The MHRA has issued urgent new advice to people using nasal decongestant sprays
The MHRA has issued a warning(Image: Getty Images)
The UK’s medicines regulator has issued a new limit on how long people with blocked noses should use nasal decongestant sprays for.
Decongestant sprays are popular medicines for people with colds, allergies and sinusitis as they can provide short-term relief from stuffiness. However, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned that prolonged use risks making the problem worse.
It has now limited the use of sprays containing xylometazoline and oxymetazoline to a maximum of five days, warning that excessive use can cause ‘rebound congestion’.
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This preventable condition, also known as rhinitis medicamentosa, causes symptoms to worsen, with patients becoming dependent on sprays to breathe more easily.
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 medicine and information on the outer packaging.”
The regulator said that all new packaging and leaflets for such sprays and drops will now state the duration of use is not to exceed five days.
But it said that changes to the product information will take months to implement, as it urged patients to follow updated guidance.
Professor Amira Guirguis, chief scientist at the Royal College of Pharmacy, welcomed the update, adding: “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.”
Previous guidance urged patients to only use nasal decongestant sprays for seven days, but the MHRA has since updated this in line with advice from Expert Advisory Groups to the Commission on Human Medicines.