Vicks Sinex Micromist (Vicks Sinex Micromist)

Member Name: carlmcq

Product:	Vicks Sinex Micromist
Date:	19/07/09 (163 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Does a basic job

Disadvantages: Sudafed is far better and instant

Traditionally I've stuck loyal to the Sudafed brand when it comes to nasal sprays. Never did I feed I'd need to cheat on it and go elsewhere. But one unfortunate weekend in February meant I was laid low with a terrible head cold, and I'd run out of Sudafed spray. To my uproar, the local chemist/shop had run out of the brand - it's to be expected as it works wonders - so I had to purchase a 'new' brand, I was stepping into unknown territory. I'd brought a Vicks Sinex Micromist... Oooooooo.

From the familiar Vicks brand of cold and flu reliefs, it comes in a glossy cardboard packet in the colour of "British racing green" (yes, such a colour to describe flu-relief exists in my eyes!). The bottle containing the spray solution is a 15ml dark-brown glass, with a white nozzle and a Vicks sticker explaining further the ingredients and directions for use. For adults and children over six, it should be use in each nostril once every 6 - 8 hours unless advised otherwise by your doctor. It's not suitable for anyone younger than that, and obviously, if problems persist, consult your doctor.

The activate the spray, apply pressure to the nozzle in the same way you'd work a syringe - by pressing down on it using your index and middle fingers. This will produce a strong mist instantly, so if you're testing it for the first time, don't spray near your eyes.

The smell is something I'd instantly associate with products such as Vicks vapour rub. When spraying it into your nostrils, especially when your nostrils aren't completely blocked, the spray can almost feel as if it's burning the back of your nostrils. This is arguably proof it's working, but the same thing doesn't happen when using the equivalent Sudafed spray.

The active ingredient, or the main component to unblock your nose is something called oxymetazoline hydrochloride, at a ratio of 0.5 mg/ml. The other ingredients read like a chemists wet dream and mean nothing to us mere mortals, but they are: levomenthol, sodium citrate dihydrate, tyloxapol, citric acid anhydrous, chlorhexidine gluconate solution, benzalkonium chloride solution, camphor, disodium edetate dihydrate, eucalyptol, sodium hydroxide and purified water.

Unfortunately, hand on heart, I wouldn't recommend this brand. Yes, it does the job to a degree and will help you unblock your nose and be able to breathe through it again. However, the sensation of clear nostrils doesn't remain for anywhere near as long as Sudafed, which can be sprayed at the start of the night before you sleep, and still be clear when you wake up 8 hours later. Also, Sudafed doesn't create the uncomfortable burning sensation at the back of your nostrils...as if you've gargled Listerine through your nose.

You can pick it up from all good pharmacies and chemists for any price just over the £3 mark and just under the £4 mark...however, you can buy Sudafed for the same price. Unless you've got shares in Vicks then, I wouldn't buy it. Simple.

Summary: Bang average for the market