HEALTH chiefs today sounded the alarm over decongestant nasal sprays amid fears Brits are unknowingly becoming addicted causing irreversible damage to their airways.
The popular sprays, like Sudafed and Otrivine, already carry warnings not to use them for longer than seven days to help a blocked nose.
The popular sprays, like Sudafed and Otrivine, already carry warnings Credit: Weldricks
Curtis Arnold-Harmer told Sun Health that he was addicted to the sprays for two years Credit: Supplied
Now, the UK’s medicines watchdog has capped the recommended use time to a maximum of five days.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said this was because excessive use can lead to “rebound congestion” and other “adverse effects following prolonged use”.
It comes as experts have repeatedly warned that Brits are by using them for too long to relieve blocked noses, causing damage to the tissues inside the nose.
Decongestant sprays work by constricting inflamed blood vessels in the nasal passage to relieve congestion.
Decongestant sprays work by constricting inflamed blood vessels Credit: Getty
Molly-Mae Hague recently said she was worried about addiction to nasal sprays Credit: Getty
While in the short term this works well, if the spray is used beyond a few days the blood vessels in your nasal passageways can become sensitised to the ingredients in the spray – such as xylometazoline and oxymetazoline – and start to swell as the medication wears off.
It can cause constant nasal blockage, a craving or dependence on the spray and damage to the sensitive lining of the nose.
Other possible side effects include dryness, crusting, irritation, reduced effectiveness of the spray, and even problems, anxiety, or palpitations.
Thao Huynh, head of respiratory imaging and critical care at the MHRA, said: “If your nose is still blocked after five days of using a nasal spray, it could be caused by overuse of the product, rather than your original symptoms.
“Continuing to use it could make the problem worse.
“Instead, talk to a healthcare professional about stopping use of the product and whether alternative treatments could help.
“These nasal sprays are safe and effective treatments when used as directed.
“It is important to always read the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with your and information on the outer packaging.”
The MHRA also said it had taken the step “in line with advice from Expert Advisory Groups to the Commission on Human Medicines due to adverse effects following prolonged use”.
The first damning reports of “addiction” to decongestant nasal sprays date back to the early 1980s, when scientists linked the to psychosis, paranoia, hallucinations and personality changes.
Pharmacy organisations today welcomed the move, saying it would help “avoid preventable harm”.
Professor Amira Guirguis, chief scientist at Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said: “We support clearer product information and improved packaging, alongside consistent public messaging, to improve awareness that these products are for short-term use only and to avoid preventable harm.
“Pharmacists play a key role in supporting patients to use them safely and advising on safer alternatives where appropriate.”
Suspected side effects associated with xylometazoline and oxymetazoline can be reported to the MHRA through its Yellow Card scheme.
If you have any concerns, contact your .
Earlier this year, research conducted by ITV and Ipsos found that more than a fifth of adults in the UK who have used the sprays have done so for longer than a week.
This meant around 5.5million people in the UK have risked becoming addicted.
Earlier this year, influencer revealed she was “really worried” she was getting addicted to the sprays after waking in the mornings unable to breathe through her nose.
Molly from a cold or any illness but still finds herself feeling as though she cannot breathe in the morning – leading to her reaching for the sprays every day.
One 30-year-old that his addiction to the cold remedy saw his septum almost rot away.
Curtis Arnold-Harmer revealed he was addicted to the sprays for two years and was only able to stop after visiting an ear, nose and throat specialist who said it looked like he’d been “snorting cocaine every weekend since he was 18”.
How to use nasal sprays - and safe alternatives
Decongestant sprays all come with a warning in the small print – not to use them for more than a week, and to consult a doctor if symptoms don’t improve.
Sudafed clearly states that people must not use their sprays for more than seven days.
So what is the alternative?
If you’re really struggling with a stuffy nose, Pharmacist Graham Phillips, from Letchworth Pharmacy, advises the public to seek help from their local pharmacist.
“There are many alternative options including natural remedies or even saline spray which offer palliative relief without the side effects,” he explains.
And pharmacist Thorrun Govind adds: “My key advice is never to use over-the-counter nasal decongestant sprays continuously for more than three to five days.”
Sun Health reporter put nine well-known cold and flu remedies when she was struck with a lurgy.
Over a week, she tried products that targeted all symptoms associated with cold and flu, as well as treatments that only aimed to get rid of specific issues.
These included:
- Hot honey and lemon
- Steam inhalation and Vicks Vaporub
- Echinacea
- Chicken soup
- A spicy curry
- Beechams All-in-One Oral Solution
- Strepsils
- Lemsip Max
- Sudafed Blocked Nose Spray
She took into account pain reduction, and how quickly and for how long they worked.
Read her full verdicts .
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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