DECONGESTION EFFECT AND REBOUND SWELLING OF THE NASAL MUCOSE DURING 4-WEEK USE OF OXYMETAZOLINE

The aim of this study was to investigate whether long-term use of oxym etazoline induces a rebound swelling of the nasal mucosa and whether t he decongestion effect is altered during medication. Eight healthy vol unteers had oxymetazoline nasal spray (0.5 mg/ml; 0.1 ml in each nostr il, three times daily) for 30 days and registrations of the mucosal su rface positions were made using rhinostereometry. Compared to the regi strations before the start of medication, no rebound swelling was regi stered after 10 days. After 30 days, however, a rebound swelling was r egistered in all subjects (p < 0.001). All of them, then, also reporte d nasal stuffiness. The decongested position of the nasal mucosa after one single dose of oxymetazoline was the same in the whole study. It is concluded that rhinitis medicamentosa develops after a relatively s hort time on oxymetazoline, even in healthy volunteers, and that the s welling probably is due to a vasodilatation rather than an edema. The study supports the recommendation that the drug should not be used ove r periods >10 days.