Warning from doctors about nasal spray raises concern: Minister needed urgently

Doctors' warning about nasal spray raises concerns: Minister called to action

Enhedslisten wants nasal spray for congestion removed entirely from store shelves in retail outlets.

Nasal spray for congestion such as Otrivin and Zymelin is the second most commonly sold over-the-counter medicine in Denmark. Measured in packages, it is only surpassed by the sale of paracetamol (pain reliever medicine). (Photo: © Henning Due) 54 minutes ago

Several parties in the Danish parliament will now call for Health Minister Sophie Løhde (V) to take action.

This is after the country's ear, nose, and throat doctors have suggested stopping the sale of nasal spray for congestion in kiosks, supermarkets, and gas stations.

This applies to both the Social Democrats, the Conservative People's Party, and Enhedslisten.

- We agree with the doctors that sales should be limited to pharmacies. There are many who are not aware that it has negative consequences to take too much nasal spray for congestion, says Enhedslistens health spokesperson, Peder Hvelplund.

Read also: Doctors sound the alarm: Nasal spray should be removed from store shelves (https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/laeger-slaar-alarm-naesespray-skal-vaek-fra-butikshylderne)

The doctors' proposal comes together with a warning in a concern letter, which the Danish Rhinological Society, the professional society for ear, nose, and throat doctors, has sent to the Danish Medicines Agency.

They see overuse among "too many Danes," they write.

This can cause damage to the nose in those who use nasal spray for congestion for longer than recommended, the doctors estimate.

On several hospitals, doctors meet patients who have suffered damage to the nose due to overuse and end up having an operation.

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Deeply concerned

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- I think it's deeply concerning that otherwise healthy and fit people can end up in a situation where they need surgery in the nose because they have misused nasal spray. We should take this seriously, sounds it from Per Larsen, who is the health spokesperson for the Conservative People's Party.

The same tone is heard from the Social Democrats:

- I am generally concerned about over-the-counter medicines that are sold without guidance. When you buy these products in stores, you don't get personal guidance, as you get at the pharmacy, says health spokesperson Kirsten Normann.

Read also: It started with a nasal spray and ended with a surgery for Laurits Olsen (https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/det-begyndte-med-en-naesespray-og-endte-med-en-operation-laurits-olsen)

Both the Social Democrats and the Conservative People's Party are open to the doctors' proposal to limit the sale of nasal spray for congestion in retail.

- But the decision should be made on a solid scientific basis, says Kirsten Normann.

The Conservatives also think so.

>

> If someone is in abuse, it's quite difficult to get out of it,

> when the product is right in front of your nose at one in Netto

> Per Larsen, health spokesperson, Conservative People's Party

Per Larsen thinks that the easy availability of the product is a problem.

- If someone is in abuse, it's quite difficult to get out of it, when the product is right in front of your nose at one in Netto, he says.

All three parties will now pose questions to Health Minister Sophie Løhde to clarify the extent of the problem and how the minister plans to address it.

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Ready to remove nasal spray

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But Enhedslisten is already now ready to remove nasal spray for congestion from retail.

It states on nasal spray packages and package inserts that the recommended dose of ten days should not be exceeded, because it can cause swelling of the mucous membranes and other side effects. Why isn't that enough?

- Because most people don't read what's on the packages, and the fewest look at the package insert. When you buy something in a regular store, you have an expectation that it can't cause harm, he says.

DR has presented the proposal from the Danish Rhinological Society to the companies Haleon and Orifarm, which are responsible for the sale of Otrivin and Zymelin in Denmark, the two most commonly sold nasal sprays for congestion.

The companies write to DR that it is important that their customers follow the guidance and recommendation for a maximum of ten days' use of their product to avoid swelling of the mucous membranes in the nose and other side effects.

It has not been possible to obtain a comment from Health Minister Sophie Løhde, who instead refers to the Danish Medicines Agency.

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