The sale of over-the-counter medicines for stuffy noses and sore throats increased by 56 per cent last year, according to recent figures from the Institute of Public Health. After a decline in the pandemic year 2020, the arrows point steeply upwards again. The sale of cold medicine is now 36 per cent higher than five years ago. And the increase is greatest for nasal sprays. At Apotek 1 at Majorstua in Oslo, pharmacist Kwame Boateng has noticed increased demand. Pharmacist Kwame Boateng at Apotek 1 at Majorstua in Oslo has registered that more people are buying nasal sprays. Photo: Anton Lier / news He believes it is connected to the fact that many people did not get sick during the pandemic because the infection control measures protected people against colds. – The increase may be related to the fact that there has been a shortage of cough medicine for a while. Then people may have resorted to nasal sprays instead to relieve the pain, he says. – You can get even tighter Many users have told news that they have become “addicted” to using nasal sprays and that they are unable to stop. But it is not true that the spray makes you dependent, according to Mohammad Nouri Sharikabad in the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI). – It is not a matter of addiction in the medical sense, but perhaps psychological. I don’t want to use the word, says Sharikabad. He is department director for pharmaceutical statistics at FHI. Mohammad Nouri Sharikabad in FHI says that incorrect use of nasal spray can worsen the symptoms. Photo: Signe Karin Hotvedt / news – Can have the opposite effect He will nevertheless warn against excessive use, which means use beyond seven to ten days. – Incorrect use of nasal spray can damage the mucous membrane and make the nose even more stuffy, says Sharikabad. He explains that the soothing effect at the start can be a good help, and that one may be tempted to continue. – But then the effect becomes the opposite after a while, he warns. He emphasizes that nasal spray must not be used for longer than what is stated on the package. – It is important to follow the usage guidelines. This type of spray should not be used over a long period of time, or against allergies or inflammation of the nasal mucosa, except on the advice of a doctor. The Oslo girls Farah, Narges and Susann are surprised by the increase in cold medicine in the hall. They believe that many may have become accustomed to using nasal sprays during the pandemic. – Nasal sprays are addictive, says Susann. She believes that some of the increase in sales can be attributed to the fact that more people may have become addicted, and that they may be afraid of running out. All three assure that it does not apply to them. – Fortunately, we are rarely sick, says Farah. Nasal spray record Norwegians bought 8.8 million bottles of nasal spray last year. The use of such agents has increased year by year. Over the past year, the sale of mucosal decongestant nasal sprays such as Otrivin and Otrivin Comp has increased by 16 per cent measured in doses. More and more sales take place outside pharmacies. Ten years ago, 2 out of 3 bottles were sold outside pharmacies. Now 3 out of 4 bottles go over the counter in grocery stores and petrol stations. Painkillers also increase Sales of the painkillers paracetamol and ibuprofen also increased last year. Over-the-counter paracetamol increased by 16 per cent and ibuprofen by 7 per cent. In total, we bought 12 million packets of paracetamol, distributed among several brands. The increase has been clear for many years, only interrupted by a decrease in 2020. FHI explains the decrease in the first year of the pandemic by people maintaining more social distance and other infection control measures and therefore getting sick less. The best tip from Giovanni Bonura for a stuffy nose is warm broth or wine. Photo: Anton Lier / news Giovanni Bonura, whom we meet outside the pharmacy at Majorstua, does not have the greatest faith in medicine. – I think it is best not to take anything, unless one becomes very ill. My advice is instead good, warm broth or a little wine, he says.
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Nasal spray use to the upside – FHI takes responsibility – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
