Systemic side effects of locally used oxymetazoline

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Toxicology
• Histopathology

Background:

• Oxymetazoline nasal spray is widely used for its vasoconstrictive properties.
• Systemic side effects and end-organ damage from long-term oxymetazoline use are not well-documented.
• Investigating potential adverse effects is crucial for patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally investigate potential systemic side effects of oxymetazoline nasal spray.
• To assess histopathological changes in end organs following prolonged oxymetazoline administration.
• To address the lack of literature on oxymetazoline-induced end-organ damage.

Main Methods:

• A 4-week study involving two groups of rats (n=8 each): control (saline) and oxymetazoline.
• Oxymetazoline hydrochloride was administered intranasally three times daily.
• Histopathological analysis of mandible, parotid gland, and tail samples.

Main Results:

• Oxymetazoline group showed significant increases in ischemic changes (P=0.0001), congestion (P=0.0006), PNL accumulations (P=0.001), necrosis (P=0.0001), and ulceration (P=0.014) compared to controls.
• No significant histopathological differences were observed in mandible and parotid gland samples regarding focal inflammation and lymphocyte aggregation.
• Arterial thrombosis showed no significant difference between groups.

Conclusions:

• Long-term oxymetazoline nasal spray use can lead to end-organ damage, as evidenced by histopathological findings.
• The study highlights the necessity of informing patients about potential side effects.
• Physicians should counsel patients on the risks associated with prolonged oxymetazoline use.