The nasal decongestant effect of xylometazoline in the common cold.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Xylometazoline is a nasal decongestant spray that constricts nasal blood vessels and increases nasal airflow, enabling patients with a blocked nose to breathe more easily. The purpose of this study was to characterize objectively and subjectively the decongestant and additional effects of xylometazoline in the common cold.

METHODS:

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study was performed. Patients with a common cold (n = 61) were treated with xylometazoline 0.1% (n = 29) or placebo (saline solution; n = 32; 1 spray three times a day for up to 10 days). The primary objective was to determine the decongestant effect (nasal conductance); the secondary objectives were to determine the peak subjective effect (visual analog scale), duration of relief of nasal congestion, total and individual cold symptoms and general well-being (patients' daily diary), and adverse events (AEs).

RESULTS:

The decongestant effect of xylometazoline was significantly greater than placebo, as shown by the nasal conductance at 1 hour (384.23 versus 226.42 cm(3)/s; p <or= 0.0001) and peak subjective effect (VAS, 20.7 mm versus 31.5 mm; p = 0.0298). Nasal conductance was significantly superior for up to 10 hours (p = 0.0009) and there was a trend in favor of xylometazoline for up to 12 hours (not statistically significant). Xylometazoline significantly improved total and some individual common cold symptoms scores (p < 0.05), leading to significantly greater patient general evaluation and satisfaction with treatment (p < 0.05). Nineteen AEs were reported: 8 with xylometazoline (all mild-moderate) and 11 with placebo (1 severe).

CONCLUSION:

Xylometazoline is an effective and well-tolerated decongestant nasal spray that significantly relieved nasal congestion compared with placebo in the common cold and provided long-lasting relief with just 1 spray, helping patients to breathe more easily for a longer period of time.

• Authors: Ronald Eccles, Margareta Eriksson, Steve Garreffa, Shirley C Chen
• Journal: American journal of rhinology (Am J Rhinol) 2008 Sep-Oct Vol. 22 Issue 5 Pg. 491-6 ISSN: 1050-6586 [Print] United States
• PMID: 18655753 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Adrenergic alpha-Agonists
• Imidazoles
• Nasal Decongestants
• xylometazoline

Topics

• Administration, Intranasal
• Adrenergic alpha-Agonists
• Adult
• Common Cold (drug therapy)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Imidazoles (administration & dosage)
• Male
• Nasal Decongestants (administration & dosage)
• Patient Satisfaction
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome