The NHS has issued a warning against the use of decongestants for individuals with certain health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
Decongestants, commonly used to provide temporary relief from symptoms of cold, flu, hay fever, allergic reactions, catarrh and sinusitis, work by reducing the swelling of blood vessels in the nose, thereby opening up the airways.
However, since these can be purchased over the counter without a prescription, it’s crucial for people to know who should and shouldn’t use them. The NHS advises that certain groups should seek advice from a pharmacist or GP before using decongestants.
They also caution against giving decongestants to children under six years of age and recommend that children aged six to 11 should only use them for a maximum of five days, under the guidance of a pharmacist.
Pregnant women are advised to use them only if recommended by a healthcare professional, and breastfeeding mothers are discouraged from using decongestants that come in tablet, liquid or powder form reports Surrey Live.
The NHS further emphasises the importance of reading the patient information leaflet that comes with the medicine to understand who should avoid its use and who should seek advice before using it.
What types of decongestants are there?
Decongestants come in various forms: some products may contain only decongestant medicine, while many are sold as “all-in-one” remedies that include decongestants, painkillers or antihistamines, according to the health service.
Recently, Dr Xand, a regular doctor on BBC Morning Live, advised viewers to stop spending money on over-the-counter medications if they’re battling a cold or flu.
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He suggested that certain nasal sprays could actually exacerbate symptoms. Speaking on the show on November 19 about nasal sprays, he cautioned that “the stuff you can buy in the chemist is complicated to navigate”.
The first spray many people reach for is often a decongestant spray. He explained that these sprays typically “decrease the blood flow in your nose and they’re very effective, but they do have side-effects and you can get a major rebound congestion.”
He continued: “So when you stop using them the blood vessels in your nose have gotten used to using them so they wear off quite quickly and then you get more congestion afterwards. And it’s actually a very well described phenomenon and it means you can get congestion going on and on and on for ages. So personally I would steer clear of them.”
Instead, he recommends “what can work is washing your nose out, get some of that mucus out which will restore your taste and smell and it will help you breathe a bit more easily.”
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