Guillermo Casedas Lopez
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Associate professor, San Jorge University
Every spring, we live with various aggressor agents that cause nasal congestion. On the one hand, there is gripe, a seasonal (autumn-spring) respiratory infection that affects millions of people annually worldwide. The symptoms The most common are fever, headache, fatigue, and stuffy and runny nose. And they can easily be confused with those of other respiratory viruses, especially the common cold, which usually manifests itself in a milder way.
The symptoms of spring allergy, also known as hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis. In this case, they are not caused by a virus, but by an allergic reaction to pollens released into the air from trees, plants, and flowers.
common treatments
When it comes to combating the symptoms of these pathologies, patients often resort to over-the-counter drugs in pharmacies that try to alleviate them. The most common are the paracetamol, to treat pain and fever; antihistamines such as loratadine, for itchy eyes and throat; and sympathomimetic drugs, which combat congestion and runny nose.
Within this last therapeutic group are the pseudoefedrina, administered orally, and oxymetazoline, administered nasally. Both mimic or enhance the effects of adrenaline and other similar neurotransmitters. And they produce as a pharmacological effect a narrowing of the nasal vessels which leads to nasal congestion.
Are these drugs safe?
Marketing a drug is a very complicated task for the pharmaceutical industry. The investigation may take between 10 and 15 years, and many safety studies should be done. Once the drug is marketed, the pharmacovigilance phase begins. This means that it seeks to ensure that the patient uses it safely and effectively. everyone including national bodiescompanies, health professionals and patients share the responsibility of ensuring the safety of medicines.
Pseudoephedrine is a stimulant that can be addictive in certain people. By purchasing these drugs no prescription the population may come to think that they are harmless. Although it is not common for people to develop an addiction to pseudoephedrine, it can happen if it is used in large amounts or over a prolonged period of time.
Specifically, prolonged use for more than 5 days may cause a rebound effect in our system generating even more congestion. In this case, the patient tries to increase the dose to counteract these effects and enters into a vicious circle. And it can lead to a rhinitis chronic when passing from use to abuse.
These drugs act at the brain and heart level. Therefore, the symptoms of abuse include anxiety, irritability, insomnia, rapid heartbeat, and high blood pressure. That explains why, recently, the European Medicines Agency The EMA has begun reviewing some medicines that contain pseudoephedrine to decide if some should be changed, discontinued, or withdrawn from the market.
Nasal washes with seawater and other alternatives
It is not unreasonable to think that, if the situation allows it, it is better to combat nasal congestion with alternatives such as constant hydrationtaking mucolytics such as acetylcysteine, as well as nasal baths with seawater or saline.
Likewise, you can humidificar the environment with essential oil diffusers. In the event of resorting to medication, the pharmacist or health professional should guide the patient in the treatment of nasal congestion.