Common questions or concerns ABOUT THE SPRAY
Click on the boxes below to see answers to some common questions and concerns.
Is the spray safe?
The spray is not a medicine and it is not addictive. It's safe to use with any normal medicines you might take.
Even though it’s not a medicine, the spray is still effective! It's more like a hand gel, but specially designed for your nose.
It helps to clean the virus from your nose and make it difficult for the virus to survive.
It’s safe and could stop you needing to use medicines to deal with the symptoms of a heavy infection.
Sometimes there are really mild ones. Most can be avoidedby getting your spray technique right.
Some people can find that the spray bothers their nose or leaves a strange taste in their mouth. When you have an infection the feeling in the nose after you spray can be quite strong - but that is a really good sign. It means the spray is tackling the viruses.
For most people, the effects should be small and not last long. Most people find that these effects are better than having a full-blown infection!
If the taste bothers you, it’s fine to have something nice to drink or eat after using the spray.
Using the spray can sometimes cause a headache. This is usually because you have an infection in your sinuses. Again, it's a sign the spray is working.
While this can feel a little strong, it isn’t unsafe.
If you are finding it too uncomfortable, make sure you are pointing the nozzle towards your ear. For example, put the nozzle in your right nostril and point it towards your right ear; and put the nozzle in your left nostril and point it to your left ear.
This helps the spray cause a less strong sensation and go a little less to the sinuses.
Very rarely the spray may cause a nosebleed. This is usually if you have aimed the nozzle into the middle of your nose.
This is more likely if you are prone to nosebleeds.
If you get a nosebleed, you can pause using the spray and try again in a few days.
In the very unlikely event that you keep getting a nosebleed or you get a heavy nosebleed that lasts for a long time, then you should stop using your spray and talk to your doctor.
Click below to find out more about treating a nosebleed.
What should I do if I get a nosebleed?
Nosebleeds can be a nuisance and can look bad, but the amount of blood loss is actually very small.
If you get a nosebleed, stay calm, sit forward with your nose pointing down, and firmly pinch your nose together to completely block the nostrils.
Do this for 5 minutes.
Nosebleeds are more likely if your nose is dry.
If your nose is dry using salt water can help.
Add a ½ teaspoon of table salt to a 250 ml cup of water and stir to dissolve. Then use a clean finger to gently wipe the salt water on the inside of your nose.
More about using the spray
We recommend using the spray up to 6 times in a day, with 2 sprays in each nostril each time. Experts agree this amount is safe.
In most situations you will probably be using a lot less than this. Click here to have a look at when we recommend you use the spray.
It is fine to use the spray every day if you are around lots of people who could have an infection.
Click here to read the instructions again.
For some people, using the spray daily may make their nose feel a bit dry. If your nose is dry or sore, using salt water can help.
Add a ½ teaspoon of table salt to a 250 ml cup of water and stir to dissolve. Then use a clean finger to gently wipe the salt water on the inside of your nose.
Everyone has different first signs.
It can be hard to tell if the symptoms you are getting are the start of an infection or due to something else. For example, if you have hay fever.
If you are unsure, using the spray won’t cause any harm and could help stop an infection.
You can still use the spray even when your infection symptoms are worse.
It is still likely to help you to get over your infection faster.
It just works better if you use it on early symptoms.
After 2 weeks of using the spray up to 6 times a day, if you’ve not seen any benefit it’s worth giving it a break. You can also stop, pause or reduce how much you are using the spray if your symptoms are making it unpleasant to do so.
Even if you are using the spray, you can still do everything you would normally do to treat symptoms and make yourself feel better.
If you have symptoms that could be COVID-19, you must follow the latest government advice.
You don’t have to!
Nobody wants infections to rule their lives.
Using the spray is very different from being ‘over the top’ or ‘obsessed’.
It just means you notice early signs of infection and situations where you might catch an infection. You then take quick, easy steps to protect your health. Then you get on with your life.
Overall, you’ll spend less time worrying about or suffering from infections.
You will also help your family and friends. If you avoid infections, then you won’t spread them.
Will the spray really work?
Did you know a regular cold is also a coronavirus? Although it can cause more serious problems, we catch COVID-19 in a very similar way to coughs, colds and other infections.
Things we do to reduce the number of these infections may also help with COVID-19. So using the nasal spray may be useful!
You must still follow all government adviceon preventing COVID-19 and the steps to take if you have any of the warning signs.
Sometimes it seems hard to know if it’s the spray that stopped your infection.
However, like using a hand gel, it does rid viruses from your nose, and it is even better than a hand gel because it makes it tough for the viruses to survive - so it will help!
You can find other similar sprays that also help to clean viruses from your nose.
However, this spray goes that big step further by both cleaning viruses and making the nose a place where it’s much harder for any virus that is left to survive.
It’s frustrating that you still got ill after using the spray.
Using the spray doesn’t always stop an infection, but it should do most times if you use it correctly.
Using the spray should mean your symptoms are not as bad and don’t last as long.
It should also help lower the number of infections you get.
It might be that you weren’t able to use the spray early enough this time or maybe your technique wasn't quite right.
Keep going and you should see some benefits.