Experts are assessing a rare but potentially serious brain side effect of nasal decongestants containing pseudoephedrine, saying they might cause vessels supplying the brain to contract or spasm, reducing blood flow – possibly leading to seizures or even strokes.
However, drug regulators stress the likelihood of this happening is extremely low, reports the BBC.
They said the products already include patient information leaflets with warnings about the rare risks, as well as more common side effects such as headache and dizziness.
Pseudoephedrine, very effective for nasal congestion, comes in sprays, liquids and tablets, and is sometimes mixed with other medicines for coughs and colds or allergies.
The UK-wide review for the medication was initiated after regulators in France alerted European drugs regulator the EMA, which is also conducting a review, about some recent, rare cases.
Experts will look at two brain blood vessel conditions: posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS).
RCVS can cause sudden, severe thunderclap headaches that often recur over a span of days to weeks.
Symptoms of PRES may include blurred vision, headache, seizures and confusion.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) said pseudoephedrine was widely used and that medicines like this were carefully assessed before being made available to the public.
Within the EU, pseudoephedrine-containing medicines are available under various trade names, including Actifed, Aerinaze, Aspirin Complex, Clarinase, Humex rhume and Nurofen Cold and Flu.
BBC article – Pseudoephedrine safety review due to rare brain risk (Open access)
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