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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2020 Jun 10.
Published in final edited form as: Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2018 Feb;8(2):108–352. doi: 10.1002/alr.22073

TABLE IX.B.3.b.

Evidence for the role of topical intranasal decongestants in the management of allergic rhinitis

Study Year LOE Study design Study groups Clinical endpoint Conclusion
Barnes et al.1330 2005 1b RCT (n = 36):

  1. Nasal xylometazoline;

  2. Nasal mometasone furoate

 nPIF, nasal forced inspiratory volume in 1 second, nasal blockage score Xylometazoline was a stronger nasal decongestant than mometasone furoate.
Watanabe et al.1331 2003 1b RCT (n = 30):

  1. Oxymetazoline TID;

  2. Placebo

 Subjective nasal blockage, nPIF, airway resistance, airway volume No significant nasal blockage or impaired decongestant response to oxymetazoline following 4-week treatment.
Morris et al.72 1997 1b RCT (n = 50):

  1. Daily oxymetazoline;

  2. Intermittent oxymetazoline;

  3. Placebo

 Nasal airway resistance, subjective scaling of nasal patency, clinical examination Evidence of rebound nasal congestion was found following 3 days of both daily and intermittent oxymetazoline treatment.
Yoo et al.83 1997 2b Individual cohort study (n = 10): Daily oxymetazoline Subjective history, physical exam, anterior rhinomanometry All subjects remained responsive to oxymetazoline 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the study began.

LOE = level of evidence; nPIF = nasal peak inspiratory flow; RCT = randomized controlled trial; TID = 3 times daily.