Nasal decongestants for the common cold

Taverner, D; Bickford, L; Draper, M

doi:10.1002/14651858.cd001953

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…First generation antihistamines alone have shown favourable effects upon nasal symptoms in adult studies, but this has not been replicated in children. Nasal decongestants improve cold symptoms in adults and increase nasal patency in children, but their potential side-effects such as rebound obstruction and nasal epithelial drying mean that they are not recommended in children 3 . The use of such medications should be questioned as they appear to offer no protection against the development of otitis media, side-effects are not uncommon and accidental ingestion can occur.…”

Section: Decongestant and Antihistamine Preparations For The Common Coldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute upper airway infections

West¹

2002

British Medical Bulletin

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Upper respiratory tract infections are common and important. Although rarely fatal, they are a source of significant morbidity and carry a considerable economic burden. Numerous therapies for the common cold have no effect on symptoms or outcome. Complications such as cough are not improved by over-the-counter preparations, while labelling cough alone as a symptom of asthma may result in unnecessary use of inhaled steroid treatment. Clinical presentation of sore throat does not accurately predict whether the infection is viral or bacterial, while throat culture and rapid antigen tests do not significantly change prescribing practice. Antibiotics have only a limited place in the management of recurrent sore throat due to group A beta-haemolytic streptococcal infection. Routine use of antibiotics in upper respiratory infection enhances parent belief in their effectiveness and increases the likelihood of future consultation in primary care for minor self-limiting illness. Respiratory viruses play a major role in the aetiology of acute otitis media (AOM); prevention includes the use of influenza or RSV vaccination, in addition to reducing other risk factors such as early exposure to respiratory viruses in day-care settings and to environmental tobacco smoke. The use of ventilation tubes (grommets) in secretory otitis media (SOM) remains controversial with conflicting data on developmental outcome and quality of life in young children. New conjugate pneumococcal vaccines appear safe in young children and prevent 6-7% of clinically diagnosed AOM.

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Section: Decongestant and Antihistamine Preparations For The Common Coldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute upper airway infections

West¹

2002

British Medical Bulletin

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“…In a recent meta‐analysis, 2 evidence for the efficacy of PSE in adults with coryza was inconclusive on the basis of the results of the three adequately designed clinical trials available in the literature. Pseudoephedrine improved the symptom of congestion, but it was not shown to be effective in reducing nasal airway resistance (NAR), considered to be the gold standard for an objective decongestant effect.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Randomized, Double‐blind, Placebo‐controlled Trial of Pseudoephedrine in Coryza

Latte

Taverner

Slobodian

et al. 2004

Clin Exp Pharma Physio

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1. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of pseudoephedrine in coryza. 2. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled design, 48 adults with acute coryza received a single oral dose of 60 mg pseudoephedrine (Sudafed; Pfizer Consumer HealthCare Group, Caringbah, NSW, Australia) or matching placebo. Before and after dosing, nasal airway resistance (NAR), nasal volume, the minimum intranasal cross-sectional area (MCA) and the symptom of nasal congestion were measured. 3. Pseudoephedrine produced a significant decrease in NAR (P = 0.005; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.073, 0.383). Nasal volume increased, but this did not reach significance (P = 0.07; 95% CI -0.842, 0.034). There was no change in MCA and symptoms. 4. In conclusion, pseudoephedrine has a moderate effect in decreasing objective measures of nasal congestion in coryza.

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“…This suggests that more patients may experience an adverse event (dry mouth) than will benefit from combination antihistamines and decongestants. The following interpretation can be made on the basis that (1) combination therapies seem to be effective; (2) monotherapy with antihistamines is not effective; and (3) the systematic review on decongestants (below) 4 shows some benefit: it may be the decongestant component of the combination medications that is providing the effectiveness, and the antihistamine is contributing little or nothing to efficacy.…”

Section: Combination Antihistamine-decongestantmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Five studies were suitable for inclusion in the review on nasal decongestants for the common cold, 4 which contained only single component or single-dose studies. For the single-dose studies, four studies were included, and all were statistically significant for a reduction in the nasal symptom of congestion after treatment compared with placebo.…”

Section: Nasal Decongestants For the Common Coldmentioning

confidence: 99%