Topical decongestant

Decongestants applied in nose

Topical decongestants are decongestants applied directly to the nasal cavity. Their effectiveness by themselves in the common cold appears to have a small benefit in adults.^[1]

Topical decongestants should only be used by patients for a maximum of 5–7 days in a row, because rebound congestion may occur in the form of rhinitis medicamentosa. When used in adults for a short period of time side effects appear to be few.^[1]

Mechanism of action

Topical decongestants are vasoconstrictors, and work by constricting the blood vessels within the nasal cavity.

Examples

Ephedrine
Levomethamphetamine
Naphazoline
Oxymetazoline
Phenylephrine
Propylhexedrine
Pseudoephedrine
Tramazoline
Xylometazoline

References

^ ^a ^b Deckx, L; De Sutter, AI; Guo, L; Mir, NA; van Driel, ML (17 October 2016). "Nasal decongestants in monotherapy for the common cold". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 10: CD009612. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009612.pub2. PMC 6461189. PMID 27748955.

Decongestants and other nasal preparations (R01)

Topical

Sympathomimetics, plain	Cyclopentamine Ephedrine Epinephrine Fenoxazoline Levomethamphetamine Metizoline Naphazoline Oxymetazoline Phenylephrine Propylhexedrine Tetryzoline Tramazoline Tuaminoheptane Tymazoline Xylometazoline
Antiallergic agents, excluding corticosteroids	Spaglumic acid histamine antagonists (Levocabastine Antazoline Thonzylamine) mast cell stabilizer (some are also antihistamines) (Cromoglicic acid Nedocromil Azelastine Olopatadine Lodoxamide)
Corticosteroids	Beclometasone dipropionate Betamethasone^# Budesonide Ciclesonide Dexamethasone Flunisolide Fluticasone (Fluticasone furoate, Fluticasone propionate) Mometasone furoate Prednisolone^# Tixocortol Triamcinolone Triamcinolone acetonide
Other nasal preparations	Cafaminol Calcium hexamine thiocyanate Eucalyptus oil Framycetin Hexamidine Hyaluronan Ipratropium bromide Mupirocin Retinol Ritiometan Saline water
Combination products	Olopatadine/mometasone