Decongestant

Decongestant

A decongestant or nasal decongestant is a type of drug that is used to relieve nasal congestion.

Contents

Pharmacology

The vast majority of decongestants act via enhancing norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and epinephrine (adrenaline) or adrenergic activity by stimulating the α-adrenergic receptors. This induces vasoconstriction of the blood vessels in the nose, throat, and paranasal sinuses, which results in reduced inflammation (swelling) and mucus formation in these areas.

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, 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. 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 does 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.

List

Common decongestants include:

Decongestants uncommon, discontinued, or both, include:

See also

References

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Decongestants • Bronchodilators • Cough medicines • H1 antagonists
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v · d · eDecongestants and other nasal preparations (R01)
Topical
Sympathomimetics, plain
Antiallergic agents,
excluding corticosteroids
Other nasal preparations
Systemic use:
Sympathomimetics

M: RES

anat(n, x, l, c)/phys/devp

noco(c, p)/cong/tumr, sysi/epon, injr

proc, drug(R1/2/3/5/6/7)

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • decongestant — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ (of a medicine) used to relieve nasal congestion. ► NOUN ▪ a decongestant medicine …   English terms dictionary

  • decongestant — 1950, from DE (Cf. de ) + congestant (see CONGEST (Cf. congest)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • decongestant — [dē΄kənjes′tənt] n. a medication or treatment that relieves congestion, as in the nasal passages …   English World dictionary

  • Decongestant — A drug that shrinks the swollen membranes in the nose and makes it easier to breath. Decongestants can be taken orally or by nasal spray. Decongestant nasal sprays should not be used for more than five days without the doctor s advice, and if so …   Medical dictionary

  • decongestant — /dee keuhn jes teuhnt/, Pharm. adj. 1. of or pertaining to a substance that relieves mucus congestion of the upper respiratory tract. n. 2. any such substance. [1945 50; DE + CONGEST + ANT] * * * ▪ drug       any drug used to relieve swelling of… …   Universalium

  • decongestant — UK [ˌdiːkənˈdʒestənt] / US [ˌdɪkənˈdʒestənt] noun [countable] Word forms decongestant : singular decongestant plural decongestants medical a drug that helps you breathe more easily when you have a cold …   English dictionary

  • decongestant — noun Date: 1947 an agent that relieves congestion (as of mucous membranes) • decongestant adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • decongestant — [[t]di͟ːkənʤe̱stənt[/t]] decongestants N MASS A decongestant is a medicine which helps someone who has a cold to breathe more easily …   English dictionary

  • decongestant — adjective (chiefly of a medicine) used to relieve nasal congestion. noun a decongestant medicine …   English new terms dictionary

  • decongestant — de•con•ges•tant [[t]ˌdi kənˈdʒɛs tənt[/t]] adj. 1) pha relieving mucus congestion of the upper respiratory tract 2) pha a decongestant agent • Etymology: 1945–50 …   From formal English to slang

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