Xylen drops and pregnancy: possible, but with caution

Nasal drops Xylene what is this drug

It is difficult to imagine treating sinusitis without the use of vasoconstrictors.

Today, one of the most popular vasoconstrictor drugs on the domestic pharmaceutical market is Xylene nasal drops.

Many people believe that these are the best drops for a runny nose and nasal congestion, but everything is very individual and this particular drug is not suitable for everyone. Consult a specialist before use.

The active ingredient of the drug is xylometazoline. Once on the nasal mucosa, it constricts the blood vessels at the site of exposure, due to which Xylene nasal drops help relieve swelling of the nasal mucosa, reduce the amount of mucous secretions, and also make breathing easier.

The drug solution is available in concentrations of 0.1% and 0.05%, in glass or plastic bottles of 10 ml.

Xylene provides significant breathing relief almost immediately after application, and this effect can last up to 10 hours. If a drug needs to be used more frequently to achieve the desired effect, this may be a sign of incipient dependence on the drug.

Thanks to local use, the active substances included in Xylene drops are practically not adsorbed by blood plasma.

Xylen nasal drops are prescribed in the following cases: in the presence of acute viral and allergic rhinitis, various types of sinusitis (including sinusitis), as well as otitis media (to reduce swelling of the mucous membrane during complex treatment).

If you take the drug correctly, in strict accordance with the recommendations of your doctor, side effects, as a rule, do not occur. Signs of overdose may include irritation and dryness of the nasal mucosa, increased mucus production, as well as headache and problems affecting the cardiovascular system, including tachycardia, arrhythmia and increased blood pressure.

This drug has the following contraindications:

• allergic reactions to individual components of the drug;
• glaucoma;
• atherosclerosis;
• atrophic rhinitis;
• previous operations on the membranes of the brain;
• children under 6 years of age (for children there is a reduced dosage of the drug - 0.05% solution).

Among other things, persons suffering from diseases of the endocrine and cardiovascular systems, as well as prostate hyperplasia, are recommended to consult with a specialist about treatment options with analogue drugs before using the medicine.

The price of Xylen nasal drops is low: it varies from 30 to 50 rubles. The spray costs a little more: from 60 to 70 rubles.

With inflammation of the maxillary sinuses, a runny nose can become truly unbearable and annoying. Due to swelling of the mucous membrane during inflammation, sinusitis becomes more difficult to cure, and its manifestations worsen. The use of Xylene will help get rid of unpleasant symptoms.

Xylene for sinusitis is used according to the following scheme:

• Adults and children over six years of age: 1–2 drops twice a day in each nostril. You should first rinse your nose with salt water. The frequency of appointments can be increased by one if severe symptoms occur.
• Children under six years of age: 0.05% Xylene solution. Otherwise, there are no changes in the admission procedure.

It is highly not recommended to use Xylene for children under two years of age.

In addition to drops, you can also find Xylene nasal spray (several types) on pharmacy shelves.

Vasodilator drops: purposes

The purpose of vasodilator drugs is to normalize the condition of blood vessels in the nasal cavity. This is necessary, since it is the thickness of the capillaries in the mucous membrane that determines how comfortable it will be for a person to breathe through the nose. When the vascular network narrows or expands, a person experiences soft tissue swelling, which leads to blocking air access to the nasal cavity and worsening mucus drainage. Nasal drops help restore normal blood supply to the nasopharynx.

Only an ENT specialist can identify the cause of swelling of the mucous membrane. The main factors that cause rhinitis are:

• Allergy
• Viral or bacterial infection
• Industrial air pollution
• Hormonal disorders in the body, etc.

Most often, vasodilator drops are prescribed in combination with other medications. For example, if a patient's rhinitis is caused by allergens, then the allergist may prescribe antihistamines, corticosteroids and vasoconstrictor drops. And if the cause of a runny nose and nasal congestion is an infection, then the ENT specialist will be able to prescribe decongestants, antibacterial or antiviral agents.

