Medical term:
decongestant
decongestant
[de″kon-jes´tant]1. tending to reduce congestion or swelling, usually of the nasal membranes. Called also decongestive.
2. an agent that has this effect; it may be inhaled, taken as spray or nose drops, or used orally in liquid or tablet form. Nasal decongestants act by reducing swelling of the membranes and thus opening up the nasal passages. Among the leading ones are epinephrine, ephedrine, and phenylephrine. antihistamines may also be effective either alone or in combination with decongestants. A decongestant must be used several times a day to be helpful; but excessive use may cause headaches, dizziness, or other disorders and sometimes the medicine itself may cause reactive nasal swelling.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
de·con·ges·tant
(dē'kon-jes'tant),1. Synonym(s): decongestive
2. An agent that possesses this action.
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
decongestant
(dē′kən-jĕs′tənt)n.
A medication or treatment that decreases congestion, as of the sinuses.
adj.
Capable of relieving congestion.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
decongestant
Pharmacology An agent that ↓ swelling or congestion–eg, nasal decongestants–eg pseudoephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, which constrict blood vessels, ↓ blood flow to nasal mucosa and sinuses and ↓ mucosal edema Adverse effects Insomnia, irritability; HTN, renal failure, arrhythmias, psychosis, strokes, seizures, rebound effect; used with caution in Pts with HTN, heart disease, seizure disorders, or hyperthyroidism, or in those receiving MAOIs. See Nasal decongestant, Rebound effect, Rhinitis medicamentosa, Steam decongestant.McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
de·con·ges·tant
(dē-kŏn-jes'tănt)1. Having the property of reducing congestion.
2. An agent that reduces congestion.
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012
decongestant
A drug or treatment that reduces the blood flow through, and swelling of, mucous membranes, especially those lining the nose and sinuses.Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005
Decongestant
Medicines that shrink blood vessels and consequently mucus membranes. Pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, and phenylpropanolamine are the most common.
Mentioned in: Nasal Polyps
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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