Xylometazoline (Nasal)

Brand name(s): Nasal Dro

Before Using This Medicine

If you are using this medicine without a prescription, carefully read and follow any precautions on the label. For xylometazoline, the following should be considered:

Allergies-Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to xylometazoline or to any of the other nasal decongestants. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy-Studies on effects of nasal xylometazoline in pregnancy have not been done in humans.

Breast-feeding-It is not known whether xylometazoline passes into breast milk. However, this medicine has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children-Children may be especially sensitive to the effects of xylometazoline. This may increase the chance of side effects during treatment, especially sedation.

Older adults-Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of xylometazoline in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines-Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other medical problems-The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of xylometazoline. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes)-Xylometazoline may worsen circulatory problems

• Enlarged prostate-Urination difficulty may worsen due to constrictive effects of xylometazoline

• Glaucoma-Xylometazoline may worsen the circulatory problems

• Heart or blood vessel disease or
• High blood pressure-Xylometazoline may make the condition worse

• Overactive thyroid

Last Revised: 11/06/2003