What is oxymetazoline?
Oxymetazoline is a chemical compound classified as an active principle , belonging to the line of medicines called nasal decongestants, with an effect on the nasal passages . (1)
What is oxymetazoline used for?
- Thanks to its mechanism of action, oxymetazoline acts on α1-adrenergic receptors, producing local vasoconstriction and decreasing nasal congestion, increasing airflow through the nostrils.
- It is used to treat:
Dosage and routes of administration of oxymetazoline
The usual presentation for oxymetazoline is a solution spray drops containing oxymetazoline hydrochloride and benzalkonium chloride. The administration of this medicine is by nasal route and the dosage as a reference can be the following:
- Adults and children over 6 years of age : apply 1 puff in each nostril 2 times a day.
What products contain oxymetazoline?
Some of the medicines that contain oxymetazoline are:
- Collifrin®
- Afrin®
- Clarix®
- Iliadin®
Collifrin®
- Collifrin® is a synthetic medication, which uses oxymetazoline as its main component.
- It is used to treat cases of colds.
Afrin®
- Afrin® is a nasal decongestant, which uses oxymetazoline as the active ingredient.
- It is used to relieve nasal congestion .
Clarix®
- Clarix® is a chemical compound that contains oxymetazoline as an active ingredient.
- It is indicated to treat congestion of the upper respiratory tract .
Iliadin®
- Iliadin® is a full α₁ agonist and a partial α₂ agonist drug, using oxymetazoline hydrochloride as a topical decongestant.
- It is indicated to relieve nasal discomfort from colds, allergies, sinusitis and hay fever.
Side effects of oxymetazoline
Data from clinical studies indicate that therapeutic treatment with oxymetazoline may cause some of the following adverse effects in certain patients:
- Possible allergic reactions due to patient contact with any of the components of the formula.
- Burning, stinging, sneezing or dryness of the nasal mucosa.
- Anxiety , restlessness, insomnia and hallucinations .
- Tremors and sleep disorders in children.
- Tachycardia, palpitations and increased blood pressure.
- Headache and nausea.
- Skin redness .
Important: If the patient presents any of these symptoms during treatment with oxymetazoline, please stop using it and consult your doctor .
Contraindications and warnings of oxymetazoline
The use of oxymetazoline is contraindicated in the following circumstances:
- Hypersensitivity of the patient to any of the components of the drug.
- People with heart conditions or high blood pressure.
- Patients under treatment with monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors.
- During the pregnancy period.
- During breastfeeding .
- In children under 6 years of age.
- Patients with thyroid disease, diabetes or difficulty urinating.
To highlight: Provide all information related to your health history to your doctor, during treatment with this drug.
Avoid if you have:
- History of hypersensitivity to oxymetazoline.
- History of cardiovascular diseases.
Warnings:
- Pharmaceutical products such as oxymetazoline, must be administered by prescription or prescription.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions.
- Do not exceed recommended dose.
- Notify your doctor if you are being medicated for other pathologies.
- Do not exceed continuous use of this drug for more than three days.
- Keep this product out of the reach of children.
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.