What is a nasal decongestant?
Nasal decongestants are medicines that can help relieve a blocked nose. Nasal decongestants help relieve nasal congestion by narrowing (constricting) the blood vessels and reducing blood flow and swelling, allowing you to breathe more easily.Advice about cough and cold medicines for children has changed from 15 August 2012.
- Medicated nasal decongestants must not be used in babies younger than 6 months, as rebound congestion may cause breathing difficulty.
- Decongestants containing pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, oxymetazoline or xylometazoline should not be given to children younger than 6 years.
- Ask a doctor, pharmacist or nurse practitioner for advice before giving decongestants containing pseudoephedrine, phenylephedrine , oxymetazoline or xylometazoline to children aged 6 to 11 years.
Nasal decongestants are available in different forms:
- Tablets (e.g. pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine). Brand names include: Sudafed Sinus and Nasal Decongestant
- Nasal sprays (e.g. phenylephrine, oxymetazoline, tramazoline, xylometazoline). Brand names include: Vicks Sinex
- Nasal drops (e.g. ephedrine, oxymetazoline, xylometazoline). Brand names include: Otrivin Nasal Drops.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you are taking
It is important that you tell your health professional about all the medicines you or anyone in your care is taking — including prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines (‘herbal’ or ‘natural’ medicines and vitamin and mineral supplements). This is because all medicines, including herbal and natural medicines, can cause side effects and may interact with other medicines.Who can’t use nasal decongestants?
- Decongestants containing pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, oxymetazoline or xylometazoline must not be used in children younger than 6 years. Use salt water (saline) nasal sprays or drops instead of a nasal decongestant for children.
- Ask a doctor, pharmacist or nurse practitioner for advice before giving decongestants containing pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, oxymetazoline or xylometazoline to children aged 6 to 11 years.
- Nasal decongestants are unlikely to be effective for children under 12 years, and can cause serious side effects in children (e.g. can affect the nervous system). Use salt water (saline) nasal sprays or drops instead of a nasal decongestant for children.
- They are not effective for treating a middle ear infection (otitis media).
- They may not be safe to use if you have certain health conditions (e.g. high blood pressure or heart problems).
What are the side effects of decongestants?
Commonly occurring side effects (between 1 and 10 in 100 people have the side effect) include:- burning and stinging in the nose
- increased mucus production
- rebound congestion if used for more than 4 or 5 days (see below).
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- headache
- nausea
- dizziness
- insomnia.
Don’t use intranasal decongestant spray or drops for longer than 4 or 5 days.
Using a decongestant for longer than 5 days (or at higher than the recommended dose) can worsen your symptoms after you stop using the decongestant (this is ‘rebound congestion’). Your symptoms may take weeks to improve. To avoid rebound congestion, don’t use nasal decongestants for longer than 4 or 5 days, and only use the recommended dose.If you need a decongestant for longer than 5 days, decongestant tablets containing pseudoephedrine can help to prevent rebound congestion.
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