Nasal spray - medicines of symptomatic (decongestant, emollient, anti-inflammatory) action for intranasal administration. Most aerosol formulations work by injecting a fluid that is suspended in the nose into the nose. Unlike nasal drops, the aerosol covers almost the entire surface of the mucous membrane in the nasal passages, which provides a more pronounced therapeutic effect.
Nasal sprays are used to treat congestion, rhinitis of various etiologies (microbial, viral, allergic) and sinusitis. Symptomatic medications are available without a prescription, but misuse can lead to serious complications, such as rhinitis and nosebleeds. From today's publication you will learn about the types of nasal sprays, their mechanisms of action, their effectiveness and the best preparations Nasal spray for adults and pregnant women.
How nasal sprays work
Aerosols or nasal sprays are special forms of medication designed to spray a medicinal suspension in the nasal passages. The vials and vials of nasal products are equipped with special hand pumps, with the help of which the liquid is converted into the smallest solid particles. It is not necessary to lie down to put the medicine into the nose. The medicinal suspension is evacuated from the nozzle under pressure, which makes it possible to use the spray almost anywhere - at work, in transport, on the street, etc.
When using nasal preparations, the aerosol irrigates more than 95% of the mucous membrane of the nasal passages and maxillary sinuses. It is for this reason that they are used in the treatment of rhinitis and sinusitis. The vials are designed in such a way that drug overdose is practically zero. As practice shows, accurately measuring 3-4 drops of the drug is much more difficult than simply pressing the spray several times.
Nasal sprays are not recommended for use in children under 3 years of age.
It should be noted right away that only adults and children over 3 years old can use the sprays. The fact is that the auditory tube in babies is quite short and wide, so during the injection of the medicine, the infection can easily penetrate through the Eustachian tube into the auditory analyzer. Moreover, small children do not know how to hold their breath, so a deep breath when spraying the medicine can provoke laryngospasm in them.
Types of nasal medications
What nasal medications can be used for congestion and severe rhinitis? There are many intranasal sprays available and they all belong to different pharmacological groups. Some medicines are used in the treatment of viral, others - allergic, still others - bacterial rhinitis, etc. For rhinorrhea (severe rhinitis) of various etiologies, the following types of aerosols can be used:
- vasoconstrictor - reduce capillary permeability and relieve puffiness;
- antiseptic - disinfect the mucous membrane in the nasal passages and prevent the development of mycoses;
- antihistamines - eliminate allergic manifestations of hay fever and rhinitis;
- antimicrobial - destroy the microbial flora in the airways of the nose;
- antiviral - inhibit the activity of virions in the nasopharynx and strengthen the immune system;
- hormonal - relieve inflammation and swelling, accelerate the recovery of the nasal mucosa.
The duration of action of aerosols depends not only on the concentration of active substances, but also on the basis on which they are made. Depending on the base of the medicinal solution, all sprays for the treatment of rhinitis are divided into 3 categories:
- water - most aerosol products are water-based, since they are instantly absorbed into soft tissues;
- oil - preparations of prolonged action, which contain vegetable oils; they are slowly absorbed, but last longer than water-based products;
- colloidal - water-based aerosols with an astringent effect, absorbed relatively quickly, but less oil solutions act.
In the process of treating rhinitis, otolaryngologists do not recommend using more than two agents for intranasal administration, since an excess of active substances can provoke mucosal irritation and even greater obstruction (obstruction) of the airways.
Oil sprays are in great demand, as they contribute not only to the elimination of puffiness, but also to soften the mucous membrane. Preparations with menthol quickly facilitate breathing and help to destroy microbial and fungal agents in the nasopharynx.
The best drugs
With a runny nose, many people limit themselves to using decongestants, which quickly eliminate congestion, but do not treat mucous membranes. To speed up recovery, before using medications, you need to accurately find out the cause of rhinorrhea. With acute respiratory viral infections and colds, nasal discharge occurs due to the development of the viral flora. To relieve symptoms and restore nasal breathing, it is recommended to use antiviral, vasoconstrictor and immunostimulating aerosols. For bacterial and purulent inflammation of the nasopharynx, antibiotics are used, and for allergies - antihistamines.
