A doctor has issued a stern warning to frequent users of decongestant sprays as they may become addicted.
Basic over-the-counter products, known by brands such as Sudafed and Vicks, contain powerful drugs that users can become addicted to if used for weeks, NHS doctor Dr Sooj warned.
In a clip shared with his 194,000 TikTok followers, the ER doctor said that within a few days of use, the time between doses needed to get the easy-breathing effect “will be reduced, reduced, reduced.”
“Some people need to use them every hour,” he said, adding that he is aware that there are those who “literally can’t breathe without them.”
“Quitting it cold turkey would probably be horrible.” It’s going to be really hard and horrible. It can take months or even a year of anguish.”
Decongestant sprays like Sudafed contain medications such as oxymetazoline, xylometazoline, phenylephrine, and pseudoephedrine that help reduce nasal congestion by reducing inflammation of blood vessels.
This helps open the airways in your nasal passages, allowing you to breathe more easily.
“The problem is that once the spray wears off, blood flow returns to the nose and the congestion returns much stronger and faster,” Dr. Sooj said.
He added that “with repeated use” you will find that you need to use the medication to breathe normally, even if the congestion caused by mucus has reduced.
Dr. Sooj revealed a method to “stop taking” the medication, which involves “clogging one nostril at a time.”
‘And then once one nostril has been recovered, stop at the other.’
Alternatively, you could “gradually wean it off,” he said, cautioning that patients may want to try alternative medications to “try to help it progress,” such as nasal steroids.
These medications “could help reduce inflammation in the nose,” he said.
Sudafed sprays for stuffy nose cost around £5 in Boots. But experts have warned of the dangers.
‘And then there are other things we can also prescribe. But if you have any doubts, go see a doctor.
When it comes to over-the-counter cold and flu remedies, Brits have fewer options than before.
Last year, health chiefs urgently pulled 20 different cold and flu remedies from shelves over fears they could trigger deadly allergic reactions.
The medicines regulator ruled that products containing pholcodine, found in some Day and Night Nurse products, raised the risk of life-threatening anaphylaxis among patients undergoing general anesthesia.
Instead, experts recommend steam inhalation (place over a bowl of hot water and cover your head with a towel) to relieve cold and flu symptoms, as well as lozenges, honey, and cough syrup.