It's been known for years that the evidence for its effectiveness is weak, but it's still found in many cold and flu remedies. These two products both contain 200mg of ibuprofen, but Asda’s own-brand version is less than half the price. Cold & flu drink sachets Lemsip First Action nasal spray is a medical device and Carragelose is not absorbed by the nasal mucosa. Any serious incident that occurs from the use of Lemsip First Action should be reported to the manufacturer and the competent authority in your country. If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. What if I use too much?

Decongestant medicines do not usually have side effects, and any side effects you may experience are usually mild.

For nasal polyps the usual dose is 1 or 2 sprays into each nostril once or twice a day. Do not use more than 4 sprays per nostril in 24 hours. How to use it Lemsip First Action Nasal Spray is a medical device with local action and is not absorbed by the nasal mucosa. Any serious incident that occurs from the use of Lemsip First Action should be reported to the manufacturer and the competent authority in your country. They can help ease the symptoms of conditions such as colds and flu, hay fever and other allergic reactions, catarrh and sinusitis.

The review concluded that there was a small increased risk of a rare but serious complication when undergoing general anesthetic within 12 months of taking pholcodine, and the benefits didn't outweigh the risks. Branded cold and flu medicines can cost up to three times more than their own-brand counterparts, despite often containing exactly the same ingredients and being equally effective. Any serious incident that occurs from the use of Lemsip First Action™ should be reported to the manufacturer and the competent authority in your country. If your doctor has prescribed high doses of mometasone, or you’re also taking other steroid medicines or tablets for fungal infections or HIV, you may get underactive adrenal glands as a side effect. Ask your doctor if you need to carry a steroid emergency card. Common side effects Though the UK equivalent hasn’t yet followed suit, an independent Non-prescription Drugs Advisory Committee, part of the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) recently concluded that phenylephrine, the decongestant ingredient in cold and flu drink sachets, isn’t effective when taken orally.Note that, according to the NHS, decongestant nasal sprays and drops should not be used for more than a week at a time because using them for too long can make your stuffiness worse. Paracetamol and ibuprofen bring down a fever and relieve pains such as headaches, sore throat, or general aches that you get with the flu. You could also try inhalations containing substances like menthol or eucalyptus oil, or nasal sprays or drops containing saline to help clear the nasal passages.

For example, taking decongestants alongside some antidepressants can cause a dangerous rise in blood pressure. and reviewed by health professionals. It isn’t intended to replace the medical information given to

Own-brand or generic alternatives can be around half the price of branded options, if not more. Here are the cheapest options we found versus the branded version for treating cold and flu symptoms: Painkillers Live well, eat better, stay healthy: sign up for our free monthly Food & Health newsletter for the latest insights delivered straight to your inbox