ANYONE FOR A SNORT? (Vicks Sinex Nasal Spray)

Member Name: Ms_Scarlett

Product:	Vicks Sinex Nasal Spray
Date:	09/09/05 (1466 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Clears stuffy noses fast

Disadvantages: Addictive - contains lots of chemicals

Well wouldn’t you know it! I managed to get through the winter months without a hint of the sniffles but now with the first kiss of summer I have developed an absolutely ear popping, sinus blocking, eye watering bummer of a cold. Mind you if my husband catches this it will be classed as Death-watch Flu!

Anyway to cut to the chase my cold lurgy developed rapidly and by lunch time I was so blocked up I couldn’t breathe through my nose at all. I felt like I had two engineering bricks rammed firmly up each nostril. Now I can just about put up with a runny nose, sore throat, shivers and muscular aches but I can’t abide being blocked up. I get all panicky and claustrophobic.

So breathing heavily through my mouth I hot footed it down to the local chemist and purchased a bottle of Vicks Sinex Nasal Spray for £2.49.

The beauty of this product is that it is simple to use and the results are almost immediate. However this product must be used with caution… please read on and you will see why.

Vicks Sinex comes in a small carton with the familiar red, green and white packaging associated with Vicks products. The white, plastic bottle contains 20 ml of nasal spray solution. According to the information written on the carton “Vicks Sinex can be used to treat a blocked nose caused by the common cold, hay fever or sinusitis.

As I said earlier this spray is very easy to use. All you need to do is insert the nozzle of the bottle into one nostril, completely cover the other nostril with your finger and then squeeze the bottle and give one or two short, quick squirts followed by some deep inhaling; then repeat the process to the other nostril. The trickiest bit is to inhale deeply which is quite hard when your nose is totally bunged up.

The sensation once you have squirted the spray is rather unpleasant and can be quite astringent. The liquid shoots up the nasal passage and straight down the back of the throat – this again is somewhat unpleasant and for a very short time can leave a nasty sting in the back of your throat as well as a taste of the spray. Luckily though this nasty sensation is very temporary.

The results are almost instantaneous and dramatic and within seconds of spraying you can breathe freely through both nostrils for up to eight hours. Ah bliss – is that coffee I smell?

I found Vicks Sinex to be especially beneficial before going to sleep, a couple of sprays just before bedtime kept my nose clear and I was able to sleep soundly through the night.

THE BORING BITS

I will bore you with all the dull bits now and list all the product information that I gleaned from the patient information leaflet included with the product:

The dosage of one to two sprays to each nostril can be repeated at 6 – 8 hourly intervals but no more than 3 times per day.

Not to be given to children under the age of six.

Do not use Sinex after the expiry date.

Advice is given to seek medical advice before using the product if suffering with high blood pressure, any heart complaint, diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney or liver disorders, are pregnant or breast feeding or if you are taking any other medication.

Consult your doctor after seven days if symptoms persist, you accidentally take too much of the product or you develop new symptoms

Most people do not experience any side effects whilst using Vicks Sinex but if you do notice anything unusual or have any unusual side effects speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Proctor & Gamble are the manufacturers of Vicks Sinex. According to information on their website www.P&G.com they have been in existence since 1837 when they started out as a small family firm operating a candle and soap company in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Today Proctor & Gamble, markets almost 300 products to more than 5 billion consumers in 140 countries.

This product contains 0.05% w/v Oxymetazoline Hydrochloride which is the main ingredient for reducing the swollen nasal membranes which cause the congestion. There are quite a few other ingredients/chemicals in this product: Menthol, Camphor, Sodium Hydroxide Sodium Citrate Dehydrate, Citric Acid Anhydrous, Tyloxapol, Chlorexidine Digluconate, Benzalkonium Chloride, Disoduim Edentate, Eucalyptol and purified water.

THE SCARY BIT

I left the list of chemicals/ingredients until last because I do think Vicks Sinex is a useful SHORT TERM medicine but the amount of chemicals used did concern me.

I have researched this product using various websites and I found that due to the inclusion of Oxymetazoline Hydrochloride, which is a vasoconstrictor and reduces the swollen nasal membranes, incorrect usage of this product can be counter productive. In effect if you use this product for more than seven days you can become RELIANT upon it!

So in short this is a good short term medicine but must be used with care and in accordance with the instructions. Provides immediate relief for painful congestion and sinus problems and at £2.49 per bottle is very reasonably priced and readily available from most supermarkets and chemists.

Summary: Very good for unblocking noses but contains loads of chemicals, some of which are addictive.