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Covonia Vapour Drops – Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) for healthcare professionals

Last updated: · Text from the MHRA, as of · About this document

Medicine status: General sale (GSL) Details

Medicine strength:
175 mg/ml + 2 mg/ml
Contains active substance:

Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - Covonia Vapour drops

1. NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

Covonia Vapour Drops

2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Covonia Vapour Drops contains the following active ingredients:

Menthol natural or Menthol synthetic 17.5% w/v Peppermint Oil 0.2% v/v

Excipients of known effect

Benzyl Alcohol 0.5% v/v

Ethanol 57% v/v

For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1

3. PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Inhalation vapour, solution.

A clear yellow liquid.

4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1 Therapeutic indications

For the symptomatic relief of catarrh, hay fever and nasal congestion.

4.2 Posology and method of administration

Adults, the elderly and children over 2 years: Sprinkle a few drops on a handkerchief and inhale the vapour but avoiding direct skin contact.

4.3 Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to menthol, peppermint oil or any of the ingredients.

Children under 2 years of age.

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

The label states:

1 If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

2 Avoid contact with the eyes and direct contact with the skin.

3 Do not place directly into the nostrils.

4 Not to be taken internally.

5 Keep out of the sight and reach of children.

Ingredients with specified warnings

This medicine contains 69mg of alcohol (ethanol) per 3 droplets. The amount in 3 droplets of this medicine is equivalent to less than 2ml of beer or 1ml of wine. The small amount of alcohol in this medicine will not have any noticeable effects.

This medicine contains 0.5% v/v benzyl alcohol per dose. Benzyl alcohol may cause allergic reactions.

4.5 Interactions with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

None known.

4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

The safety of Covonia Vapour Drops in pregnancy and lactation has not been established, but as a precautionary measure it is preferable to avoid the use of Covonia Vapour Drops during pregnancy or lactation.

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

No or negligible influence.

4.8 Undesirable effects

Occasional hypersensitivity reactions are a possibility for menthol (contact dermatitis) and peppermint oil (local irritation).

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for ‘MHRA Yellow Card’ in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

4.9 Overdose

Following oral ingestion, the following symptoms may be expected: insomnia, ataxia (unsteady gait, tremor of hands, vertigo, muscle twitching), severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, burning in the mouth and throat, delirium, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, bradycardia, cyanosis, miosis, pulmonary damage, epileptiform convulsions, CNS depression and coma. Inhalation of large doses of menthol may lead to dizziness, confusion, muscle weakness, nausea and double vision.

Treatment should consist of gastric lavage and aspiration. A saline purgative such as 30g of sodium sulphate in 250ml of water may be given and any convulsions controlled by intravenous diazepam.

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

R0lA X - Other nasal preparations, combinations

Menthol, a frequent constituent of inhalation preparations, produces a sensation of decreased nasal congestion, possibly by virtue of its local anaesthetic action on the nasal mucosal surface. Peppermint Oil possesses the physiological actions and therapeutic uses of menthol.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties

Not applicable.

5.3 Preclinical safety data

No data of relevance to the prescriber, which is additional to that included in other sections of the SPC.

6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6 PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1 List of excipients

Eucalyptus Oil

Cajuput Oil (Contains Benzyl Alcohol E1519) Spike Lavender Fragrance Oil

Industrial Methylated Spirit (Contains Ethanol)

6.2 Incompatibilities

None stated.

6.3 Shelf Life

36 months

6.4 Special precautions for storage

Do not store above 25ºC

6.5 Nature and contents of container

10ml (7.5ml fill), 15ml, 30ml - Amber glass bottle with polyethylene screw cap with integral polyethylene dropper.

6.6 Instructions for use, handling and disposal

Not applicable.

ADMINISTRATIVE DATA

7. MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER

Thornton & Ross Limited

Linthwaite

Huddersfield

West Yorkshire

HD7 5QH

United Kingdom

8. MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER

PL 00240/0073

9. DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION

19th June 2002

10 DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT

03/09/2020

About this document

Source: MHRA - Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (products.mhra.gov.uk) · Marketing authorisation: PL 00240/0073

Last revision stated in the text: 3 September 2020 · MHRA data as of 13 October 2026

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The information on this site does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.

Facts about Covonia Vapour drops

Prescription needed? No, general sale list medicine (GSL) – also sold outside pharmacies
Active substance Menthol + Peppermint
Strength 175 mg/ml + 2 mg/ml
Pharmaceutical form Inhalation vapour solution
A clear yellow liquid.
How is it taken Nasal
Excipients Eucalyptus Oil, Cajuput Oil (Contains Benzyl Alcohol E1519) Spike Lavender Fragrance Oil, Industrial Methylated Spirit (Contains Ethanol)
Pack sizes 15 ml
Is it available? Listed as available (NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices – not a record of current supplies)
Shelf life 36 months
Storage Do not store above 25°C
Marketing authorisation PL 00240/0073 (first authorised 19 June 2002)
Marketing authorisation holder Thornton & Ross Limited
Codes GTIN 5011309015713 · BNF 03080000

Sources: the MHRA product information (products.mhra.gov.uk) and the NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d), release 10.2.0 of 19 October 2026, NHS Business Services Authority. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.