failure.

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I purchased Afrin original nasal spray and I have used it before with good results. The twist off cap is totally ridiculous! I tried to twist off the cap and could not and finally cut off the damn tip!!! Please replace the product and change the top of this spray. I am a senior citizen but not dead!
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Pros:
  • Prduct works great
  • Cant open the cap
Cons:
  • Cannot open the bottle

Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution

User's recommendation: do not purchase until cap is changed.

Ron N Bfk

Idiot design. Child proof? No PEOPLE PROOF. I will nit by another Afrin product. You have to take a “users Course” to open it. Probably one of the dumbest designs.

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Terrible cap design. Frustrating. Waste of time. Are courses available to instruct us in opening the cap?
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Pros:
  • Cant open the cap
Cons:
  • Stupid

Preferred solution: Full refund

User's recommendation: Buyer beware This product is a waste of time and money.

Anonymous
map-marker Denver, Colorado

Afrin Cap design Hard for Seniors To Use

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To "protect" us from tampering you have made the bottle very difficult for seniors to open. (Afrin No Drip Severe Congestion)

The cap says near the top PRESS then there is a big arrow to the right saying turn.

So I was pressing DOWN on the cap while turning to the right. 1 What it should say is SQUEEZE while turning to right not PRESS.

2 Did anyone on your design team think about what it is like to open this with arthritic hands?

3 The wrapper was also very hard to detach without the use of scissors or a knife.

4 Folks----my ENT specialist told me to use Afrin when I have a bad nosebleed because it will stop the bleed and shrink the tissues.

Did you even think what it is like to try to open your wrapping and follow your instructions in an emergency? Not pretty.

Please evaluate your cap under the rules of universal design so everyone can open your product.

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Anonymous
map-marker Kensington, Maryland

Very hard to open, will have to return

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I have a good grip and can usually deal with these child proof caps, but not with this one. Will be returning it to the pharmacy!! ARGH
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1 comment
Andrej Uaz

Did you try squeezing left side at the same time as the right side and then twisting forcefully? These *New* child proofed caps are a serious nightmare when you just wish to breathe easily!!

Therefore defeating the whole point.

If I as an adult who has Carpal tunnel syndrome (weakness in grip/ poor nerves) in wrists and hands, can not open this. ABSOLUTELY ridiculous.

Anonymous
map-marker San Francisco, California

Don't buy until they change the cap

Cannot open the cap, even after watching 3 youtube videos on how to open it! I guess the ladies in the video who used an axe were onto something.
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Stacey S Xyi

Write the company for better cap

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Your new government standard child proof cap is as hard as a bank safe to crack open. Please change!!!!!!
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Reason of review:
Bad quality
1 comment
Machele Imf

You might want to check out the spray sinus products at, say a Dollar Tree store. Afrin is the brand name---and an expensive one---for nothing more or less than Oxymetazoline hydrochloride 0.05.

Just look at the active ingredients in the house brands even at Walmart to see if it contains Oxymetazoline hydrochloride 0.05 and buy it much cheaper than Afrin. Plus, you most likely won't have trouble with the child proof caps.

Anne P Nun

Bottle won’t open

Afrin - Bottle won’t open
I cannot open the bottle and I am an adult!!!
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Loss:
$5
Cons:
  • New bottle caps are impossible to open
  • Cap just turns and clicks even when pressing down
  • Cannot open the bottle
Reason of review:
Damaged or defective

Preferred solution: Full refund

About

Related Companies

Bayer, Dr Scholls, Seresto, HydraSense, Bayer CropScience

Summary

Afrin is a brand of nasal spray with vasoconstrictive effect for local application. This medication starts to act in 15 minutes after application and proceeds during 6-8 hours. It is safe for both adults and kids. However, Afrin provides temporary relief only, so it is not recommended to use the product for more than 3 days in order not to accelerate side effects and to prevent a dependency on the product. Application and doses are specified in the instruction of the medication. Customers are offered different variations of the spray depending of nasal congestion and also there are special drops for children. Afrin has been on the market since 1966.

Afrin reviews and complaints

Afrin is ranked 108 out of 682 in Pharmacy category

Area Served

USA

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