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Related Experiment Videos

Nasal decongestants for the common cold.

D Taverner1, L Bickford, M Draper

  • 1Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, University of Adelaide, Frome RD, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 5006. dtaverne@medicine.adelaide.edu.au

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|May 5, 2000
PubMed
Summary

A single dose of nasal decongestant offers short-term relief for adult common cold congestion. However, repeated use shows no significant benefit, and these medications are not recommended for young children.

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Area of Science:

  • Evidence-based medicine
  • Pharmacology
  • Respiratory medicine

Background:

  • The common cold is a frequent cause of illness, with nasal congestion being its most prevalent symptom.
  • Numerous therapies exist for nasal congestion relief, yet a meta-analysis of controlled trials is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of nasal decongestants in alleviating common cold nasal congestion in adults and children.
  • To identify potential adverse effects associated with nasal decongestant use.

Main Methods:

  • Searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Current Contents, and the Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group's trials register up to May 1999.
  • Included randomized, placebo-controlled trials of single-active oral and topical nasal decongestants for the common cold in adults and children.

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  • Extracted data independently, calculating weighted mean difference for subjective outcomes and standardized mean difference for objective outcomes.

    • Main Results:

    • Four adult studies met inclusion criteria; no pediatric studies were found.
    • A single dose of nasal decongestant resulted in a significant 13% reduction in subjective congestion symptoms compared to placebo.
    • This symptom relief was corroborated by a significant decrease in nasal airway resistance.

    Conclusions:

    • Single-dose nasal decongestants provide moderate, short-term relief from common cold congestion in adults.
    • Evidence does not support the efficacy of repeated nasal decongestant doses for symptom relief over several days.
    • Nasal decongestants are not recommended for treating the common cold in young children.