Otrivin - Pleasure of Breathing

Its generic name is xylometazoline nasal and used as decongestant. It is available in the form of drops and sprays.

 

Xylometazoline nasal is used to treat congestion associated with allergies, hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis), sinus irritation, and the common cold. It works by constricting (shrinking) blood vessels (veins and arteries) in the nasal tissues. Thus decreases congestion.

 

Its normal dose recommended is two to three times a day (every 8 to 10 hours). Do not exceed this dose. Too much of this could be harmful. If you are suffering from acute rhinitis, than the duration of relaxation may even come down to 3 to 4 hrs and stuffy nose or difficulty breathing continues. Consult ENT specialist immediately for further treatment.

 

If symptoms continue for more than 3 days, stop using this medication and contact your doctor. Excessive or prolonged use of this medication may cause damage to the nasal tissue and lead to chronic congestion.

 

Tell your doctor about your diseases and medicines you are taking, before using this medication. Tell your doctor about any treatment taken in the last few days for nasal problems to avoid serious side effects. Common side effects include some sneezing or nasal burning, stinging, dryness, or irritation. These side effects are usually mild and temporary. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, closing of the throat, swelling of the lips, tongue, face or hives), seizures, unusual behavior or hallucinations or an irregular or fast heartbeat.

 

In case of overdose seek emergency medical attention for symptoms of extreme tiredness, sweating, dizziness, a slow heartbeat, and coma.

 

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

 

It should not be used during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Seniors should use this medication with caution, and should not exceed the recommended dose.

 

Rhinitis

 

Rhinitis (runny nose), has many possible causes. Rhinitis can be either acute or chronic. It is caused by chronic or acute inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose due to viruses, bacteria or irritants. The inflammation results in the generating of excessive amounts of mucus, commonly producing runny nose, nasal congestion and post-nasal drip. In post-nasal drip, Mucous accumulated in the back of the nose and throat leading to or giving the sensation of mucus dripping downward from the back of the nose. Rhinitis has also been found to affect throat, and eyes.

 

 

There are three types of rhinitis: allergic, nonallergic, and infective.

 

1.   Allergic rhinitis: It is caused by allergies. It is an inflammation of the nasal passages, usually associated with watery nasal discharge, nasal congestion and itching of the nose and eyes. Allergic rhinitis includes seasonal, perennial (all year round), and occupational (may arise from exposure to irritants at a person's workplace with improvement of symptoms after the person leaves the workplace).

 

2.   Nonallergic rhinitis:  In nonallergic rhinitis, the symptoms are similar to those of allergic rhinitis, but there's no allergic reaction involved. A diagnosis of nonallergic rhinitis is made after an allergy cause is ruled out. This may require allergy skin or blood tests. Nonallergic rhinitis includes eosinophils (type of white blood cell), autonomic, hormonal, drug-induced, atrophic (atrophy of the mucosa and bony turbinate leading to a loss of surface area. The humidification action of the nasal lining is lost and the nasal secretions become dry and crusted), and gustatory (may presents predominantly as runny nose related to consumption of hot or spicy food).

 

3.   Infective rhinitis: It includes acute and chronic bacterial infections. There may be complications of acute sinusitis.

 

The management of rhinitis is mainly medical along with preventive measures like most effective way to decrease allergic symptoms is to completely avoid the allergen. Treatment for seasonal rhinitis is only needed during the appropriate time of the year. Current treatments include: Antihistamine pills and sprays, Leukotriene antagonists (important mediators of allergy symptoms and of inflammation), Nasal corticosteroid sprays (for non-allergic rhinitis - which reduce and control the impact of many of the mediators that can cause inflammation in the nose), Decongestant pills or sprays, Allergen immunotherapy (also known as “allergy shots” may be considered if your symptoms persist. This treatment involves receiving injections periodically—as determined by your allergist/immunologist - over a period of three to five years), Saline irrigation of sinus cavities through the use of a neti pot or by other means. A nasal spray called ipratropium can be used to reduce runny nose. Nasal obstruction in perennial rhinitis may be treated by surgery. Predisposing factors, especially smoking, need to be looked at carefully.

 

The information contained herein is intended just to give primary information. Check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for details.

Counterfeit Medicines

This advertisement, published in India, emphasizes the need of buying genuine medicines.

Definition of counterfeit medicine by the World Health Organization (WHO):

"А counterfeit medicine is one which is deliberately and fraudulently mislabeled with respect to identity and/or source. Counterfeiting can apply to both branded and generic products and counterfeit products may include products with the correct ingredients or with the wrong ingredients, without active ingredients, with insufficient active ingredients or with fake packaging."

 

A generic drug (generic drugs, short: generics) is a drug which is produced and distributed without patent protection. The generic drug may still have a patent on the formulation but not on the active ingredient.

 

For more information on generics, Please visit:

http://www.egagenerics.com/FAQ-generics.htm

http://www.fda.gov/cder/ogd

http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/generics_q&a.htm

 

Counterfeiting occurs worldwide and are said to be more prevalent in some developing countries with weak regulatory regimes. It is sometimes estimated that upwards of 10% of drugs worldwide are counterfeit, and in some countries more than 50% of the drug supply is made up of counterfeit drugs.

 

Counterfeiting is difficult to detect, investigate, and quantify. Following links are available on http://www.fda.gov

http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/counterfeit_text.htm to be more aware of ways to identify the risk of counterfeit medicine and to minimize the chance of receiving fake products, in United States.

http://www.fda.gov

http://www.fda.gov

http://www.fda.gov

 

• “Counterfeit Medicines - Filled With Empty Promises; You can avoid counterfeit medicine by purchasing only from U.S. state-licensed pharmacies.”  
• "Reporting Unlawful Sales of Medical Products on the Internet."    
• "Radiofrequency Identification Technology: Protecting the Drug Supply."  
• “Protecting consumers from counterfeit drugs.” 

 

For more information about counterfeit medicines, please visit the FDA page, “Combating Counterfeit Drugs” at:www.fda.gov/counterfeit.

      If you buy medicines over the Internet:

• Check to see if a pharmacy is licensed, is in good standing, and is located in your own country. This will also help to prevent your sensitive information to get stolen away.
• Examine closely for original packaging. Talk to your pharmacist, if you find any difference in colour, texture, taste and shape of your medicine.
• You should also be wary of sellers who advertise very aggressively or who do not require a doctor's prescription for prescription medicines.
• If you are in United States, check to see if an Internet pharmacy site has the VIPPS Seal (More about, VIPPS, please  go to www.vipps.info. ), the seal of the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites Accreditation Program. This program was established by the NABP to help protect you and guide you through Internet pharmacy shopping. Legitimate pharmacies that carry the VIPPS Seal are listed at http://www.nabp.net/vipps/consumer/listall.asp.

   

In UK, a large number of purchases of medicines and medical devices are made over the Internet.  The manufacturers of these products are unlikely to conform to European standards of safety and effectiveness. Moreover, it is also difficult to trace the source of these products. And, people being cheated with counterfeit or substandard products. One of the problems is that there may be no legal or judicial recourse in the event of problem. The MHRA E&I Group is responsible for the UK Anti-counterfeiting Strategy which was launched in November 2007. You can report a counterfeit medicine or device at counterfeit@mhra.gsi.gov.uk  by e-mail.

According to WHO’s definition, drugs/ medicines are substandard- if they are products whose composition and ingredients do not meet the correct scientific specifications and which are consequently ineffective and often dangerous to the patient. Substandard products may occur as a result of negligence, human error, insufficient human and financial resources or counterfeiting.

For related information, go to:

http://www.who.int/