Every appliance, medication, exam, vehicle, and piece of clothing comes with a set of instructions. Machine wash; do not tumble dry. If over the age of twelve, take two pills every six hours, never more than four doses a day.

How many of us actually read these instructions?

Perhaps one might be willing to risk a shrunken shirt. However, with the potential of overdose and prescription addiction on the list of possible side effects for misusing medication, this might be one case in which reading the instructions is not only necessary, but imperative to your overall well-being and survival.

Senior communications major, Cristina Cuduco, knows this all too well. This past spring semester she developed chronic congestion problems, for which her doctor prescribed her nasal spray. This nasal spray, Afrin, contains a common ingredient in decongestant sprays that is used for temporary relief of symptoms brought on by colds, sinus infections, and allergies.

“I bought Afrin and, without reading the instruction label on the back of the box and the back of the bottle, I took it for 3 weeks straight. I figured because my nasal passages were not clearing up on their own within the first week, I ought to continue taking the medicine until they did. What a world of hurt I was in for,” said Cuduco.

After her family and friends encouraged her to consult a health care provider once more, Cuduco visited Pace’s Health Center. The nurse practitioner told her the Afrin had actually caused her sinuses to worsen.

Sure enough, the instructions on the back of the bottle said not to take Afrin for more than four days. Cuduco could no longer breathe properly without Afrin. For months, she struggled to breathe while no longer using the nasal spray.

Afrin is an effective decongestant, well-known for clearing sinus-related symptoms for almost half a day on just a single dose. However, it is not meant to be used for extended periods of time and can have some difficult side effects.

New York Times writer Richard Saltus, in his article “Nasal Sprays can Bring on Vicious Cycle,” wrote “relief provided by nasal spray decongestants like Afrin…comes at a price: the risk of rebound congestion caused by overuse and, for some people, a vicious cycle of overuse and dependence that feels like an addiction.”

Not limited to Afrin, be sure to ask your doctor about any and all medication he or she might prescribe you for colds or sinus-related illnesses, and remember to always read the instructions on the label. The opportunity cost of not doing so could make your congestion even more uncomfortable.