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A decongestant, or nasal decongestant, is a type of pharmaceutical drug that is used to relieve nasal congestion in the upper respiratory tract. The active ingredient in most decongestants is either pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine (the latter of which has disputed effectiveness). Intranasal can also be used as decongestants and can be used to alleviate runny nose, rhinitis, and sneeze.
Topical decongestants on topical application as a dilute solution (0.05–0.1%) produce local vasoconstriction.
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 a 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.
such as guaifenesin are a related type of drug that help to clear mucus.
A 2016 Cochrane review found insufficient evidence to support the use of intranasal corticosteroids in the relief of common cold symptoms; however, the review was based on three trials, and the quality of the evidence was regarded as very low.
Decongestant nasal sprays and eye drops often contain oxymetazoline and are used for topical decongestion. Pseudoephedrine acts indirectly on the adrenergic receptor system, whereas 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; it is for this reason that people with hypertension are advised to avoid them. Most decongestants, however, are not pronounced stimulants, due to a lack of response from the other adrenoreceptors. Besides hypertension, common side effects include sleeplessness, anxiety, dizziness, excitability, and nervousness.
Topical nasal or ophthalmic decongestants quickly develop tachyphylaxis ( a rapid decrease in the response to a drug after repeated doses over a short period). Long-term use is not recommended since these agents lose effectiveness after a few days.
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