Oxymetazoline spray is an over-the-counter medicine sold under various brand names, which treats nasal congestion from allergies or colds. The drug can also stop persistent nosebleeds. A form of oxymetazoline is available in certain eyedrops, and may be employed to calm itchy eyes or reduce redness. Especially with the nasal spray, important cautions accompany the use of this medication.
The reason that oxymetazoline spray is effective, especially in the first few uses, is because the chemical causes vasoconstriction, or shrinking of the blood vessels, in the nasal passages. As these grow smaller, inflammation can be reduced and patients have a slightly increased airway. Breathing may feel easier within a few seconds or minutes of using the drug.
This chemical’s properties also explain its use to treat nosebleeds. The vasoconstriction which results from oxymetazoline spray reduces blood flow. In the eyes, the anti-inflammatory action of the medication may minimize irritation and diminish redness.
While the initial reaction to oxymetazoline spray can often be very positive, the drug has extremely limited use. Depending on the country in which it is obtained directions will call for consumers not to use it for more than three or seven days. This warning is due to the cumulative, undesirable effects oxymetazoline can cause.
Within a few days’ use, the chemical begins to cause increased congestion that is no longer addressed by using the spray per the manufacturer’s directions. When people stop taking the medication they may perceive that nasal congestion has actually worsened, which is often directly due the spray. In other words, patients may pay for freer initial breathing with later, pronounced obstruction of the nasal passages. This effect of rebound congestion doesn’t always occur with a single use, but it is likely to happen as people use the drug more often.
Unfortunately, some patients fall into a vicious cycle where they take more and more oxymetazoline, which doesn’t fully relieve increasing congestion. This can lead to nasal spray addiction, which is also called rhinitis medicamentosa (RM). The only way to combat RM is to stop using oxymetazoline or over-the-counter sprays, but the process can be uncomfortable at first. To avoid this issue, people should never exceed the maximum day recommendations, even if it appears that nasal congestion has rebounded upon stopping use.
Those considering purchase of oxymetazoline spray should heed additional warnings about it. The chemical shouldn’t be given to children under the age of six, and it may not be safe for pregnant women. Patients who take drugs called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) need to avoid this chemical in any form. If the spray isn’t a good treatment option, oral decongestants and antihistamines, steroid nasal sprays, or even saline nasal rinses may provide some relief, instead.