Vasoconstrictor aerosols
For nasal congestion of any origin, it is recommended to use vasoconstrictor agents (anti-congestants). Their components stimulate vasoconstriction in the nose, thereby reducing swelling and facilitating breathing. Anticongestants are widely used to treat allergic, viral, physiological, neurovegetative (vasomotor) and bacterial rhinitis.
The best vasoconstrictor drugs include:
- Rinorus;
- "For the Noses";
- Knoxprey;
- "Nazol spray";
- "Nesopin".
Inappropriate use of decongestants leads to dehydration of the mucous membrane, nosebleeds and drug-induced rhinitis.
Few people know that any effective vasoconstrictor drug contains xylometazoline, naphazoline, tramazoline, oxymetazoline, etc. These substances are addictive, so decongestants can be used for no more than 7 days in a row. An overdose of drugs is fraught with the development of vascular dystonia and, as a result, even greater swelling of the nasal passages.
Antiviral aerosols
What spray can I use for colds and flu? SARS are provoked by adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, influenza virus, etc. To prevent their development and reduce the production of nasal mucus, it is recommended to use an antiviral aerosol. It contains components that stimulate local immunity, relieve inflammation and thus facilitate nasal breathing.
For the treatment of rhinorrhea of viral origin, the following nasal agents are used:
- Ergoferon;
- Interferon;
- "Grippferon";
- "Nazoferon";
- Ingaron.
Antiviral drugs have an immunostimulating effect, since most of them include immunoglobulins. In particular, interferon prevents the penetration of pathogenic agents into tissues, which prevents their further reproduction. It should be understood that immunoglobulins are protein substances that can cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, in case of deterioration of health and even more stuffing of the nose, it is recommended to stop using antiviral drugs.
Plant based aerosols
Plant-based nasal products are the best sprays for rhinitis that do not contain synthetic ingredients. 
They have pronounced decongestant, wound healing, softening and antiseptic properties. Most often, herbal medicines are made with menthol, peppermint oil, mountain pine, and eucalyptus:
- "Pinosol";
- "Cameton";
- Evamenol;
- "Pinovit";
- "Mentoclar".
The herbal spray can be used to treat non-allergic rhinorrhea and rhinopharyngitis.
Many medicines containing herbal extracts are highly allergenic. Therefore, they are usually not used to treat allergic rhinitis and preschool children.
Antiallergic aerosols
The appearance of a large amount of clear liquid from the nose may be associated with the development of hay fever or allergic rhinitis. To relieve rhinorrhea symptoms, decongestants and saline solutions are usually used to flush the nasal passages. Currently, there are special antiallergic drugs that prevent the production of inflammatory mediators in the nasopharynx - these are antihistamine aerosols:
Sanorin-Anallergin;- "Allergodil";
- Nazaval;
- "Prevalin";
- "Histimet".
Sanorin-Anallergin;"Nazaval" or "Prevalin" is the best spray for rhinitis, which does not reduce the severity of allergies, but prevents the penetration of irritating agents into the nasal mucosa. Barrier medications can be used to prevent allergic rhinitis during flowering of wind-pollinated trees and plants.
Hormonal aerosols
Nasal spray, which contains steroid hormones, has pronounced anti-inflammatory properties. It is used to treat advanced allergic rhinitis. With severe swelling of the mucous membrane in the nose, an obstruction of the anastomosis occurs, with the help of which the paranasal sinuses communicate with the nasopharynx. Obstruction of the airways is fraught with stagnation of mucus in the maxillary and frontal sinuses and, as a result, the development of sinusitis.
To prevent complications and alleviate the course of allergies, the following hormonal agents are used:
- "Aldecin";
- Fliksonase;
- "Nazonex";
- Avamis.
It is impossible to use glucocorticosteroid sprays to treat fungal and bacterial rhinitis.
