Comparison of Nasal Airway Patency Changes after Treatment with Oxymetazoline and Pseudoephedrine

Oxymetazoline (Afrin) and pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) were compared by rhinomanometric measurements using nasal airflow, a parameter of nasal airway patency, and therefore airway congestion. Oxymetazoline had a more rapid onset and duration of action, greater improvement in airway patency, and longer action than pseudoephedrine, the best of the oral decongestants. The decongestive effect was more reliable for oxymetazoline with 28 of 29 subjects experiencing some degree of decongestion compared to 21 of 30 for pseudoephedrine. Utilizing a combination of oral and topical decongestants may result in the most logical regimen for treatment of nasal congestion. Oxymetazoline is the drug of choice for night time decongestion.