Key Summary
- MHRA restricts the usage of nasal drops or sprays with xylometazoline and oxymetazoline for more than five days.
- Symptoms that do not go away within 5 days of the medication must be consulted to the doctor again.
- Until the new packaging and leaflets are out, shopkeepers can sell the existing packs by correctly advising the buyers.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had restricted the usage of nasal decongestant sprays with xylometazoline and oxymetazoline for maximum five days.
Nasal drops and sprays with these ingredients are offered to patients without a prescription in case of cold, flu or allergies.
The regulator was advised by the Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Renal and Allergy Expert Advisory Group and the Pharmacovigilance Expert Advisory Group of the independent Commission on Human Medicines, that prolonged use of these sprays can lead to rebound congestion and rhinitis medicamentosa.
Following the alert, fresh packaging and leaflets inside the spray and drop packs with xylometazoline and oxymetazoline will highlight the 5-days usage limit with a clear mention of the side-effects.
At present, shops will sell the old stocks by advising the patients with the new information, while the new change will be implemented in a few months.
“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,” said Thao Huynh, head of Respiratory Imaging and Critical Care at the MHRA.
Huynh added, “Instead, talk to a healthcare professional about stopping use of the product and whether alternative treatments could help.”
“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,” added Professor Amira Guirguis, chief scientist at the Royal College of Pharmacy (RCPharm).
She added, “Pharmacists play a key role in supporting patients to use them safely and advising on safer alternatives where appropriate.”
