5 OF THE BEST DECONGESTANTS

LAID low with a cold? Dr Adam Frosh, an ear nose and throat consultant at the Lister Hospital, Stevenage, chooses five of the best decongestants.

Otrivine Adult Nasal Spray £3.79 for 10ml, from chemists

THE decongestant xylometazoline hydrochloride is in this spray, which helps to shrink the blood vessels in the lining of the nose and so improves air flow.

Most decongestants work this way, but the advantage of a spray over a pill is that the effects are felt quicker as the ingredients don’t need to go through the body. This is said to provide relief within ten minutes.

Decongestant sprays shouldn’t be used for more than two weeks, though, because with repeated use the effects of the drug wear off and the blood vessels in the nose swell, causing the problem you originally wanted to treat.

But short-term, using this spray three times a day will be fine.

NeilMed Sinus Rinse £12.61, for 50 sachets, from Amazon and Lloyds Pharmacy

THIS is a drug-free nasal rinse that will help to physically clear out mucus and any viruses and bacteria. It comes with sachets of a salt and sodium bicarbonate solution, and a little bottle to squeeze some of it up one nostril — it drizzles out the other. The salt solution also helps to reduce swelling in the nasal passage. Nasal irrigation has a lot of good evidence and is the new hot thing in decongestants.

Sudafed Congestion & Headache Relief £4.36 for 16 tablets, from Boots

ONE of the benefits of these tablets is that they contain the decongestant phenylephrine as well as caffeine, both of which shrink the blood vessels in the nose.

Caffeine may also give you a boost if you have lack of energy brought on by a cold.

This formula contains paracetamol to help ease aches and pains, too.

Sainsbury’s Vapour Rub £1.10 for 50g, from Sainsbury’s

VAPOUR rub is an old-fashioned but still very effective way to help you feel less congested — rub some on your chest to relieve cold symptoms. The key ingredient is menthol, which provides a cooling sensation in the nasal passages — so it gives the perception that it is helping, when it is not doing anything to physically clear the nose. Using menthol-based oils in the water and inhaling the steam will have a similar effect.

Actifed Multi-Action Tablets £2.99 for 12 tablets, from chemists

NOT only does this contain the decongestant pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, it also has triprolidine, an antihistamine that will reduce a runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes caused by a cold — even though it’s not an allergic reaction. The antihistamine will also make you feel quite drowsy, so this is a good one to take in the evenings if you’re not sleeping well.