Chemist

[Keith]

Does anyone know if there is a LARGE Chemist in or near Paphos? a bit like Boots that you can walk round or are they all like little kiosk type places.

Thanks, Keith

[Keith]

What I am after actually is Vicks Sinex, and can't find them in Cyprus, the nasal sprays in Cyprus don't seem to do the same job for me.
Anyone seen Vick Sinex out there anywhere.

Keith

[Dominic]

You are right about Cyprus Nasal Sprays, they aren't as good as a decent Vicks. I also pine for Olbas Inhalers.

You can still find them in more remote kiosks. I was told by one store owner that Vicks no longer supplied Cyprus though. However, this seems to be a fairly common response if you ask a store owner for something they have not got in stock.

[die6]

Ou can try the chemist in Pissouri. He gets nearly everything for me. Tel: 25222800

[LouiseCastricum]

You are right about Cyprus Nasal Sprays, they aren't as good as a decent Vicks. I also pine for Olbas Inhalers.

You can still find them in more remote kiosks. I was told by one store owner that Vicks no longer supplied Cyprus though. However, this seems to be a fairly common response if you ask a store owner for something they have not got in stock.

I got the Olbas inhaler from the Chemist in Coral Bay, very close to SalaThai restaurant at the same side.

[William Morris]

What I am after actually is Vicks Sinex, and can't find them in Cyprus, the nasal sprays in Cyprus don't seem to do the same job for me.
Anyone seen Vick Sinex out there anywhere.

Keith

Some items, you need to stock up on whilst still in the UK. No point trying to find them in Cyprus.

[PW in Polemi]

I recently asked at several different pharmacies for Vicks Vapour Rub because I find the usual alternative (First Aid brand) is not as strong and not as effective. All told me "sorry, not available". One (near Penelope's Palace) told me that it is no longer available in Cyprus because it has been listed as a medicine. He sold me a different brand, Bell's, that I find almost as good as Vicks.

[PaphosAL]

Keith- you are looking for Vick Sinex. Does this mean that you have an ongoing Sinus infection problem I wonder?

If so, Vick will only alleviate the results of the problem, not cure the cause... I had a serious sinus infection up to a month ago, following four old tooth stumps being extracted at the dentist. My GP prescribed me antibiotics, a course of 8 Doxycycline 100mg capsules (ABS), 2 to be taken straight away, then one per day.

It cleared me up like some sort of miracle! But getting back to Vicks (VapoRub in my case)...

Active ingredients are:

Menthol and Camphor (to calm a cough)
Eucalyptus and Menthol (to relieve nasal congestion)
Eucalyptus (to relieve catarrh)

I'm sure that any pharmacy in Paphos will stock these basics for bargain prices. But if you have a sinus infection, then inhaling Eucalyptus and Menthol will only relieve it, NOT cure it!

Cheers- AL

[Keith]

I did stock up before coming over, got three left and want to find where I can get them before I run out.

Al, thanks for the reply, definitely not an infection, just blocked sinus every now and again and Vicks seems the only thing that clears it.
Will have to try different stuff over here, you never know one just might work.
I did try one two years ago whilst mine ran out during a holiday over here but to be honest didn't work for me at all.

Thanks all, Keith

[AndrewA]

The active ingredient of Vicks Sinex Nasal spray is Oxymetazoline Hydrochloride (a mild alpha adrenergic agonist) which is in many of the nasal spray decongestants. You should find it listed on the back of the packaging and on the bottle itself.

[PaphosAL]

In that case, Keith, you could always try Sudafed or Synutab capsules for sinus congestion?

Or inhaling the combination of Eucalyptus and Menthol (from your chemist) from a hot water bowl, with a towel over your head! See how that baby works...

Alternatively, here are some more therapies for you to explore:

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0, ... up-sinuses

Cheers- AL

[Lazydaze52]

How about Amazon? They're on their U.K. Website and appear to deliver here.

