Information about Decongestant

A decongestant is a broad class of medications used to relieve nasal congestion. Generally, they work by reducing swelling of the mucous membranes in the nasal passages.

Mechanism

Most decongestants cause response from adrenoreceptor a1, chiefly responsible for vasoconstriction (a2 modulates adrenaline/noradrenaline levels, b1 is the most stimulating and increases cardiac output, b2 dilates the bronchial walls, and b3 induces lipolysis). The effects are not limited to the nose and these medicines can increase hypertension (blood pressure) through vasoconstriction, but most decongestants are not pronounced stimulants due to lack of response from the other adrenoreceptors.

These are normally paired with antihistamines to lessen this effect, but they don't always even each other out.

Administration

These agents are usually administered topically (by the intranasal route) or orally.

Examples

The most common oral decongestants are pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine; phenylpropanolamine (PPA) is another, although it's no longer available in the US. Oxymetazoline and phenylephrine are a commonly available topical decongestants (nasal sprays).

See also

A medication, medicine or drug is any substance or combination of substances administered to human beings or animals to treat or prevent disease; alternatively to assist in medical diagnosis.
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Nasal congestion is the blockage of the nasal passages usually due to membranes lining the nose becoming swollen from inflamed blood vessels. It is also known as nasal blockage, nasal obstruction, blocked nose, runny nose, and stuffy nose.
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Swelling
Classifications and external resources

ICD-10 R22
ICD-9 782.2 , 784.2 , 786.6 , 789.3

In medical parlance, swelling is the enlargement of organs caused by accumulation of excess fluid in tissues, called edema.
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The mucous membranes (or mucosae; singular: mucosa) are linings of mostly endodermal origin, covered in epithelium, and are involved in absorption and secretion. They line various body cavities that are exposed to the external environment and internal organs.
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nose is a protuberance in vertebrates that houses the nostrils, or nares, which admit and expel air for respiration in conjunction with the mouth.

In most humans, it also houses the nosehairs, which catch airborne particles and prevent them from reaching the lungs.
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adrenergic receptors (or adrenoceptors) are a class of G protein-coupled receptors that are targets of the catecholamines. Adrenergic receptors specifically bind their endogenous ligands, the catecholamines adrenaline and noradrenaline (called epinephrine and norepinephrine
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Vasoconstriction is a narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels.

Factors

Factors that trigger vasoconstriction are both of exogenous origin, i.e. medication, and as a response from the body itself.

Body mechanisms

Vasoconstriction is a procedure of the body to e.g.
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Epinephrine (INN) (IPA: [ˌɛpɪˈnɛfrən]) or adrenaline (European Pharmacopoeia and BAN) (IPA: [əˈdrɛnələn]
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Norepinephrine (INN)(abbr. norepi or NE) or noradrenaline (BAN) is a catecholamine and a phenethylamine with chemical formula C8H11NO3. The natural stereoisomer is L -(−)-(R)-norepinephrine.
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Stimulants are drugs that temporarily increase alertness and awareness. They usually have increased side-effects with increased effectiveness, and the more powerful variants are therefore often prescription medicines or illegal drugs.
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Cardiac output (CO) is the volume of blood being pumped by the heart, in particular by a ventricle in a minute.

Normal Output

Cardiac output is equal to the stroke volume (SV) multiplied by the heart rate (HR).
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A bronchodilator is a substance that dilates the bronchi and bronchioles, increasing airflow. Bronchodilators may be endogenous (originating naturally within the body), or they may be medications administered for the treatment of breathing difficulties.
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Lipolysis is the breakdown of fat stored in fat cells. During this process, free fatty acids are released into the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body. Ketones are produced, and are found in large quantities in ketosis (an adaptive metabolic state that occurs when
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Vasoconstriction is a narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels.

Factors

Factors that trigger vasoconstriction are both of exogenous origin, i.e. medication, and as a response from the body itself.

Body mechanisms

Vasoconstriction is a procedure of the body to e.g.
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This article or section may be confusing or unclear for some readers.
Please [improve the article] or discuss this issue on the talk page. This article has been tagged since September 2007.
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In medicine, a topical medication is applied to body surfaces such as the skin or mucous membranes such as the vagina, penis, anus, throat, eye or the ear. Some hydrophobic chemicals such as steroid hormones can be absorbed into the body after being applied to the skin in the form
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The intranasal route is the route of administration of a drug through the nose, including nose drops or other medications. Some drugs have a higher rate of absorption, and are thus more effective in smaller doses, through this route.
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Pseudoephedrine (commonly abbreviated as PSE) is a sympathomimetic amine commonly used as a decongestant. The salts pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and pseudoephedrine sulfate
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Phenylephrine or Neo-Synephrine is an α-adrenergic receptor agonist used primarily as a decongestant, as an agent to dilate the pupil and to increase blood pressure. Phenylephrine has recently been marketed as a substitute for pseudoephedrine, (e.g.
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Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) is a drug of the phenethylamine family used as a decongestant and also as an appetite suppressant. In veterinary medicine, it is used to control urinary incontinence in dogs.
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Oxymetazoline is a topical decongestant used, in the form of Oxymetazoline hydrochloride, in products such as Nasivion, Vicks Sinex and Afrin. Oxymetazoline is generally available as a nasal spray.
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Nasal congestion is the blockage of the nasal passages usually due to membranes lining the nose becoming swollen from inflamed blood vessels. It is also known as nasal blockage, nasal obstruction, blocked nose, runny nose, and stuffy nose.
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Topical decongestants are decongestants applied directly to the nasal cavity. By applying them directly to the site of action, topical decongestants relieve nasal congestion while reducing the side effects associated with systemically-acting decongestants, such as high blood
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adrenergic receptors (or adrenoceptors) are a class of G protein-coupled receptors that are targets of the catecholamines. Adrenergic receptors specifically bind their endogenous ligands, the catecholamines adrenaline and noradrenaline (called epinephrine and norepinephrine
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gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), also called the digestive tract, or the alimentary canal, is the system of organs within multicellular animals that takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients, and expels the remaining waste.
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A section of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System.

A Alimentary tract and metabolism

A01 Stomatological preparations
A02 Drugs for acid related disorders
A03 Drugs for functional gastrointestinal disorders

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An antacid is any substance, generally a base, which counteracts stomach acidity. In other words, antacids are stomach acid neutralizers.

Action mechanism

Antacids perform a neutralization reaction, i.e.
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An anti-emetic is a drug that is effective against vomiting and nausea. Anti-emetics are typically used to treat motion sickness and the side effects of opioid analgesics, general anaesthetics and chemotherapy directed against cancer.
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Proton pump inhibitors (or "PPI"s) are a group of drugs whose main action is pronounced and long-lasting reduction of gastric acid production. They are the most potent inhibitors of acid secretion available today.
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Laxatives are foods, compounds, or drugs taken to induce bowel movements, most often taken to treat constipation. Certain stimulant, lubricant, and saline laxatives are used to evacuate the colon for rectal and bowel examinations. They are sometimes supplemented by enemas.
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