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:

You should also talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are already taking any other medications.

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