Related Research Articles
Pseudoephedrine (PSE) is a sympathomimetic drug of the phenethylamine and amphetamine chemical classes. It may be used as a nasal/sinus decongestant, as a stimulant, or as a wakefulness-promoting agent in higher doses.
The common cold or the cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that primarily affects the respiratory mucosa of the nose, throat, sinuses, and larynx. Signs and symptoms may appear fewer than two days after exposure to the virus. These may include coughing, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, headache, and fever. People usually recover in seven to ten days, but some symptoms may last up to three weeks. Occasionally, those with other health problems may develop pneumonia.
Xylometazoline, also spelled xylomethazoline, is a medication used to reduce symptoms of nasal congestion, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis. Use is not recommended for more than seven days. Use is also not recommended in those less than three months of age and some say not less than 6 years of age. It is used directly in the nose as a spray or drops.
Cold medicines are a group of medications taken individually or in combination as a treatment for the symptoms of the common cold and similar conditions of the upper respiratory tract. The term encompasses a broad array of drugs, including analgesics, antihistamines and decongestants, among many others. It also includes drugs which are marketed as cough suppressants or antitussives, but their effectiveness in reducing cough symptoms is unclear or minimal.
A decongestant, or nasal decongestant, is a type of pharmaceutical drug that is used to relieve nasal congestion in the upper respiratory tract. The active ingredient in most decongestants is either pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine. Intranasal corticosteroids can also be used as decongestants and antihistamines can be used to alleviate runny nose, nasal itch, and sneezing.
Vicks NyQuil is a brand of over-the-counter medication manufactured by Procter & Gamble intended for the relief of various symptoms of the common cold. All medications within the NyQuil imprint contain sedating antihistamines, hypnotics, and/or alcohol, and are intended to be taken before sleep. Its daytime counterpart is antihistamine-free DayQuil, formulated to avoid drowsiness. NyQuil is also used as a sleep aid. NyQuil was first marketed in the United States in 1966.
Benadryl is a brand of various antihistamine medications used to stop allergies, whose content varies in different countries, but which includes some combination of diphenhydramine, acrivastine, and/or cetirizine.
Propylhexedrine, commonly sold under the brand name Benzedrex, is an alkylamine primarily utilized as a topical nasal decongestant. Its main indications are relief of congestion due to colds, allergies, and allergic rhinitis.
Lemsip is a brand of cold and flu remedies in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. It is manufactured by the British company Reckitt.
Phenylephrine is a medication used as a decongestant for uncomplicated nasal congestion, used to dilate the pupil, used to increase blood pressure, and used to relieve hemorrhoids. It can be taken by mouth, as a nasal spray, given by injection into a vein or muscle, or applied to the skin.
Oxymetazoline, sold under the brand name Afrin among others, is a topical decongestant and vasoconstrictor medication. It is available over-the-counter as a nasal spray to treat nasal congestion and nosebleeds, as eyedrops to treat eye redness due to minor irritation, and as a prescription topical cream to treat persistent facial redness due to rosacea in adults. Its effects begin within minutes and last for up to six hours. Intranasal use for longer than three days may cause congestion to recur or worsen, resulting in physical dependence.
Dimetapp is an American brand of over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines that is manufactured by Foundation Consumer Brands. At one point, Dimetapp as a household word referred to a single combination preparation marketed to relieve symptoms of the common cold, containing brompheniramine and phenylephrine. Variants were created, including Dimetapp DM with the addition of dextromethorphan. Dimetapp Elixir and Colour Free Elixir are intended to relieve nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy watery eyes and sneezing, whereas Dimetapp DM and Dimetapp DM Colour Free Elixir are intended for colds with dry coughs and also to treat whooping cough. Early Dimetapp was flavored with cherry and plum as they were readily available during the time, setting a precedent for its purple color; however, the flavor has been described as a grape candy.
Rhinitis medicamentosa is a condition of rebound nasal congestion suspected to be brought on by extended use of topical decongestants and certain oral medications that constrict blood vessels in the lining of the nose, although evidence has been contradictory.
Actifed is a registered trademark for a combination antihistamine and nasal decongestant medication used for cold and allergy symptoms. Actifed was developed in 1958 by Burroughs Wellcome & Company, later Haleon.
Migraleve is the brand name of a range of migraine-relief medications made by Pfizer.
Pseudoephedrine/loratadine (trade names Claritin-D, Clarinase, Clarinase Repetabs, Lorinase, Rhinos SR, Allerclear-D) is an orally administered combination drug used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and the common cold. This drug can be bought "over the counter" in some countries (United States, Hong Kong), but it is restricted to prescription in others (Czech Republic, Israel).
Guaifenesin/phenylephrine is a combination of the drugs guaifenesin and phenylephrine and is a preparation against the symptoms of cold, flu and allergy. Guaifenesine is an expectorant, phenylephrine is a decongestant. The drug is sold under the brand name Entex and as generic brands. Entex La is 400 mg guaifenesin and 30 mg phenylephrine hydrochloride. Entex Pse is 600 mg guaifenesin and 120 mg phenylephrine hydrochloride. Both are extended release products, meaning that the non-active ingredients are chosen to dissolve slowly to provide a prolonged therapeutic effect.
Zinc supplements are a group of dietary supplements that are commonly used for the treatment of the common cold. The use of zinc supplements at doses in excess of 75 mg/day within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms has been shown to reduce the duration of cold symptoms by about 1 day in adults. Adverse effects with zinc supplements by mouth include bad taste and nausea. The intranasal use of zinc-containing nasal sprays has been associated with the loss of the sense of smell; consequently, in June 2009, the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) warned consumers to stop using intranasal zinc.
Naproxen/pseudoephedrine, sold under the brand name Aleve-D among others, is a fixed-dose combination medication used for the treatment of nasal congestion and other symptoms of the common cold. It contains naproxen, as the sodium salt, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID); and pseudoephedrine, as the hydrochloride, a nasal decongestant.
References
- ↑ "DRISTAN 12 Hour Nasal Spray - Labeling Information". labeling.pfizer.com.
- ↑ "Dristan Cold Multi-Symptom Formula". labeling.pfizer.com.
