Oxymetazoline
Description
Oxymetazoline acts as a nasal decongestant. It relieves the nasal discomfort associated with hay fever, sinusitis, allergies, and a common cold. It can also be used as an ophthalmic agent to reduce the swelling of the blood vessels in the eyes, thereby temporarily reducing their redness. Use of this medicine in children less than 6 years of age is not recommended unless instructed by the doctor.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Oxymetazoline
- Increased heart beat
- Increased blood pressure
- Nausea
- Dryness of eyes
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Trouble sleeping
Uses of Oxymetazoline
What is it prescribed for?
- Nasal congestion
- Redness of eye
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe effect of this medicine can be observed within 5-10 minutes of administration of the dose.
- Duration of effectThe effect of this medicine lasts for an average duration of 5-8 hours.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit forming tendencies were reported.
- Usage in pregnancy?This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. Discuss all the risks and benefits with the doctor before taking this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. Discuss all the risks and benefits with the doctor before taking this medicine.
Allergy
This medicine is not recommended for use if you have a known allergy to Oxymetazoline or any other ingredient present with it.
Heart diseases
This medicine is not recommended for use if you have a disease of the heart and the blood vessels.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. Discuss all the risks and benefits with the doctor before taking this medicine.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. Discuss all the risks and benefits with the doctor before taking this medicine.
General warnings
Pediatric use
Use of this medicine in children under the age of 6 is not recommended.
Duration of therapy
This medicine is not recommended for use for more than three days unless otherwise instructed by the doctor. Prolonged use of this medicine may cause the nasal congestion to recur or worsen.
Thyroid disorder
This medicine should be used with caution in patients suffering from a disorder of the thyroid gland. You may need to undergo certain tests to determine if the medicine is safe to use.
Missed Dose
If a dose is missed, take the dose as soon as you remember it. If it is almost the time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose. Do not double the dose to make up for the missed one.
Overdose
Contact your doctor if an overdose with this medicine is suspected. The symptoms may be more severe if the medicine is ingested orally.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Ergot alkaloids
Beta-2 adrenergic bronchodilators
Disease interactions
Diabetes
This medicine should be administered with caution in patients having diabetes due to the increased risk of elevated blood glucose levels, especially when used for a prolonged period of time or more than prescribed. You may require a dose adjustment and more frequent monitoring of blood sugar levels while using this medicine.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Caution is advised while using this medicine in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia due to the risk of increased difficulty with urination. The risk is especially higher if the medicine is used for a prolonged period of time or higher amounts of the medicine are used. Report any adverse effects to the doctor immediately.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Oxymetazoline following all the directions on the label or the package insert. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for a prolonged duration. Use of this medicine for more than three days is not recommended. Contact your doctor if the symptoms do not improve or get worse after starting the treatment.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Oxymetazoline acts by reducing the swelling of the blood vessels in the nose and eyes. This helps in decreasing the discomfort and redness caused by the dilated blood vessels.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Alpha adrenergic agonists
Schedule
Schedule H
Oxymetazoline - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2017 [cited 24 July 2017]. Available from:
Oxymetazoline Nasal Spray: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 24 July 2017]. Available from:
DailyMed - OXYMETAZOLINE HCL- oxymetazoline hcl spray [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 24 July 2017]. Available from:
Oxymetazoline hydrochloride [Internet]. Snomedbrowser.com. 2017 [cited 24 July 2017]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 1 Aug 2017
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.