[PolemIan]

I had major sinus problems for years. When visiting my parents once, many years ago and had tp go and see their local GP after a really bad episod. He gave me an old tip that, whilst disgusting, really works. Add some salt to a shallow bowl of warm water, cover one nostril and snort the salty solution up the other, then repeat for the other side. It feels like you are drowning and the gunk that ends up the bowl is not nice. All GPs and some pharmacists i knew back in the UK have all said the same to me, avoid using Sinex etc for more than 2 or 3 days as it will cause what they call 'rebound' - effectively triggering what you are trying to treat! Over recent years a number of saline type sprays have come onto the market to back up Mum's old GP. I also find going a for a swim in the sea really helps.

If you have one of those electric facial sauna / steamer things, that's also really good with a drop of olbas oil or menthol crystals - better than a bowl as it doesn't cool down.

At a visit to an ENT specialist earlier this year - opposite Lenia's dentist, i was prescribed Nasacort spray - but again only told to use for a few days.

Ian

[Keith]

Thanks all, as said I have three left and now lots of suggestions I will be looking into.

Keith

[Lazydaze52]

Could you be allergic to sulphites? I found completely by chance that certain fruit squash concentrate blocked my sinuses and the culprit was the level of sulphites in them.

You can also buy a solution especially for washing out nasal passages, I found it less of an irritant than pure salt, I used to get them from Amazon too,

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NeilMed-Origin ... +rinse+kit

I find I don't need them now, as long as I keep off that fruit squash. Should imagine you can get something similar at pharmacies here though if you want to give it a try.

[Kili01]

I managed to get some Vick from Ikagora, on the Polis Rd next to the former London Supermarket. Ikagora often have a shelf near the till with a few 'over the counter' medicines.
I got mine sometime last winter when this shelf was stocked with cold meds.

Dee

[Keith]

Thanks for that, I have actually see Vick myself but what I am after is the Nasal Spray.

Keith

[PaphosAL]

You are right about Cyprus Nasal Sprays, they aren't as good as a decent Vicks. I also pine for Olbas Inhalers....

Nothing like a good 'bump' is there, Dominic? My sinus is back with a vengence past couple of days. An hour ago, my daughter suggested I try Olbas Oil (a 10ml bottle of which she bought for her dear (but now sadly departed) Mum, as an inhalant. By day, 3 drops on a tissue, and simply breathe in the vapours. (By night, 3 drops on a tissue and tuck tissue inside your pillow case).

Wow! What a difference, 20 minutes later! Nasal (sinus) congestion has vanished, and I'm breathing clearly again through my nostrils. Double bonus for me (with COPD) is that Olbas also helps clear the bronchial tracts, breaking down catarrh build-up...

Active natural ingredients:
=======================
Cajuput Oil 18.5%
Clove Oil 0.1%
Eucalyptus Oil 35.45%
Juniper Berry Oil 2.7%
Levomenthol 4.1%
Methyl Salicylate 3.7%
Mint Oil, partly dementholised 35.45%

Manufacturer:
===============
G. R. Lane Health Products
Sisson Road
Gloucester GL2 0GR

+44 1452 524012
olbasoil@laneshealth.com

Typical online purcase source:
==========================
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Olbas-Oil-Inh ... SwiDFYNYAv

Cheers- AL

ps: If problem still persists after 7 days of daily and nightly use, it's time to visit your Doctor!

[Dominic]

I had major sinus problems for years. When visiting my parents once, many years ago and had tp go and see their local GP after a really bad episod. He gave me an old tip that, whilst disgusting, really works. Add some salt to a shallow bowl of warm water, cover one nostril and snort the salty solution up the other, then repeat for the other side. It feels like you are drowning and the gunk that ends up the bowl is not nice. All GPs and some pharmacists i knew back in the UK have all said the same to me, avoid using Sinex etc for more than 2 or 3 days as it will cause what they call 'rebound' - effectively triggering what you are trying to treat! Over recent years a number of saline type sprays have come onto the market to back up Mum's old GP. I also find going a for a swim in the sea really helps.

If you have one of those electric facial sauna / steamer things, that's also really good with a drop of olbas oil or menthol crystals - better than a bowl as it doesn't cool down.

At a visit to an ENT specialist earlier this year - opposite Lenia's dentist, i was prescribed Nasacort spray - but again only told to use for a few days.

Ian

The one time I used a dedicated salt washer device, I got the worst cold I have ever had as a result. But I agree that a swim in the sea works a charm.