Xylometazoline, also spelled xylomethazoline, is a medication used to reduce symptoms of nasal congestion, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis.[2] It is used directly in the nose as a spray or drops.[3]

Xylometazoline
Clinical data
Pronunciation/ˌzlˌmɛtəˈzln/
ZY-lo-MET-ə-ZOH-leen
Trade namesOtrivin, Otrivine, others
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa608026
License data
Dependence
liability
Moderate[1]
Routes of
administration
intranasal (spray or drops)
Drug classα1 and α2 Adrenergic receptor agonist,
Decongestant
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
Elimination half-life2–3 hours [citation needed]
ExcretionUrinary
Identifiers
  • 2-[(4-tert-butyl-2,6-dimethylphenyl)methyl]-
    4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.007.629 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC16H24N2
Molar mass244.382 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • N\1=C(\NCC/1)Cc2c(cc(cc2C)C(C)(C)C)C
  • InChI=1S/C16H24N2/c1-11-8-13(16(3,4)5)9-12(2)14(11)10-15-17-6-7-18-15/h8-9H,6-7,10H2,1-5H3,(H,17,18) checkY
  • Key:HUCJFAOMUPXHDK-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
 ☒NcheckY (what is this?)  (verify)

Side effects include trouble sleeping, irritation of the nose, nausea, nosebleed (3%), period pain (10%) and headache (3%).[4][2][3] Long term use (> 10 days) is not recommended due to a rhinitis medicamentosa when stopped.[4][5] Use is not recommended during pregnancy.[2] Xylometazoline is in the decongestant and alpha-adrenergic agonist families of medication.[5][6]

One study classified it with selectivity ratios in alpha 2 adrenergic receptors of 151 for a2A vs a2B, 4.5 a2A vs a2C, and 33.9 a2B vs a2C.  Making it a highly selective a2A agonist.[7]

Xylometazoline was patented in 1956 and came into medical use in 1959.[8][9] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[10] Xylometazoline is available as a generic medication.[3]

Mechanism of action

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Xylometazoline works by stimulating adrenergic receptors on the lamina propria of blood vessels in the nose. The decongestant effect is due to constriction of large veins in the nose which swell up during the inflammation of any infection or allergy of the nose. The smaller arteries are also constricted and this causes the colour of the nasal epithelium to be visibly paler after dosage.

Xylometazoline is an imidazole derivative which is designed to mimic the molecular shape of adrenaline. It binds to α1 and α2 adrenergic receptors[11] in the nasal mucosa. Due to its sympathomimetic effects, it should not be used by people with high blood pressure, or other heart problems.

Extended usage of xylometazoline can result in decreased effectiveness or a buildup of tolerance against the drug.[12] The number of receptors decreases, and when the administration of the drug is ceased, chronic congestion can occur; this is called rhinitis medicamentosa, commonly referred to as rebound congestion. Moreover, long-term overdosing can cause degenerative changes in nasal mucous membranes that pose another health problem.[citation needed]

Society and culture

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In 2021, a US FDA Drug Safety Communication stated that, while a US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) proposed rule regarding child-resistant packaging covered products containing xylometazoline, no such products were marketed in the United States at that time.[13]

Brand names

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The most common name for over-the-counter products containing xylometazoline internationally is "Otrivin" (used in Australia,[14] Canada, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, India,[15] Israel, Jordan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Egypt, Sweden, Vietnam, Hong Kong), "Otrivine" (United Kingdom, Ireland, Turkey, Belgium), or "Otriven" (Germany). A product marketed as "Otrivin Oxy" contains oxymetazoline instead of xylometazoline.

