Xylometazoline

Xylometazoline

Basics

Xylometazoline is a medication used to reduce the symptoms of nasal congestion, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis. It belongs to the group of α1-adrenoceptor agonists. It is used directly in the nose as a spray or drops. Its use is not recommended for more than seven days at a time.

Effect

Pharmacodynamics

Xylometazoline is an imidazole derivative designed to mimic the molecular shape of epinephrine. This drug acts by stimulating adrenergic receptors (α1-adrenoceptors) on the lamina propria of blood vessels in the nose. The decongestant effect is due to constriction of the large veins in the nose, which swell during inflammation of an infection or allergy of the nose. The smaller arteries are also constricted, causing the color of the nasal epithelium to become visibly paler after dosing.
Aufgrund seiner sympathomimetischen Wirkung sollte es nicht von Personen mit Bluthochdruck oder anderen Herzproblemen verwendet werden.

Toxicity

Side effects

Side effects include sleep disturbance, nasal irritation, nausea, nosebleeds (3%), period pain (10%), and headache (3%).

Long-term use (>10days) is not recommended due to rhinitis medicamentosa on discontinuation.

Use is not recommended during pregnancy.

Toxicological data

LD50 (rat, oral, hydrochloride): 230 mg-kg-1

Chemical & physical properties

ATC Code R01AA07, R01AB06, S01GA03
Formula C16H24N2
Molar Mass (g·mol−1) 244,38
Physical State solid
Melting Point (°C) 131–133
CAS Number 526-36-3
PUB Number 5709
Drugbank ID DB06694

Sources

  • Drugbank
  • PubChem
  • Aktories, Förstermann, Hofmann, Starke: Allgemeine und spezielle Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Elsvier, 2017

Editorial principles

All information used for the content comes from verified sources (recognised institutions, experts, studies by renowned universities). We attach great importance to the qualification of the authors and the scientific background of the information. Thus, we ensure that our research is based on scientific findings.
Markus Falkenstätter, BSc

Markus Falkenstätter, BSc
Author

Markus Falkenstätter is a writer on pharmaceutical topics in Medikamio's medical editorial team. He is in the last semester of his pharmacy studies at the University of Vienna and loves scientific work in the field of natural sciences.

Mag. pharm. Stefanie Lehenauer

Mag. pharm. Stefanie Lehenauer
Lector

Stefanie Lehenauer has been a freelance writer for Medikamio since 2020 and studied pharmacy at the University of Vienna. She works as a pharmacist in Vienna and her passion is herbal medicines and their effects.

The content of this page is an automated and high-quality translation from DeepL. You can find the original content in German here.

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