Nasal Congestion Side Effect
Nasal congestion or stuffy nose is an obstruction to the flow of air in and out of the nose. Nasal congestion is usually attributed to anatomical obstructions or swelling of the nasal tissue.
Prolonged, repeated use of nasal decongestants often results in rebound swelling and additional congestion (condition known as rhinitis medicamentosa)1. Rhinitis medicamentosa can be also induced by beta-adrenoceptor antagonists, antipsychotics, oral contraceptives, and antihypertensives2.
| Drug | Incidence |
|---|---|
| Adenoscan | < 1% |
| Advair Diskus | 1% to 3% |
| AeroBid | 15% |
| Alamast | < 5% |
| Aldoclor | |
| Aldoril | |
| Asacol | |
| Astelin | |
| Atrovent | 1.1% to 3.1% |
| Azactam | < 1% |
| Bentyl | |
| Betagan | |
| Betimol | |
| Brevibloc | < 1% |
| Calcium Disodium Versenate | |
| Cardizem | < 2% |
| Caverject | 1% |
| Cedax | 0.1% to 1% |
| Chemet | 0.7% to 3.7% |
| Cialis | 2% to 3% |
| Clozapine5 | 1% |
| Clozaril | 1% |
| Combivent | |
| Cosopt | 1% to 5% |
| Cozaar | 2% |
| DDAVP | Occasional |
| Demser | Infrequent |
| Desmopressin Acetate | Occasional |
| Dibenzyline | |
| DynaCirc | 0.5% to 1% |
| Elidel | 0.6% to 2.6% |
| FazaClo | 1% |
| Flovent | 4% to 22% |
| Flumist® (Influenza Vaccine Live)6 | 9.2% to 48.1% |
| Hytrin | 0.6% to 5.9% |
| Hyzaar | |
| Intal Inhaler | Frequent |
| Intron A | < 10% |
| Lexapro | Frequent |
| Maxalt | Infrequent |
| Meridia | |
| Miacalcin | 10.6% |
| Midamor | < 1% |
| Moduretic | < 1% |
| Orthoclone | |
| Oxymetazoline | |
| Pindolol (Visken®)4 | |
| Prinivil | 0.4% |
| Prinzide | 0.3% to 1% |
| Prometrium | < 5% |
| Sedapap | Infrequent |
| Serevent Diskus | 9% |
| Sildenafil (Viagra®)3 | 4% |
| Singulair | 1.6% |
| Strattera | > 2% |
| Tessalon | |
| Thiothixene | |
| Tiazac | < 2% |
| Timolol | |
| Timoptic | |
| Trental | < 1% |
| Vaqta | 1.1% |
| Xanax | 7.3% to 17.4% |
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Rebound swelling and nasal stuffiness is often exacerbated by the preservative benzalkonium chloride in nasal preparations.
References
- 1. Graf P. Adverse effects of benzalkonium chloride on the nasal mucosa: allergic rhinitis and rhinitis medicamentosa. Clin Ther. 1999 Oct;21(10):1749-55. PubMed
- 2. Ramey JT, Bailen E, Lockey RF. Rhinitis medicamentosa. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2006;16(3):148-55. PubMed
- 3. Kiroglu AF, Bayrakli H, Yuca K, Cankaya H, Kiris M. Nasal obstruction as a common side-effect of sildenafil citrate. Tohoku J Exp Med. 2006 Mar;208(3):251-4. PubMed
- 4. Gonasun LM, Langrall H. Adverse reactions to pindolol administration. Am Heart J. 1982 Aug;104(2 Pt 2):482-6.
- 5. Flanagan RJ. Side effects of clozapine and some other psychoactive drugs. Curr Drug Saf. 2008 May;3(2):115-22. PubMed
- 6. Carter NJ, Curran MP. Live attenuated influenza vaccine (FluMist®; Fluenz™): a review of its use in the prevention of seasonal influenza in children and adults. Drugs. 2011 Aug 20;71(12):1591-622 PubMed
Published: September 08, 2016
Last updated: September 09, 2016
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