Problems associated with the irrational use of nafazoline present in nasal descongestants

Abstract

Nasal decongestants are drugs of adrenergic stimulating action on the nasal blood vessels, whose vasoconstrictive action results in the relief of local congestion. Therefore,

they have been widely indicated for the symptomatic treatment of allergies and the inflammatory process responsible for the turgiding of nasal shells. In Brazil, these drugs are for free use, in general, by self-medication and without the necessary pharmaceutical guidance at the time of dispensing. The IV Brazilian Consensus on Rinitis suggests that these drugs should not be used for more than 7 consecutive days, due to the occurrence of adverse reactions, the risk of developing dependence and the worsening of congestion related to rebound drug rinitis. The present work was developed through an online questionnaire of objective questions applied to 91 volunteers over 18 years of age using nasal decongestants. The data were statistically analyzed (t-test, Wilcoxon, p < 0.05) for the study of the correlation between the time of use of the drug and the potential for the development of tolerance and compulsion to use. The statistical analysis showed significance between the time of continuous use of nafazoline, the need to adjust for above dosage (p < 0.0129) and the difficulty of interrupting the use of the drug (p < 0.007), consistent with previous reports of risk of tolerance development and its compulsive use. Nafazoline has a narrow therapeutic window, which allows an even higher risk of intoxication by abusive doses. Associations of nafazoline with other medications such as pathomimetics and antidepressants can cause serious problems of potentiating its effect and endanger the user's life. The pharmacist plays a very important role in providing information about possible health problems resulting from their indiscriminate use, being in the act of dispensing and in the follow-up of the patient.