Britain’s Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has issued a warning to the public about using nasal sprays for blocked noses beyond a week, reminding users that this can cause “rebound congestion”.
The Independent reports that a recent poll underscores this concern, with almost six in 10 pharmacists saying patients were unaware of the dangers of extended use.
While offering short-term relief for ‘stuffy nose’, colds, allergies and sinusitis, the RPS said rebound congestion – rhinitis medicamentosa – worsens symptoms, with patients becoming dependent on sprays to breathe more easily.
The survey of 300 pharmacists found 59% believe the public is unaware of this risk, while almost three-quarters (74%) said packaging should be clearer about the seven-day limit.
Almost two-thirds (63%) said they had intervened in cases of suspected overuse.
Professor Amira Guirguis, chief scientist at the RPS, said: “We’d like to see clearer warnings on the packaging, which users can’t miss and which create greater awareness of the seven-day limit.”
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