Cold Air-Induced Rhinorrhea and High-Dose Ipratropium

A high dose of the cholinoceptor antagonist ipratropium bromide, in the form of a nasal spray, was tested on cold air- and hot soup-induced rhinorrhea in order to determine to what extent these types of rhinorrhea are reflex-mediated hypersecretions from nasal glands. Fourteen normal volunteers were examined in a placebo-controlled study. A single dose of ipratropium bromide (400 micrograms) caused a 73% reduction of cold air-induced rhinorrhea and a 66% reduction of hot soup-induced rhinorrhea. It is concluded that a major part of the nasal discharge induced by these stimuli is reflex-mediated, and consequently may be treated by a cholinoceptor antagonist, such as ipratropium.