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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Absorption of Nasal and Bronchial Fluids: Precision Sampling of the Human Respiratory Mucosa and Laboratory Processing of Samples
Published on: January 21, 2018
Histamine sensitivity in the nasal mucosa during four-week use of oxymetazoline
Abstract:
In order to objectively study the histamine sensitivity of the nasal mucosa during 30 days of regular use of oxymetazoline nasal spray (0.5 mg/ml; 0.1 ml in each nostril, thrice daily), eight healthy volunteers were examined with rhinostereometry. After 10 days on being treated, the histamine sensitivity was slightly enhanced. After a further 20 days the sensitivity was significantly increased compared to that before the start of the medication (p < 0.05). This increase in histamine sensitivity for the group is significantly greater than that of healthy drug-free volunteers, and the level is comparable with that of patients with non-allergic nasal hyperreactivity (NANH). It is concluded that a hyperreactive mucosal reaction develops after a relatively short time on oxymetazoline and that the results of this study are in line with the recommendation that the drug should not be used for more than 10 days.
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