Side Effects of the Use of Capsicum Spray

Sometimes called cayenne, capsicum is a type of pepper native to North and South America as well as parts of Asia. Despite its use as a nasal spray to treat cluster headaches, nasal polyps and sinus congestion, it poses a risk for side effects in some patients.

Types of Side Effects

• Capsicum spray often causes nasal pain when initially inhaled and may also cause sneezing, watery eyes and a runny nose, explains RxList.

Time Frame

• Typically, the side effects develop when you first begin using the herbal remedy and begin to diminish after five or more days of consecutive use, reports RxList.

Drug Interactions

• When combined with blood-thinning drugs like warfarin, capsicum spray may increase your risk of prolonged or uncontrollable bleeding following an injury or surgery, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center. Capsicum spray also causes increased side effects from the lung disease drug theophylline.

Risks

• Infrequently, capsicum spray causes severe allergic reactions, such as wheezing, chest pain, swelling and hives. People with allergies to avocado, bananas, chestnuts, kiwi and latex are at an increased risk for an allergic reaction to capsicum spray, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Considerations

• If you have an allergy to pepper, are pregnant or nursing or are scheduled for surgery within the next two weeks, it may not be safe for you to use capsicum spray, cautions RxList.