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What is oxymetazoline nasal?
Oxymetazoline is a decongestant. It works by constricting (shrinking) blood vessels (veins and arteries) in your body. The nasal formulation acts directly on the blood vessels in your nasal tissues. Constriction of the blood vessels in your nose and sinuses leads to drainage of these areas and a decrease in congestion. Oxymetazoline nasal is used to treat congestion associated with allergies, hay fever, sinus irritation, and the common cold. Oxymetazoline nasal may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

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What are the possible side effects of oxymetazoline nasal?

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop using oxymetazoline nasal and seek emergency medical attention:

• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

• seizures;

• unusual behavior or hallucinations; or

• an irregular or fast heartbeat.

More commonly, you may experience some sneezing or burning, stinging, dryness, or irritation of the nose. These side effects are usually mild and temporary.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

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How should I use oxymetazoline nasal?
Use oxymetazoline nasal exactly as directed by your doctor, or follow the instructions that accompany the package. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you. To apply the nasal spray, keep your head upright, spray, then sniff hard for a few minutes after administering a dose. To apply the nasal drops, lie on a bed on your back with your head hanging over the edge. Insert the drops and remain in this position for several minutes. Gently turn your head from side to side.

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What is the most important information I should know about oxymetazoline nasal?
Do not use oxymetazoline nasal for longer than 3 to 5 days. Longer use could cause damage to your nasal tissue and lead to chronic congestion. If your symptoms do not improve, see your doctor. Do not use more of this medication than is recommended on the package or by your doctor.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and use the next one as directed. Do not use a double dose of this medication.

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What other drugs will affect oxymetazoline nasal?
Do not use oxymetazoline nasal if you have taken a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. Although drug interactions between topical nasal decongestants and drugs taken by mouth are not expected, they can occur. Rarely, oxymetazoline nasal may interact with the following medicines: furazolidone (Furoxone); guanethidine (Ismelin); indomethacin (Indocin); methyldopa (Aldomet); bromocriptine (Parlodel);

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Oxymetazoline nasal has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. Animal studies have not been reported. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Oxymetazoline nasal is only recommended for use during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.

The Collaborative Perinatal Project has reported 2 cases of exposure to oxymetazoline nasal in pregnant women (n = 50,282 mother-child pairs) resulting in no apparent teratogenicity. However, the number of women exposed is too small for any definite conclusion. A case report involving a 20-year-old woman at 41 weeks' gestation reported late fetal heart rate decelerations 30 minutes following administration of oxymetazoline 0.05% to the mother at a dose of 2 sprays to each nostril. This was the mother's sixth dose of oxymetazoline nasal in 15.5 hours. Oxymetazoline nasal is recommended to be dosed no less than every 12 hours. The fetal heart rate returned to normal and a normally developed infant was spontaneously delivered at approximately 6 hours and 14 hours following the last dose, respectively. The findings of 12 women between 27 and 39 week's gestation receiving oxymetazoline nasal 0.05% as a single dose of 2 squirts reported no changes in maternal blood pressures or pulse rates, fetal aortic blood flow velocity, fetal heart rate, or the systolic-to-diastolic ratios in the uterine arcuate artery and umbilical artery when measured at 15-minute intervals for 2 hours following administration. The authors, however, did caution against the use of oxymetazoline in pregnant women with borderline placental reserve.

There are no data on the excretion of oxymetazoline nasal into human milk.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to oxymetazoline or any ingredient in the formulation.
• Known sensitivity to the pharmacologic effects of adrenergic drugs.

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What does my medication look like?
Oxymetazoline nasal is available over the counter under may different brand and generic names in nasal spray and nasal drop formulations. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention. Symptoms of an oxymetazoline nasal overdose include extreme tiredness, sweating, dizziness, a slow heartbeat, and coma.

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Who should not use oxymetazoline nasal?
Do not use oxymetazoline nasal if you have taken a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. This could cause a very dangerous drug interaction with serious side effects. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure; any type of heart disease, hardening of the arteries, or irregular heart beats; thyroid problems; diabetes; glaucoma or increased pressure in the eye;

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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