It is possible to spray hormonal spray into the nose with the development of perennial allergic or chronic rhinitis. It is dangerous to use nasal corticosteroids to treat infectious rhinorrhea. The fact is that an overdose of drugs can provoke a decrease in immunity. And this will create conditions for the reproduction of opportunistic fungal microorganisms in the nose, which can cause the development of mycosis and candidiasis.
Antibacterial aerosols
Antimicrobial nasal medications are the best nasal remedies for a runny nose of bacterial origin. Their components inhibit the development of microbes in the nasopharynx, due to which the number of pathogens in the ENT organs is greatly reduced. Antibacterial aerosols can be used to treat protracted rhinitis, bacterial nasopharyngitis, purulent sinusitis, etc.
To eliminate the symptoms of bacterial inflammation in the nasopharynx in adults, the following are used:
- "Bactroban";
- "Isofra";
- Bioparox.
Fusafungin is additionally a part of "Bioparox". The peptide antibiotic has an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect, therefore it is often used in the treatment of nasal diseases accompanied by severe obstruction of the nasal passages.
Nasal sprays for pregnant women
Rhinitis and nasal congestion is a problem that many women face during pregnancy. A similar situation can become a real problem for the expectant mother, since more than 70% of nasal preparations cannot be used during gestation. Many of them contain substances that are absorbed into the systemic circulation and easily overcome the placental barrier. Synthetic components can negatively affect the development of the fetus and provoke abnormalities.
If before pregnancy a woman splashed decongestants into her nose at the first manifestations of rhinorrhea, then during gestation, most of them are strongly discouraged. Some of the safest and most effective nasal sprays for pregnant women include:
- moisturizing - "Fiziodora", "Dolphin", "Morenazal";
- homeopathic - "Aflubin", "Rinitol", "Euphorbium Compositum";
- oil - "Pinosol", "Sinusan", "Vitaon";
- vasoconstrictor - "Nazivin", "Nazol Baby", "Otrivin".
The use of vasoconstrictor drugs during pregnancy should be agreed with the attending physician.
The use of vasoconstrictor drugs during pregnancy should be agreed with the attending physician.A preparation based on sea water is the best spray that can be used by pregnant women without restrictions. It does not contain synthetic substances and components that would have a systemic effect on the body. With the help of moisturizing aerosols, you can reduce the viscosity of nasal secretions and speed up the process of their evacuation from the nasopharynx.
Spray rules
How to use nasal sprays correctly? It should be understood that the drug suspension is injected into the nasal cavity under pressure. If mucus flows from the nose, when using the drug, some of the infected exudate can penetrate into the paranasal sinuses and cause inflammation in them. To prevent complications and increase the effectiveness of the procedure, several rules must be taken into account when using sprays:
- pre-clean the nasal passages from the accumulated secretion;
- shake the solution before injecting the aerosol;
- insert the spray nozzle into the nasal passage, while pinching the second nostril with your index finger;
- take a shallow breath at the time of spraying the medicine;
- press the nostril against the nasal septum immediately after the aerosol is injected to prevent sneezing;
- treat the second nasal canal in the same way.
To prevent the growth of bacteria on the surface of the bottle, rinse it with warm water after each procedure.
Intranasal aerosols are more effective than drops. But in order to achieve the desired effect, you need to select drugs in accordance with the cause of the development of rhinitis and the characteristics of the course of the disease. With the irrational use of vasoconstrictor and antibacterial agents, complications may occur in the form of a medicinal rhinitis, mycosis and nosebleeds.
Conclusion
A nasal spray is the most convenient type of drug for intranasal use. During the injection of the aerosol, most of the nasal mucosa is irrigated, thereby increasing the effectiveness of local treatment. For the treatment of infectious and allergic rhinitis, adults are advised to use sprays of antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, decongestant and antihistamine action. Most medicines are available over the counter without a prescription, but before buying a nasal spray, you need to find out exactly what is causing the rhinorrhea.
During pregnancy, most aerosols cannot be used, as they can negatively affect the intrauterine development of the fetus. Severe restrictions are imposed on the use of vasoconstrictor and hormonal agents, an overdose of which can lead to systemic effects. The safest nasal sprays for pregnant women include homeopathic, oil and seawater moisturizers.
