After years of relying on an over-the-counter nasal spray containing a vasoconstrictor, I developed severe rebound congestion that left me unable to breathe properly without it. The damage was so extensive that I had to undergo nasal surgery to fix it. When I shared my experience on social media, the response was overwhelming—my videos on this have reached over 6 million views, and thousands of people messaged me, desperate for help because they couldn’t stop using these sprays. I have also appeared in several national newspapers and on ITV's This Morning. Seeing how widespread this issue is, I knew I had to take action. That’s why I’m launching this petition—to push for a ban on these harmful products and prevent others from going through the same struggle.

This is a call to the UK government and the MHRA to ban the sale of over-the-counter (OTC) nasal sprays containing vascular constrictors, such as xylometazoline and oxymetazoline, due to their well-documented risks of dependence, long-term nasal damage, and avoidable surgical interventions. These products have already been banned in France and other countries due to their harmful effects, and we believe the UK should follow suit to protect public health and reduce unnecessary strain on the NHS.

Why This Matters:

Risk of Medical Harm – Regular use of these nasal sprays can lead to rebound congestion (rhinitis medicamentosa), causing dependency and severe nasal damage requiring surgery to correct.

Financial Burden on the NHS – Many individuals suffering from nasal spray addiction require medical interventions, including consultations with ENT specialists, steroid treatments, and surgical procedures, all of which could be prevented by banning these products.

International Precedent – Countries like France have already recognised the risks and removed these products from the market. The UK should align with best practices in public health.

Safer Alternatives Exist – Non-addictive saline sprays, steroid-based treatments, and antihistamines provide effective alternatives without the risks associated with vascular constriction.

Our Request:

We urge the government and the MHRA to:

Prohibit the sale of OTC nasal sprays containing vascular constrictors.
Reclassify these products as prescription-only, ensuring that their use is supervised by medical professionals.

Launch a public awareness campaign about the dangers of nasal spray addiction and safe alternatives.

Sign the petition to protect public health and reduce unnecessary medical interventions.