Vitamin A nose drops
Applying nasal drops
To use nasal drops effectively, lie on your side with your head tilted to make the bridge of your nose the lowest part. Squeeze the drops vertically down the nostril and wait for two minutes to allow the drops to reach deep into the nose. Repeat on the other side.
Vitamin A drops are used “for regenerative treatment of acute or chronically damaged nasal mucous membranes, for instance in the overuse of certain nasal sprays, for dry mucous membranes during winter months or where there is irritation…”
Vitamin A is thought to support the recovery of the delicate olfactory tissues that can help to restore the sense of smell in cases of post-viral smell loss, although doctors are still waiting for better evidence of the effectiveness.
The first study in Germany in 2017 found Vitamin A drops “beneficial”, however the sample size was small which is why more studies are needed. A research study at the University of East Anglia was initiated in 2021 to carry out further trials and we are awaiting results of this study.
Read our blog on Vitamin A Nasal Rinse, an alternative to Vitamin A nasal drops, to make at home
Where can I buy Vitamin A drops?
There are two brands of Vitamin A drops available in Europe.
Coldistop Nose Drops are manufactured by Sigmapharm of Austria.
Coldastop Nose drops are manufactured by Desitin in Germany.
Both have a similar formulation. Please check the internet to find an online pharmacy that might ship to your country. At this time, Pharmasan is shipping to the UK from Germany.
What’s in it?
1 ml enthält 8,25 mg (=15.000 I.E.) Vitamin A-Palmitat und 20,00 mg Vitamin E-Acetat
1 ml of the product contains 8.25mg/ (=15,000 IU) of Vitamin A palmitate and 20mg of Vitamin E acetate.
Active ingredient: Vitamin A Palmitate and Vitamin E acetate.
Important: the product is in a peanut oil base and must not be used in the case of a peanut allergy. The product is not recommended in patients with a soya allergy.
Using Vitamin A drops
Drops should be used 2-3 times daily by applying 2-3 drops in each nostril.
You should use the drops for one month, then stop for at least a month. Drops are for use in adults and children older than 3 years old. The bottle should last about a month. Keep it out of direct sunlight.
Do not use if you have a peanut or soya allergy.
Practical tips
Use the Kaiteki Manoeuvre to apply your drops. Watch the Kaiteki technique demonstrated in a short video.
Generally speaking, if you find that the nose oil is dripping down the back of your throat when your head is upright, you have used too much. You only need enough to coat the mucous membranes. It can be hard to judge how many drops you are using, so look at the pipette and make sure you don’t have it fully loaded before you apply.
Vitamin A can be toxic in high doses (much much higher than recommended here). Please do not over use as you will not experience any further benefit. You should use for one month, and then stop for at least a month.
Read more about the use of Vitamin A for post-viral anosmia patients.