Decongestant medication - Who can use decongestants
Most people can use decongestant medicines, although they may not be suitable for everyone.
Before taking decongestants, always read the patient information leaflet that comes with the medicine.
Babies and children
Decongestants should not be given to children under the age of six and are not recommended for children under 12, unless advised by a GP or pharmacist.
If your child has a stuffy nose, breathing in steam with added essential oils, such as eucalyptus or rosemary, may help relieve it. Make sure you supervise your child when doing this, due to the accidental risk of scalding.
For babies, you may find that placing a few drops of saline (salt water) just inside their nose, before they feed, will help relieve a blocked nose. Saline drops are available from pharmacies.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
It is unclear whether decongestants are entirely safe to take during pregnancy, especially during the first three months.
Therefore, their use is not usually recommended unless you are advised by your GP or midwife.
Some decongestants, such as oxymetazoline, are safe to take if breastfeeding, but others, such as phenylephrine, may not be recommended.
It is important to carefully read the information leaflet that comes with your medication.
When to avoid decongestants
It may not be safe to take decongestants if you have certain health conditions. Talk to your GP before using a decongestant if you:
- have diabetes
- have high blood pressure (hypertension)
- are being treated for an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)
- have an enlarged prostate gland
- have liver damage, such as scarring of the liver (cirrhosis)
- have kidney disease
- have heart disease or circulation problems
- have glaucoma (a build up of fluid inside the eye)
- are taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (a type of antidepressant medication)
You should also talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are already taking any other medications.
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