There is no point in self-medicating using only vasodilating drops, because they have rather narrow purposes. They can only bring temporary relief and relief from symptoms. If you ignore the underlying cause of the disease, then the patient may develop very serious complications in the nasal cavity, respiratory organs and even in the brain.

Xylene drops contraindications

Those who regularly use Xylene should be aware of the contraindications for taking it so as not to fall into a risk group. There are strict prohibitions, and there are warnings. It is not recommended to use drops for therapy for the following conditions and pathologies:

• tachycardia;
• hypertension;
• severe atherosclerosis;
• atrophic rhinitis;
• glaucoma;
• history of brain surgery;
• hypersensitivity to xylometazoline.

Strict adherence to the dosage is required for patients with diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, prostatic hyperplasia (benign), and hyperthyroidism. During pregnancy and lactation, the doctor may prescribe the drug, but only in minimal doses and do not drip for more than three days. You may need to stop breastfeeding. For young children, Xylen is prescribed only in the form of a spray; a 0.5% solution is allowed for children over two years old, and 0.1% for those over 6 years old.

When is Xylene indicated and contraindicated?

Let's consider in what cases this drug is prescribed and when it should not be taken. Among the main indications for use are the following:

• acute rhinitis of viral origin;
• runny nose caused by allergies;
• sinusitis of various types (in particular, sinusitis);
• otitis.

Contraindications are:

• atherosclerosis in severe form;
• tachycardia;
• arterial hypertension;
• glaucoma;
• atrophic rhinitis;
• hypersensitivity to the components that make up Xylene;
• taking tricyclic antidepressants.

The drug should be used with caution in people suffering from diabetes.

Side effects

If you use Xylene too often or for longer than recommended by the instructions, this will lead to dryness and irritation of the nasal mucosa, a burning sensation, increased secretion and frequent sneezing. In rare cases, administration of the drug into the nose leads to swelling of the mucous membrane, headaches, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, vomiting, arrhythmia, sleep disturbances, depression or vision problems.

Another side effect of using Xylene is addiction. Some patients, after treatment with this drug and its discontinuation, experience nasal congestion and difficulty breathing through the nose. To eliminate this problem, it is recommended to dilute Xylen with saline and drip the diluted medicine, gradually reducing the concentration of the drug.

Action

The basic task of the drug is to relieve the nose of unpleasant secretions and improve respiratory function. Spray or drops work due to the effect of vasoconstriction. The main active component of the product, xylometazoline, is responsible for this. The substance acts quickly and gives lasting results.

During the procedure, xylometazoline enters the nasal mucosa, after which vasoconstriction begins in the irrigated area. Swelling subsides, discomfort disappears, breathing returns to normal. Nasal drops can be used not only for colds, but also for serious diseases such as sinusitis. Of course, there is no point in talking about a complete cure here, but the patient, in any case, will feel much better.

Instructions for use

Dosage

• After a doctor's prescription, infants and children under 6 years old are instilled with 0.05% Xylene drops in a dose of 1-2 drops in each nostril. The frequency of use of this form of medication is once or twice a day.
• For the treatment of children over 6 years old, use 0.1% medicine in drops in a single dosage of 1-2 drops for each nasal passage. You can bury your nose 2-3 times during the day. Often the medication is prescribed for 3-5 days.
• A nasal spray with a concentration of 0.05% is prescribed to children 2-6 years old (for example, at 4 years old) one spray per day. Sometimes your doctor may prescribe two nebulizations of this medication.
• A spray with a higher concentration (0.1%) is used in children over 6 years of age in a single dose of 1 spray. The frequency of administration of this form of Xylene into the nose is 2-3 times a day.

Cautions

When using Xylene in childhood, it is important to consider the following nuances:

• The child's nasal passages must be cleaned before administering the medication.
• The medicine should not be administered into the nose more than 3 times a day.
• The minimum interval between medications is considered to be 8 hours.
• If a dose is missed, Xylene should be instilled into the nose within an hour after the required time of administration. If more than an hour has passed, the medicine is not administered, and the next time the dose is not doubled.
• The duration of continuous use of the drug should not exceed 5 days.

