II. Indications
III. Precautions
- Avoid using longer than 3 days
- Overuse results in Rhinitis Medicamentosa
- Avoid afrin (Oxymetazoline) in children (due to central alpha-2 Agonist, Clonidine-like CNS depression)
- See One Pill Can Kill
- If a nasal Decongestant is used in children, Neo-Synephrine (Phenylephrine) is preferred
- Propylhexedrine (Benedrex) abuse
- Has been abused via ingestion, injection or large inhalation for Amphetamine-like effect
- Risk of Arrhythmia, Chest Pain, Agitation, Psychosis, death
- (2021) Presc Lett 28(5): 30 [PubMed]
IV. Preparations
- Oxymetazoline (Afrin)
- Two sprays per nostril twice daily for 2-3 days
-
Phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine)
- Adults: 2 sprays per nostril four times daily for 2-3 days
- Child: Neo-Synephrine 1/8% every 4-6 hours for 2-3 days
- Propylhexedrine (Benedrex)
- Adults and Children over age 6 years: two sprays each nostril up to every 2 hours for 2-3 days
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Related Studies
| Definition (NCI) | An imidazole derivative with direct acting sympathomimetic activity. Oxymetazoline binds to and activates alpha-2 adrenergic receptors. Upon nasal or ocular administration, oxymetazoline constricts the arterioles in the nose and eye, resulting in decreased nasal and conjunctival congestion, respectively. |
| Definition (MSH) | A direct acting sympathomimetic used as a vasoconstrictor to relieve nasal congestion. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p1251) |
| Concepts | Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109) |
| MSH | D010109 |
| SnomedCT | 29129004, 387158001 |
| English | Oxymetazoline, Phenol, 3-((4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methyl)-6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-2,4-dimethyl-, Oxymetazoline [Chemical/Ingredient], OXYMETAZOLINE, oxymetazoline, Oxymetazoline (product), Oxymetazoline (substance) |
| Swedish | Oximetazolin |
| Czech | oxymetazolin |
| Finnish | Oksimetatsoliini |
| Russian | OKSIMETAZOLIN, ОКСИМЕТАЗОЛИН |
| Polish | Oksymetazolina |
| Spanish | oximetazolina (producto), oximetazolina (sustancia), oximetazolina, Oximetazolina |
| French | Oxymétazoline |
| German | Oxymetazolin |
| Italian | Ossimetazolina |
| Portuguese | Oximetazolina |
Ontology: Phenylephrine (C0031469)
| Definition (MSH) | An alpha-1 adrenergic agonist used as a mydriatic, nasal decongestant, and cardiotonic agent. |
| Definition (NCI) | A direct-acting sympathomimetic amine chemically related to adrenaline and ephedrine with potent vasoconstrictor property. Phenylephrine is a post-synaptic alpha-adrenergic receptor agonist that causes vasoconstriction, increases systolic/diastolic pressures, reflex bradycardia, and stroke output. |
| Definition (CSP) | direct acting sympathomimetic amine that stimulates alpha-adrenergic receptors and is a powerful vasoconstrictor. |
| Concepts | Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109) |
| MSH | D010656 |
| SnomedCT | 372771005, 54765002 |
| LNC | LP16252-6, MTHU007549 |
| English | Phenylephrine, (R)-3-Hydroxy-alpha-((methylamino)methyl)benzenemethanol, Benzenemethanol, 3-hydroxy-alpha-((methylamino)methyl)-, (R)-, decongestants phenylephrine, phenylephrine (medication), Phenylephrine [Chemical/Ingredient], PHENYLEPHRINE, phenylephrine, Phenylephrine (product), Phenylephrine (substance) |
| Swedish | Fenylefrin |
| Czech | fenylefrin |
| Finnish | Fenyyliefriini |
| Russian | FENILEFRIN, MEZATON, METASIMPATOL, METASINEFRIN, NEOSINEFRIN, METOKSIDRIN, МЕЗАТОН, МЕТАСИМПАТОЛ, МЕТАСИНЕФРИН, МЕТОКСИДРИН, НЕОСИНЕФРИН, ФЕНИЛЭФРИН |
| Japanese | フェニルエフリン, ネオシネフリン, フェニレフリン |
| Polish | Metasympatol, Fenylefryna, Neosynefryna |
| Spanish | fenilefrina (producto), fenilefrina (sustancia), fenilefrina, Fenilefrina |
| French | Phényléphrine |
| German | Phenylephrin |
| Italian | Fenilefrina |
| Portuguese | Fenilefrina |
Ontology: Afrin (C0718291)
| Concepts | Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109) |
| English | Afrin, afrin |
