DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I have used decongestants over the years when I'm ill, but my doctor recently said that I should be cautious because nonprescription decongestants can have significant side effects. Is this true?
ANSWER: While many people rely on nasal decongestants to help ease nasal symptoms of a cold or flu, these medications can sometimes cause more harm than good, especially if used improperly or taken by patients who shouldn't use them.
Examples of commonly used decongestants include phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine. Often these ingredients are included in multisystem cold and flu preparations. Due to the nature of medications, it is important to always read label ingredients for medications and warnings on boxes to know what you are taking and whether it is the correct product, especially if you have certain medical conditions or take other medications or supplements.