Other product names used include Antazol (Square, in Bangladesh), Xylomet (Opsonin, Bangladesh), Cirovin, Klarigen (in Denmark), Nasolin (in Finland), Neo-Rinoleina, Novorin, Olynth, Otrinoz, Galazolin (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus), Nasomist-X, Otrix, Rhinoset, Zenfresh, Naphthyzinium, Xymelyn (in Latvia), Sinutab Nasal Spray, Snup akut, Sudafed, Xylo-COMOD, Xylolin (in the United Arab Emirates), Xylovit, Olynth (in Serbia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Slovakia), Meralys (in Croatia) Xynosine (in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan), Xymelin, Zymelin, Xylostar, Xylorin (in Poland), Nasobol, Xylo Mepha and others (Switzerland), Decozal (in Jordan), Nasic, Orinox (Romania), Narhimed (Italy), nasa Rhinathiol (Belgium), Zolinol, Nasorhinathiol, and Vibrocil (Portugal).

Formulations

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The standard adult solution strength is 0.1% w/v xylometazoline (or 1 mg per 1 mL solution).[16]

References

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  1. ^ Fulga A, Zenovia A, Ene DC, Stan C, Firescu D, Fulga I (18 November 2021). "Fulga, Ana, Andrei Zenovia, Doriana Cristea Ene, Constantin Stan, Dorel Firescu, and Iuliu Fulga. 2021. "Addiction to Nasal Decongestants Based on Α-Adrenoceptor Agonists Case Series and Literature Review: Array". EuroEconomica 40 (2)". Euroeconomica. 40 (2).
  2. ^ a b c "Otrivine Adult Measured Dose Sinusitis Spray - Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) - (eMC)". www.medicines.org.uk. 13 April 2016. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  3. ^ a b c British national formulary : BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. p. 786. ISBN 978-0-85711-156-2.
  4. ^ a b Eccles R, Martensson K, Chen SC (April 2010). "Effects of intranasal xylometazoline, alone or in combination with ipratropium, in patients with common cold". Current Medical Research and Opinion. 26 (4): 889–899. doi:10.1185/03007991003648015. PMID 20151787. S2CID 34728458.
  5. ^ a b Graf P (1997). "Rhinitis medicamentosa: aspects of pathophysiology and treatment". Allergy. 52 (40 Suppl): 28–34. doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.1997.tb04881.x. PMID 9353558. S2CID 72326981.
  6. ^ "Xylometazoline nasal medical facts from Drugs.com". www.drugs.com. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  7. ^ Proudman RG, Akinaga J, Baker JG (October 2022). "The signaling and selectivity of α-adrenoceptor agonists for the human α2A, α2B and α2C-adrenoceptors and comparison with human α1 and β-adrenoceptors". Pharmacology Research & Perspectives. 10 (5): e01003. doi:10.1002/prp2.1003. PMC 9471048. PMID 36101495.
  8. ^ Fischer J, Ganellin CR (2006). Analogue-based Drug Discovery. John Wiley & Sons. p. 552. ISBN 978-3-527-60749-5. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016.
  9. ^ US patent 2868802A, Hüni, Albrecht, "2-(γ-TERT-BUTYL-O,O'-DIMETHYL-PHENYL-METHYL)-IMIDAZOLINE AND SALTS", issued 1959-01-13, assigned to Ciba Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Summit, N. J. 
  10. ^ World Health Organization (2023). The selection and use of essential medicines 2023: web annex A: World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 23rd list (2023). Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/371090. WHO/MHP/HPS/EML/2023.02.
  11. ^ Haenisch B, Walstab J, Herberhold S, Bootz F, Tschaikin M, Ramseger R, et al. (December 2010). "Alpha-adrenoceptor agonistic activity of oxymetazoline and xylometazoline". Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology. 24 (6): 729–739. doi:10.1111/j.1472-8206.2009.00805.x. PMID 20030735. S2CID 25064699.
  12. ^ Gold Standard Clinical Pharmacology Archived 2008-05-25 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "FDA Drug Safety Communication: Serious adverse events from accidental ingestion by children of over-the-counter eye drops and nasal sprays". FDA. July 2021.
  14. ^ "xylometazoline". Healthdirect Australia. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  15. ^ "Otrivin | GSK Consumer Healthcare INDIA". Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  16. ^ "Xylometazoline nasal Uses, Side Effects & Warnings". Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.