A guest on Good Morning Britain has revealed how using a common nasal spray for a childhood cold triggered a devastating 23-year health battle. Charlotte Johnstone, 30, appeared on the ITV show to discuss her addiction to over-the-counter decongestant sprays with hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley.
A Lifelong Dependency Begins
Charlotte explained that her dependency began when she was just seven or eight years old. What started as a remedy for a simple cold spiralled into a compulsive need, with her now using the spray up to eight times a day. "It started off with a cold and I just couldn't stop," she confessed to the presenters.
Host Richard Madeley clarified that the addiction is not about seeking a 'high', but rather a reliance on the immediate relief it provides. The spray works by constricting blood vessels in the nasal passages, but overuse leads to a vicious cycle known as rebound congestion.
The Vicious Cycle of Rebound Congestion
Pharmacist Sanjeev Panesar, who joined the discussion, detailed the medical mechanism behind the dependency. "Your body can get used to [the spray] quite quickly," he explained. The body then overcompensates by creating more inflammation when the spray wears off, leading to worse congestion and a desperate need to use the spray again.
Charlotte described the terrifying reality of withdrawal, saying she feels "blocked up" with the sensation of mucus, even when there is none. Her dependency is so severe that she has driven for hours in the middle of the night to find a 24-hour supermarket when her supply runs low. In desperation, she has even bitten the tops off empty bottles to combine the last few drops.
A Call for Clearer Warnings
The segment highlighted a significant public health concern. Susanna Reid informed viewers that one in five users exceeds the recommended seven-day usage limit, putting an estimated 5.5 million people in the UK at risk of dependency. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is now calling for much clearer instructions on packaging.
Charlotte criticised the current warnings, stating, "On the bottles it says don't use for X amount of days, but it doesn't say why." She also shared a frustrating experience with a medical professional, recounting how an ENT consultant made her throw her spray away, leading to a panic attack, but offered no real understanding or solution.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.
