According to statistics, vasoconstrictor nasal sprays and drops are the most popular means for treating a runny nose. These medications are available and can be purchased at any pharmacy without a doctor's prescription. Most patients consider rhinitis to be a banal ailment and limit themselves to the recommendations of pharmacists who select nasal drops without taking into account the diagnosis, severity and form of the disease, and the presence of complications.
Often the patient violates the recommended dosage regimen and duration of treatment. As a result of such “active” therapy, drug dependence on intranasal drugs develops. It is very difficult for a person to refuse drops, despite the fact that they only temporarily relieve swelling of the nasopharynx and do not allow them to cope with rhinitis.
At CELT you can consult an otorhinolaryngologist.
- Initial consultation – 3,000
- Repeated consultation – 2,000
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Pharmacological properties of the drug Tizin xylo
Pharmacodynamics. An imidazole derivative, xylometazoline, is a sympathomimetic drug with an α-adrenergic type of action. It has a vasoconstrictor effect, which reduces swelling of the mucous membranes. Improvement in nasal breathing due to a decrease in swelling and discharge of the nasal mucosa occurs 5–10 minutes after taking the drug. Pharmacokinetics. When administered intranasally, the adsorbed amount of the drug may be sufficient to cause systemic side effects, for example from the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system. There are no data from pharmacokinetic studies for use in humans.
Complications arising from drug-induced rhinitis
The most common adverse effects of rhinitis medicamentosa are:
- persistent swelling of the nasal passages;
- night snoring;
- lack of smell;
- nasal voice;
- headache;
- frequent sneezing and watery eyes;
- feeling of itching, tingling and burning in the nose;
- tissue atrophy;
- dryness and hyperplasia of the mucous membranes;
- nosebleeds;
- displacement of the nasal septum.
In most cases, doctors manage to rid the patient of drug addiction using conservative methods. Surgery is used when treatment is ineffective.
Use of the drug Tizin xylo
Tizin Xylo 0.05% is intended for the treatment of children aged 2 to 6 years. Tizin Xylo 0.1% is intended for the treatment of adults and children aged 6 years and older. Children aged 2 to 6 years are prescribed 1 injection of Tizin Xylo (0.05% dosed spray) into each nasal passage up to 3 times a day. Children over 6 years of age and adults are prescribed 1 injection of Tizin Xylo (0.1% spray dosage) into each nasal passage up to 3 times a day. The dose depends on the individual sensitivity of the patient and the clinical effect of the drug. Xylometazoline metered-dose spray should not be used for more than 3–5 days. Treatment can be repeated only after a break in its use for several days. In the case of chronic rhinitis, due to the risk of atrophy of the nasal mucosa, prolonged use of the drug Tizin Xylo 0.05% and 0.1% dosed spray is possible only under the supervision of a physician.
Causes of drug-induced rhinitis
Infectious or allergic rhinitis is manifested by inflammatory reactions, one of the symptoms of which is swelling of the nose. The body tries to cope with this process, and blood circulation increases in the nasal passages. As a result, an increase in the size of blood vessels contributes to the development of nasal congestion. Nasal breathing becomes difficult, the sense of smell is lost, the person rushes to get rid of these unpleasant symptoms with the help of decongestants (vasoconstrictor drops - vasoconstrictors).
From vasoconstrictor drops, blood vessels narrow, swelling quickly subsides, breathing through the nose is restored, and the sense of smell is normalized. The therapeutic effect of decongestants lasts 4-12 hours, after this period the lumen of the blood vessels increases again, swelling and congestion of the nasal passages returns. The patient knows how to get rid of the unpleasant condition and again uses vasoconstrictor drops.
If nasal vasoconstrictor drops are used correctly, addiction does not occur. The recommended period of use of the drugs is 3-7 days. Dependence manifests itself if the patient neglects the instructions for use and violates the frequency and duration of therapy. This is due to the fact that tachyphylaxis develops when the body’s response to repeated use of medications decreases. A person uses the same nasal remedies, but the vessels react poorly to them. To achieve a therapeutic effect, decongestants must be instilled more often.
The main active components of the drugs are substances such as nasazoline, oxymetazoline, xylometazoline, phenylephrine. Violation of the frequency and duration of therapy leads to the fact that the own regulation of capillary tone suffers. Up to the complete destruction of reflex regulation. The capillaries get used to narrowing from nasal drops and wait for the arrival of active components from the outside.
The longer a person uses vasoconstrictor drops, the stronger the addiction and the less chance of restoring their own regulation. You can only get rid of addiction to nasal drops with the help of an ENT specialist.
Side effects of the drug Tizin xylo
Respiratory system. Tizin Xylo may cause transient, mild signs of irritation (burning sensation) in the nasal cavity. In some cases, when the effect of the drug decreases, an increase in swelling of the nasal mucosa (reactive hyperemia) may be observed. Long-term and frequent intranasal administration of xylometazoline, as well as its use in high doses, can lead to reactive hyperemia or dryness of the nasal mucosa, as well as reactive congestion (hyperemia, congestion) with signs of drug-induced rhinitis. This effect can be observed even after 5–7 days of treatment and after long-term use and lead to permanent damage to the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity with the formation of a scab ( rhinitis sicca ). Nervous system. In rare cases, headache, insomnia or fatigue may occur. The cardiovascular system. With local intranasal use, systemic sympathomimetic effects may be observed: increased heart rate and pulse, as well as increased blood pressure.
