Preventing Tolerance to Oxymetazoline in Allergic Rhinitis

Overview

The investigators wish to evaluate the effects of decongestants like oxymetazoline and the lessening of this effect with time called 'tolerance'. The investigators will demonstrate a reversal of this tolerance with nasal steroids i.e. the investigators will show that nasal steroids protect against tolerance. This will tell us more on how the investigators can make this treatment effective and safe for patients suffering with allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) affects upto 25% of the worldwide population and is associated with asthma, with Scotland having the highest prevalence in the world. Nasal blockage is the main symptom of allergic rhinitis. Nasal blockage affects sleep quality and impairs daytime performance. It is a major cause of sickness absenteeism and has been shown to adversely affect quality of life. The most efficacious class of drugs for nasal blockage in AR are the nasal decongestants (sympathomimetics acting on alpha receptors which unblock the nose). These are available over the counter for routine use by people experiencing nasal blockage. Nasal steroids are the most effective drugs for overall symptoms of allergic rhinitis and are considered first line therapy by recent guidelines. There is widespread belief that prolonged use of decongestant sprays like oxymetazoline can result in a condition of decreased effectiveness called tolerance. It is thought that with time they lose their effectiveness and more and more medication is needed to achieve the same level of decongestion. Also it has been proposed that once stopped, the patient experiences rebound congestion. Long term users of nasal decongestants cannot get off their sprays because of this vicious cycle. These sprays act via stimulating the alpha adrenoreceptors in the nose. It is a poorly understood condition and the mechanism of action is unclear. What is also not clear is the time to onset of tolerance. From studies in the lung we know that tolerance in certain types of adrenoreceptors can be reversed by use of corticosteroids. We have also seen over many years of clinical practice that concomitant use of steroid sprays and decongestants prevents the onset of tolerance and rebound. Anecdotally, patients are often treated with this combination in clinic particularly during a common cold, hayfever season with high pollen counts and acute exacerbations. Therefore, we would like to conduct a proof of concept study to show that a combination nasal spray of decongestant and steroid protects against tolerance. We will also show protection against early rebound congestion. This will enable a new lease of life for allergic rhinitis sufferers, whose quality of life is most affected by nasal blockage and the absence of an effective long term drug strategy for it.

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Locations (2)

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