Overdose

Too high doses of Xylene will cause increased side effects from treatment with such drops. The child may experience headache, tachycardia, and vomiting. Also, exceeding the dose leads to local irritation of the mucous membrane, sneezing, heart rhythm disturbances, insomnia and other negative symptoms.

Interaction with other drugs

The drug cannot be used simultaneously with some antidepressants and MAO inhibitors.

Release form

It is important for moms and dads to know that Xylene for children is somewhat different from the drug for adults. For infants and older children, a product with a lower concentration of active substances has been created.

In pharmacies you can find the following forms of the drug for children:

• Drops in glass or plastic bottles of 10 ml of 0.05% concentration. There is usually a pipette on the cap.
• Nasal sprays 0.05% in bottles of 10 ml.

For adults, the dosage of active ingredients is higher, therefore, when purchasing Xylene for a baby, parents should carefully look at the packaging. Using the wrong concentration in childhood can lead to side effects and drug overdose.

Directions for use and dosage

How to properly use Xylene nasal drops for children? It is important to remember that failure to comply with the dosages and recommendations specified in the instructions for the product can lead to an overdose. . Therefore, parents must follow the rules for using the drug:

Therefore, parents must follow the rules for using the drug:

• Before use, the child should sanitize the nasal cavity, clearing it of mucus.
• Nasal sprays are contraindicated for children under 2 years of age, so mothers are better off purchasing Xylene children's drops.
• The frequency of use should not exceed 2-3 times a day.

Before using the drops, the child is placed on a flat surface.

Indications and contraindications for children

Instructions for use of the children's drug Xylen indicate that it is intended for the symptomatic treatment of nasal congestion in many pathologies. Along with this, the drug has a number of contraindications, knowledge of which is extremely necessary for adequate therapy.

It is worth noting that Xylene nasal spray is contraindicated in children under 2 years of age, but the use of drops at an early age is possible. To prevent the development of serious complications, before using the product, you should consult your pediatrician and carefully study the instructions for use.

Features of the drug

Xylometazoline is the main component of the drug. After contact with the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity, it narrows the blood vessels located there. This results in significantly reduced swelling and redness. How is this noticeable to the patient? Breathing is restored and made easier, and the hated congestion, which prevents you from sleeping at night and from doing everyday activities during the day, goes away.

As for the speed of the effect, these nasal drops already have a therapeutic effect about five minutes after instillation. One of the advantages of the drug is that it retains its effect for ten hours.

I would like to separately note that the drug is not absorbed into the bloodstream, but when using large dosages this is possible. As a result, a systemic effect will be exerted on the entire body as a whole.

Xylene analogues

Many medicines for the common cold have been developed based on xylometazoline. But Xylene is the most accessible of them, although it has contraindications and side effects. Sometimes it is compared to Naphthyzin drops containing the active substance naphazoline. The effect is the same - a vasoconstrictor effect. Drug analogues by mechanism of action include drugs such as:

• Sanorin;
• Nesopin;
• Rhinospray;;
• Nazol;
• Afrin;
• Naphthyzin;
• Oxymetazoline and others.

Buyers are interested in: Xylen or Naphthyzin - which is better? The main feature of the latest drops is that they are allowed to be taken by children up to one year old. The price is practically the same. In terms of cost and pharmacological action (the active ingredients are the same), the drug Xylene is similar to such drugs as:

• Rhinorus;
• Rhinostop;
• Galazolin;
• Asterisk Noz (spray).

Xylene drops are an effective medicine that can quickly ease breathing and clear the nasopharynx

But it is important to always remember that if the dosage and time of use of the product are exceeded, the nasal mucosa is damaged. It is important to listen to the doctor’s recommendations and the instructions for use included with the medicine.