Background: Many over-the-counter medications are available to treat common cold nasal symptoms, but patients may be unsure which one to use.
Methods: This review assesses two widely used intranasal treatments for nasal congestion and rhinorrhea in the common cold: xylometazoline hydrochloride and ipratropium bromide.
Results: Xylometazoline quickly and effectively relieves nasal congestion, while ipratropium is effective at reducing rhinorrhea. When used in combination, a novel approach to treatment, nasal congestion and rhinorrhea are treated simultaneously, providing effective relief from two of the most troublesome symptoms of the common cold Both drugs are well tolerated, with only mild to moderate, nasal-related side effects.
Conclusions: The efficacy and safety of the combination product suggest that it should be used first-line in the symptomatic relief of nasal congestion and rhinorrhea, before the use of oral treatments.