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Volume: 41 - Issue: 3

First page: 167 - Last page: 174

H. Watanabe - T.H. Foo - B. Djazaeri - P. Duncombe - I.S. Mackay - S.R. Durham

DOI: 10.4193/Rhin

Topical decongestants are available over the counter and provide rapid relief of nasal
obstruction for conditions of short duration, for example the common cold. Manufacturers\\\'
recommendations are that topical decongestants should not be used regularly for more than
1 week in view of the risk of rebound mucosal hyperaemia with persistent nasal obstruction
and refractoriness to further effects of decongestants. For this reason we performed a randomised
double-blind placebo-controlled trial in 30 normal adult subjects with 0.05%
oxymetazoline nasal spray 2 sprays (0.1 ml/spray) to each nostril 3 times daily over an
extended period of 4 weeks. Degree of nasal blockage was assessed before and after 4 weeks
treatment and for 2 weeks following discontinuation of treatment. Outcome measures included
diary symptom scores and measurements of nasal peak inspiratory flow, airway resistance
(using posterior active rhinomanometry) and volume (using acoustic rhinometry). Nasal
patency was assessed at baseline and 15 minutes after oxymetazoline challenge at each clinic
visit. Results demonstrated no significant increases in subjective nasal blockage throughout
the 6 weeks study period in either oxymetazoline - or placebo-treated subjects. No significant
differences were observed between groups for baseline measurements of nasal peak inspiratory
flow, airway resistance or volume at each clinic visit. A highly significant decongestant
effect of oxymetazoline was observed at each clinic visit with changes in all 3 measurements
for both treatment groups, again with no significant differences between groups. In summary,
in normal subjects, we identified no significant nasal blockage or impaired decongestant
response to oxymetazoline following 4 weeks treatment with oxymetazoline compared to
matched placebo nasal spray.

Rhinology 41-3: 167-174, 2003