Decongestant

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A decongestant is a broad class of medications used to relieve nasal congestion. Generally, they work by reducing swelling of the mucous membranes in the nasal passages.

Contents 1 Mechanism 2 Administration 3 Examples 4 See also

[edit] Mechanism

Most decongestants stimulate the adrenergic receptor system, which results in vasoconstriction. Constriction of the blood vessels in the nose, throat, and sinus membranes reduces inflammation and mucous formation. The active ingredients in most ingested decongestants are pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine. Decongestant nasal sprays and eye drops often contain oxymetazoline and are used for topical decongestion. Pseudoephedrine acts indirectly on the adrenergic receptor system while phenylephrine and oxymetazoline are direct agonists. The effects are not limited to the nose and these medicines may cause hypertension (high blood pressure) through vasoconstriction, but most decongestants are not pronounced stimulants due to lack of response from the other adrenoreceptors. Besides hypertension, common side effects include sleeplessness, anxiety, dizziness, excitability, and nervousness.

Decongestants are normally paired with antihistamines to lessen this effect, but the combination of both classes of drugs do not necessarily cancel the side effects of each other.^{[citation needed]}

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.

[edit] Administration

These agents are usually administered topically (by the intranasal route) or orally.

[edit] Examples

The most common oral decongestants are pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine; phenylpropanolamine (PPA) is another, although it is no longer available in the United States. Oxymetazoline and phenylephrine are commonly available topical decongestants (nasal sprays).

[edit] See also

• Nasal congestion (includes non-pharmacological remedies)
• Topical decongestant
• Adrenoreceptor
• Expectorants

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v • d • e Decongestants and other nasal preparations (R01) Topical Sympathomimetics, plain Cyclopentamine • Ephedrine • Phenylephrine • Oxymetazoline • Tetryzoline • Xylometazoline • Naphazoline • Tramazoline • Metizoline • Tuaminoheptane • Fenoxazoline • Tymazoline • Epinephrine Antiallergic agents, excluding corticosteroids Spaglumic acid histamine antagonists (Levocabastine, Antazoline, Thonzylamine) mast cell stabilizer (some are also antihistamines) (Cromoglicic acid, Nedocromil, Azelastine, Olopatadine) Corticosteroids Beclometasone • Prednisolone • Dexamethasone • Flunisolide • Budesonide • Betamethasone • Tixocortol • Fluticasone • Mometasone furoate • Triamcinolone • Ciclesonide Other nasal preparations Calcium hexamine thiocyanate • Retinol • Ipratropium bromide • Ritiometan • Mupirocin • Hexamidine • Framycetin • Hyaluronic acid • Eucalyptus oil Systemic use: Sympathomimetics Phenylpropanolamine • Pseudoephedrine • Phenylephrine • Phenylpropylamine