Care Decongestant Nasal Spray
TEXT FOR NON-MARKETED PACKS
DECONGESTANT NASAL SPRAY LEAFLET
PL 00240/0343
Care Decongestant Nasal Spray
(oxymetazoline hydrochloride)
Important information about Care Decongestant Nasal Spray
• This medicine relieves nasal congestion in head colds, catarrh and hay fever in adults, the elderly and children over 12 years.
Do not use....
• For anyone under 12 years old.
• For longer than 7 days.
Talk to your doctor..
• If your congestion has not cleared up after 7 days.
Now read the rest of the leaflet before you use this medicine. It includes other information which might be especially important for you.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• Ask your pharmacist if you need any more information or advice.
• If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
1. What the medicine is for
Care Decongestant Nasal Spray is for the relief of nasal congestion in head colds, catarrh and hay fever. It contains oxymetazoline hydrochloride which acts to relieve congestion by constricting the blood vessels in the nose.
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2. Before you use this medicine
Do not use the medicine if you have..
• Taken monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) for depression within the past 2 weeks, or are taking beta-blockers for your heart or blood pressure.
• An allergy (difficulty in breathing, fever, swelling of the mouth, lips or skin, severe rashes, itching) to any of the ingredients listed in section 6.
• Porphyria (a disorder of the metabolism).
• Glaucoma (raised pressure inside the eyeball).
• Heart disease, irregular heartbeat or angina (pain or tightness in the centre of the chest).
• High blood pressure or poor circulation.
• An overactive thyroid gland.
• Diabetes.
• Phaeochromocytoma (a rare tumour of the adrenal glands).
• Recently had an operation on your nose or sinuses.
• Or are already taking other medicines to unblock your nose.
• Do not give to children under 12 years old.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have....
• Kidney problems.
• Prostate problems.
Or you are elderly.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking....
• Guanethidine, beta-blockers or any other drugs for high blood pressure.
• Digoxin or digitoxin for heart failure.
• Ergotamine or methysergide for migraine relief.
• Rasagiline for Parkinson’s disease.
• Medicines or supplements to reduce your appetite or make you more alert.
• Thyroid hormones e.g. levothyroxine.
• Or if oxytocin is used to assist birth or breastfeeding.
Pregnant or breastfeeding....
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine if you are pregnant, might be pregnant or are breastfeeding. Care Decongestant Nasal Spray should not be used in pregnancy unless the doctor has told you to do so.
Important information about some of the ingredients
• This product contains benzalkonium chloride which may cause difficulty in breathing or wheezing.
• It also contains thiomersal which may cause local skin reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis) and discolouration.
3. How to use this medicine
• Blow the nose to clear the nasal passages.
• Hold bottle upright and insert into each nostril in turn.
• Firmly squeeze the sides of the bottle twice, while breathing in to draw the medicine well into the nasal cavity.
Cr Adults, the elderly and children over 12 years Use up to 3 times a day or use at bedtime to give relief through the night.
Do not use for longer than 7 days without talking to your doctor. If symptoms persist you should ask your doctor for advice.
Keep away from eyes.
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Prolonged use may make your nasal congestion worse.
Children under 12 years
Do not give to children under 12 years.
If you use too much
If you accidentally use too much or swallow some, see a doctor straight away. Take the pack with you to show which medicine you have swallowed.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Care Decongestant Nasal Spray can have side effects, although these don’t affect everyone.
Important side effects:
If you think you have any of the following side effects or symptoms, stop using this medicine immediately and see a doctor as soon as possible.
• Allergic reactions which may cause difficulty in breathing, fever, swelling of the mouth, lips or skin, severe rashes, itching.
Other possible side effects are:
• Irritation, dryness or soreness in the nose.
• Contact dermatitis (skin inflammation and redness) or skin discolouration following contact with the product.
• Headache, dizziness.
• Weakness and trembling.
• Anxiety, fear, being irritable, restless or not sleeping, confused or seeing things.
• Feeling sick, being sick, less saliva than usual in your mouth, anorexia.
• Effects on the heart e.g. irregular heartbeat, palpitations.
• Effects on the circulation e.g. cold feet or hands, high blood pressure.
• Shortness of breath.
Using the medicine for more than 7 days may make your congestion worse and the effect will decrease (tolerance).
If you notice these or any other side effect not included above, stop use and tell your doctor or pharmacist. They will tell you what to do.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. Storing this medicine
• Keep it out of the sight and reach of children.
• There are no special conditions for storing this medicine.
• Do not use after the expiry date shown on the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• Medicine should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of any unused medicine. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. Further information What is in this medicine
The active ingredient is: Oxymetazoline hydrochloride 0.05% w/v.
The other ingredients are: benzalkonium chloride, thiomersal, sodium chloride, levomenthol, cineole, camphor, methyl salicylate, poloxamer, sodium citrate (E331), citric acid (E330) and purified water.
What the medicine looks like
Care Decongestant Nasal Spray is a clear, colourless liquid which smells of camphor and menthol.
It is supplied in 15ml bottles.
Marketing authorisation holder and manufacturer
Thornton and Ross Ltd., Huddersfield, HD7 5QH, UK.
This leaflet was last revised in November 2014
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