Urgent warning to millions who use popular over-the-counter cold and flu remedy that could ‘worsen breathing’

AS COLD and flu season hits, a GP has issued a warning over a common remedy that could cause symptoms to "come back with a vengeance" and even affect breathing.

If you're suffering from a blocked or stuffy nose, you'll likely reach for a staple over-the-counter remedy without a second thought.

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But using nasal decongestant sprays could make your symptoms worse if you take them for more than a few days, a pharmacist told Sun Health.

Pharmacist Thorrun Govind spoke to Sun Health about mistakes you might be making when using nasal decongestant sprays.

"Decongestants are a type of medicine that can provide short-term relief for a blocked or stuffy nose," she said.

"They reducing the swelling of the blood vessels in your nose, which in turn helps to open up the airways."

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She said taking decongestant nasal sprays and drops for too long "can make your stuffiness worse" and put you at risk of a condition called rhinitis medicamentosa, also known as "rebound congestion".

Thorrun said: "Rebound congestion is when nasal passages become inflamed due to overuse of nasal decongestants," the pharmacist explained.

"Symptoms include a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, and itchy nasal passages.

"It can often feel worse than the original congestion."

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It comes after A&E doctor and NHS GP Dr Sooj took to his to warn his followers about popular nasal sprays.

The sprays, known by brand names such as Sudafed, tend to contain ingredients such as oxymetazoline, xylometazoline, phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine.

A spritz into your nostril will constrict blood flow to your nose to reduce congestion and help you breathe, the GP explained.

"The problem is that once the spray wears off, the blood floods back into your nose and the congestion comes back much harder and much faster," Dr Sooj warned.

"They should not be used for more than a few days and don’t increase the dose or the frequency

Graham Phillips phamacist

When you start using nasal sprays, it should keep your nostril free of congestion for up to eight hours, the GP said in .

"But once they wear off and the blood flow comes pouring back into your nose, your symptoms can come back with a vengeance," he said.

With repeated use, you'll "very quickly" need to reduce the time between doses.

Some people need to use them every hour, Dr Sooj suggested.

How to use decongestant sprays properly

So how can you use these sprays to relieve cold-like symptoms?

"My key advice is not to use over the counter nasal decongestant sprays continuously for more than three to five days," Thorrun stressed.

"When nasal decongestants are used for longer than three to five days, many patients experience rebound congestion after withdrawal."

Pharmacist Graham Phillips, from , echoed Thorrun in saying: "Those decongestant nasal sprays based on xylometazoline, oxymetazoline etc are notorious for causing a rebound effect.

"That’s why they should not be used for more than a few days and don’t increase the dose or the frequency."

Spritzing nasal decongestant into your nose for extended periods of time could also effect your ability to breathe out of your nose, she added.

"Prolonged use of decongestant sprays can cause the nasal cushions to thicken, which can increase blockages in the nasal passages."

It can also cause nose hairs to function abnormally, Thorrun said, which is a concern because they act as natural air filters, catching dust, allergens and germs before they reach the lungs.

Who shouldn't use nasal decongestant sprays

Though you can buy decongestants from pharmacies without a prescription, Thorrun stressed that they are not suitable for everyone.

"You should be careful about taking decongestants if you have certain health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or liver problems.

"You should also avoid taking combination decongestants if you're already taking other medicines that contain the same active ingredients," the pharmacist said.

Pseudoephedrine, which is often contained in the remedies, can increase blood pressure, she warned.

If you're struggling with a stuffy nose, Graham suggested turning to your local pharmacist for advice.

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"There are many alternative options including natural remedies or even saline spray which offer palliative relief without the side effects," he told Sun Health.

"This is even more important if you are taking other ongoing prescribed medication like anti hypertensives."

Which cold and flu remedies actually work?

Sun Health reporter Isabel Shaw 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:

1. Hot honey and lemon
2. Steam inhalation and Vicks Vaporub
3. Echinacea
4. Chicken soup
5. A spicy curry
6. Beechams All-in-One Oral Solution
7. Strepsils
8. Lemsip Max
9. Sudafed Blocked Nose Spray

She took into account pain reduction, and how quickly and for how long they worked.

Read her full verdicts here.