Symptoms of drug-induced rhinitis
The main symptoms of addiction to nasal drops:
- Nasal congestion does not go away on its own, but only after using vasoconstrictor drugs.
- Severe dependence on nasal drops. Often a person does not leave home without a bottle of medicine. The constant need for vasoconstrictors is similar to addiction to drugs.
- The nasal passages are constantly blocked, and it is difficult for a person to breathe, even if sinusitis, sinusitis or other underlying disease is completely treated.
- Burning, itching, and dry mucous membranes appear in the nasal sinuses.
- Colorless mucous discharge is constantly released.
- The sense of smell is partially or completely lost.
Indirect symptoms of dependence on vasoconstrictors:
- Systematic violation of the dosage regimen and non-compliance with the duration of medication. The patient reduces the intervals between instillation of drops and uses the drugs for more than 7 days.
- There is a feeling of panic when a person feels nasal congestion, but does not have decongestants on hand to relieve his condition.
A patient who has discovered such symptoms should come to an appointment with an ENT doctor!
Special instructions for the use of the drug Tizin xylo
Long-term use and overdose of sympathomimetic decongestants (decongestants) can lead to reactive hyperemia of the nasal mucosa. This side effect can lead to airway obstruction, which in turn forces the patient to use the drug repeatedly or even continuously. This can lead to chronic edema (rhinitis medicamentosa), as well as atrophy of the nasal mucosa and osena. In some cases, it is possible to stop administering the sympathomimetic drug into the 1st nasal passage, and when the complication subsides, continue treatment with administration into the 2nd nasal passage in order to maintain at least partial nasal breathing. Tizin Xylo should only be used after a careful assessment of the benefit/risk ratio in patients:
- who have taken MAO inhibitor drugs or other drugs with potential hypertensive activity;
- with severe cardiovascular diseases (coronary artery disease, hypertension (arterial hypertension));
- with pheochromocytoma;
- with endocrine diseases (hyperthyroidism, diabetes).
During pregnancy and breastfeeding . Due to the lack of research data on the effect of the drug on the fetus, xylometazoline should not be used during pregnancy. Due to the lack of data on the excretion of the active substance into breast milk, the drug cannot be used during breastfeeding. Impact on the ability to drive vehicles and operate machinery . In the case of prolonged use of Tizin Xylo in high doses, an undesirable effect of the drug on the cardiovascular system may occur, which may adversely affect the ability to drive vehicles and operate machinery.
What are the dangers of abusing decongestants?
Uncontrolled use of vasoconstrictor drops leads to the fact that the capillaries are constantly in spasm. They stop functioning normally, blood flow is disrupted, and nearby tissues suffer because they do not receive the required amount of oxygen and nutritional components.
Systematic drying of the mucous membranes and disruption of its restoration threatens the development of malnutrition and the formation of drug-induced rhinitis. In an effort to get rid of seasonal runny nose as quickly as possible, a person acquires an illness that requires serious treatment.
The next danger is psychological addiction. A reflex is formed in the brain that normal breathing can only be restored with the help of medications. Using vasoconstrictor drops makes a person feel better; he does not think about the alarming consequences for his own health. Improper use of decongestant drops harms the entire body. Violation of the dosage regimen is especially dangerous in childhood. There are cases when a child has to be hospitalized because the mother intensively instilled drops into his nose. The danger is that vasoconstrictor drugs enter the general bloodstream and negatively affect all tissues and organs. Arterial hypertension may develop, shortness of breath, headache, insomnia, etc. may appear.
Most often, dependence on nasal drops is formed due to illiteracy of the population. Not everyone knows that harmless medications can cause intoxication of the entire body. If dangerous symptoms are detected, it is important to immediately seek medical help and receive timely treatment.
Overdose of the drug Tizin xylo, symptoms and treatment
Symptoms of intoxication Overdose of the drug or accidental oral administration can lead to mydriasis, nausea, vomiting, cyanosis, fever, cramps, tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmia, circulatory collapse (vascular insufficiency), cardiac arrest, hypertension, pulmonary edema, respiratory dysfunction, mental impairment . In addition, the following symptoms may also be observed: depression of central nervous system functions, accompanied by drowsiness, decreased body temperature, bradycardia, shock-like hypotension, apnea and coma. Treatment of intoxication: Taking activated carbon, gastric lavage, oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation. To reduce blood pressure in adults, it is necessary to slowly administer 5 mg of phentolamine in physiological solution intravenously or take 100 mg orally. Taking vasoconstrictors is contraindicated. If necessary, treatment with antipyretics or anticonvulsants should be prescribed.
Surgical methods of treatment:
- Laser bloodless operation (vaporization), in which altered mucous membranes are removed by evaporation.
- Radio wave thermal reduction.
- An ultrasonic waveguide makes it possible to reduce the volume of blood vessels, after which healthy capillaries are formed in their place and nasal breathing is restored.
- Submucosal vasotomy, conchotomy.
Long-term use of vasoconstrictor drugs leads to serious consequences. Addiction will not go away on its own; specialist help is needed. You can get the necessary treatment at the CELT clinic. Here are high-quality diagnostics and effective therapy. Make an appointment with an ENT doctor right now.
