It could actually make you feel worse in some cases
Dr Xand, resident doctor on BBC Morning Live, has said that people should stop wasting their money on over-the-counter medications if they’re suffering with the cold or flu – as home remedies are not only “cheap” but “they work just as well, if not better”. And when it comes to nasal sprays, these could actually be making you feel worse.
Speaking on the show today (November 19) with hosts Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton, the health expert said that whilst “we don’t have a treatment for the virus to actually shorten the duration of infection” there are treatments that can help – and you shouldn’t spend a lot of money on them. He explains: “We don’t really have anything we can do about that [shortening duration] so I would say not spending lots of money and over-the-counter remedies is quite a good idea. But there are things that you can do to make yourself feel better and to treat the symptoms.”
When it comes to nasal sprays, he warns that “the stuff you can buy in the chemist is complicated to navigate” with the first spray many people are drawn to being decongestant sprays. He explains that these type of sprays often “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. 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.” Urging people to avoid them he says instead “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.”
Rather than racking up a bill, which he says can easily cost upwards of £25, he says that “home remedies are cheap and they work just as well if not better”. Recommending what he would do, he says: “I would say rest and fluid is top of the list. Thin that mucus out and let it run. Home remedies are cheap and effective” he says, saying that a hot drink with some lemon, ginger and honey” is a great drink to make. Alongside that, chicken soup can also help.
“Alcohol and cigarettes are not going to make you feel good”, he adds, urging people to reduce this and their stress levels in order to “give your immune system a chance”.
Who can use decongestants?
The NHS warns that whilst many can use decongestants safely, they’re not suitable for everyone. They should not be used by the following groups of people without getting advice from a pharmacist or GP first:
- people taking other medicines
- people with diabetes
- people with high blood pressure
- people with an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)
- men with an enlarged prostate
- people with liver, kidney, heart or circulation problems
- people with increased pressure in the eye glaucoma
Decongestant medicines do not usually have side effects, and any side effects you may experience are usually mild.
What are the side effects of decongestants?
Possible side effects can include:
- feeling sleepy (look for non-drowsy medicines)
- irritation of the lining of your nose
- headaches
- feeling or being sick
- a dry mouth
- feeling restless or agitated
- a rash
The NHS adds: “These side effects should go away once you stop taking the medicine. More serious side effects can also happen, such as hallucinations and severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), but these are very rare.”