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Benefits, limits and danger of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine as nasal decongestants
O Laccourreye1, A Werner2, J-P Giroud3
1Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Paris Cité, hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, AP-HP, service ORL et chirurgie cervico-faciale, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France; Académie nationale de médecine, 16, rue Bonaparte, 75272 Paris cedex 06, France.
Abstract:
Due to their vasoconstrictive action on the nasal mucosa, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are highly efficient amines for relief of nasal congestion. As with any vasoconstrictor and as underscored by the French Society of Otorhinolaryngology in its 2011 guideline, these molecules should not be used in patients under the age of 15. Furthermore, due to unpredictable severe cardiovascular and neurological adverse events that may occur even at low dose and in the absence of any pre-existing pathology, they should not be prescribed for the common cold, and ENT physicians must carefully weigh the risk/benefit ratio in patients with allergic rhinitis. Distribution should be regulated and over-the-counter sales banned.
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