Decongestant
A decongestant, or nasal decongestant, is a type of
Regular use of decongestants for long periods should be avoided because mucosal ciliary function is impaired: atrophic rhinitis and anosmia (loss of the sense of smell) can occur due to persistent vasoconstriction.
Decongestants can be absorbed from the nose via an inhaler and produce systemic effects, mainly central nervous system stimulation and rise in blood pressure. These drugs should be used cautiously in hypertensives and in those receiving monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), as they can cause hypertensive crisis.
Medical uses
Decongestants are used to treat nasal congestion, for instance in allergies, infections like the common cold, influenza, and sinus infection, and nasal polyps. Decongestants are also used to reduce redness in the treatment of simple conjunctivitis.
A 2016 Cochrane review found insufficient evidence to support the use of intranasal corticosteroids in the relief of common cold symptoms;[2] however, the review was based on three trials and the quality of the evidence was regarded as very low.[2]
Pharmacology
The vast majority of decongestants act via enhancing
Decongestant nasal sprays and eye drops often contain
Topical nasal or ophthalmic decongestants quickly develop tachyphylaxis (a rapid decrease in the response to a drug after repeated doses over a short period of time). Long-term use is not recommended since these agents lose effectiveness after a few days.
List of agents
Adrenaline releasing agents
Common or widely marketed
- Ephedrine – controlled in some jurisdictions for over-the-counter use
- Levomethamphetamine (levmetamfetamine) (Vicks VapoInhaler)
- Phenylpropanolamine
- Propylhexedrine (Benzedrex)
- Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) – controlled in some jurisdictions for over-the-counter use
- Pseudoephedrine/loratadine (Claritin-D) – also an antihistamine via loratadine
Uncommon or discontinued
- Benzedrine, now a controlled substance in most jurisdictions)
- Cyclopentamine
- Mephentermine
- Methylhexanamine
- Tuaminoheptane
α-Adrenergic receptor agonists
Common or widely marketed
Uncommon or discontinued
- Corbadrine (levonordefrin)
- Epinephrine (adrenaline)
- Fenoxazoline
- Metizoline
- Norepinephrine (noradrenaline)
- Tymazoline
Corticosteroids
- Beclomethasone dipropionate(Beconase, QNASL)
- Budesonide (Rhinocort)
- Ciclesonide (Omnaris, Zetonna)
- Dexamethasone
- Flunisolide (Nasarel)
- Fluticasone
- Fluticasone furoate (Veramyst)
- Fluticasone propionate (Flonase)
- Azelastine/fluticasone (Dymista) – also an antihistamine via azelastine
- Mometasone furoate(Nasonex)
- Prednisolone
- Tixocortol (Pivalone)
- Triamcinolone (Nasacort)
- Triamcinolone acetonide (Nasacort, Allernaze)
Miscellaneous
Common or widely marketed
Uncommon or discontinued
See also
References
- ISBN 978-0-19-998589-0.
- ^ PMID 26461493.