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Related Concept Videos

Upper Respiratory Drugs: Decongestants01:27

Upper Respiratory Drugs: Decongestants

Decongestants are a class of medications used primarily to alleviate nasal congestion, a common symptom resulting from allergies, colds, sinusitis, and other upper respiratory tract infections. These drugs work by activating α-adrenergic receptors, constricting small blood vessels in the nasal membranes. This action results in the opening of clogged nasal passages, thereby facilitating sinus drainage and relieving congestion.
Most decongestants are readily available over-the-counter in various...
Drugs Used in Upper Respiratory Disorders: Overview01:16

Drugs Used in Upper Respiratory Disorders: Overview

Upper respiratory tract disorders, including viral infections and allergic rhinitis, cause significant discomfort and disrupt daily life. Managing these conditions involves a variety of drugs, such as antihistamines, intranasal steroids, decongestants, antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics. Specific examples of drugs in each category are provided.
Antihistamines (e.g., Benadryl) block histamines from binding. Histamines are chemicals released during an allergic reaction in the body. As a...
Epistaxis01:30

Epistaxis

Epistaxis, or nosebleeds, occurs when small, swollen blood vessels in the nasal mucous membrane rupture. Typically, the anterior septum is the primary site of occurrence.
Etiology
Possible causes of this condition include high blood pressure, trauma, low humidity, upper respiratory tract infections, allergies, foreign bodies, nasal inhalation of corticosteroids or illicit drugs, excessive use of decongestant nasal sprays, facial or nasal surgery, anatomic malformation, tumors, or systemic...
Antiasthma Drugs: Inhaled Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoids01:25

Antiasthma Drugs: Inhaled Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoids

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are anti-inflammatory drugs used primarily in treating persistent asthma and providing long-term maintenance. They target the bronchial mucosa, the lining of the airways, to control inflammation, a critical factor in asthma progression and exacerbation.
ICS work through a multifaceted mechanism of action. They suppress the inflammatory response caused by the proliferation of TH cells. They also reduce the transcription of the IL-2 gene, which is involved in the...
Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics01:23

Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics

Respiratory symptoms, such as congestion and cough, commonly accompany respiratory tract conditions. Various medications, such as antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics, play crucial roles in providing relief.
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla.  Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by anesthetizing...
Drugs Used in Lower Respiratory Disorders: Overview01:17

Drugs Used in Lower Respiratory Disorders: Overview

Lower respiratory tract disorders present challenges that often require skilled and nuanced approaches for effective management. Common ailments, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), have prompted the development of intricate treatment strategies involving bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs, each tailored to ease breathing and revitalize the lungs.
Bronchodilators, the first step of respiration enhancement, come in various forms, each with its own mechanism...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Intranasal Administration of CNS Therapeutics to Awake Mice
07:15

Intranasal Administration of CNS Therapeutics to Awake Mice

Published on: April 8, 2013

Intranasal steroids for acute sinusitis.

Anca Zalmanovici1, John Yaphe

  • 1Department of Family Medicine, Beilinson Campus, Rabin Medical Center, 39 Jabotinsky Street, Petah-Tiqva, Israel.

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|October 13, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Intranasal corticosteroids (INCS) offer a modest benefit in relieving acute sinusitis symptoms. Evidence supports their use alone or with antibiotics, with few reported adverse events.

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Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Allergy and Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Acute sinusitis is a frequent cause of primary care visits, leading to significant symptom burden.
  • It often results in missed work and school days, impacting productivity and daily life.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of intranasal corticosteroids (INCS) in alleviating acute sinusitis symptoms.
  • To assess the safety and impact of INCS on symptom resolution and improvement.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
  • Searched multiple databases including Cochrane Central Register, MEDLINE, and EMBASE.
  • Included RCTs comparing INCS to placebo for clinically and radiologically confirmed acute sinusitis.

Main Results:

  • Four well-designed RCTs with 1943 participants met the inclusion criteria.
  • INCS treatment showed a statistically significant improvement in symptom resolution or improvement compared to placebo (73% vs. 66.4%).
  • Higher doses of INCS demonstrated a stronger effect; no significant adverse events, drop-out, or recurrence rates were observed.

Conclusions:

  • Limited but supportive evidence suggests INCS are effective for acute sinusitis confirmed by imaging or endoscopy.
  • INCS can be used as monotherapy or as an adjunct to antibiotic treatment.
  • Clinicians should consider the modest benefits against potential minor adverse events when prescribing INCS.