Xylometazoline is an adregergic agonist that competes with the adrenaline to bind to its receptors. The binding activates the vasoconstriction, that is, a reduction in the diameter of blood vessels, which helps relieve nasal congestion.
What is Xylometazoline?
The xylometazoline is used to treat nasal congestion and small inflammation associated with allergies and colds.
How should Xylometazoline be taken?
The Xylometazoline is commercially available for use in the form of nasal drops or spray. In the pediatric age, solutions of 0.05% are typically recommended for use 3 times a day at most. Above the age of 12 the use of solutions of 0.1% is instead indicated without exceeding 3 doses per day.
Side effects associated with Xylometazoline
The possible side effects associated with Xylometazoline include anxiety, dizziness, tremors and local reactions such as burning, stinging and dryness.
Moreover, the excessive use of Xylometazoline can also worsen congestion.
Contraindications and warnings associated with the use of Xylometazoline
The use of Xylometazoline is contraindicated in case of heart problems (e.g. palpitations, high blood pressure and increased heart rate), and if you are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
Its intake during pregnancy is not contraindicated, provided that you proceed conservatively with a careful evaluation between the benefits and risks for the mother as well as the unborn child. Currently, it is not known whether Xylometazoline is excreted in breast milk.
