Oxymetazoline is a medication that is used in nasal sprays sprayed into nostrils and topical preparations applied to skin. Oxymetazoline has been used to treat nasal congestion, eye inflammation, and skin redness. Oxymetazoline works by constricting blood vessels makes the blood vessels smaller. Oxymetazoline can be found in prescription products and in many over the counter products. Studies have not been done in women to see if oxymetazoline could make it harder to get pregnant.
I just found out that I am pregnant. Should I stop taking oxymetazoline? Miscarriage can occur in any pregnancy. Studies have not been done to see if oxymetazoline increases the chance for a miscarriage.
Does taking oxymetazoline in the first trimester increase the chance of birth defects? This is called her background risk. A small number of studies on oxymetazoline use have not found that oxymetazoline increases the chance of birth defects. Could taking oxymetazoline in the second or third trimester cause other pregnancy complications? Oxymetazoline did not affect uterine blood flow in 12 pregnancies when the healthy mother was given a one-time nasal spray dose.
Does taking oxymetazoline in pregnancy cause long-term problems in behavior or learning for the baby? Oxymetazoline has not been well studied for use while breastfeeding. Most decongestants do not contain enough medication to cause problems with baby, especially if used for short periods.
Nasal spray decongestants are even safer, since the medication is almost entirely absorbed within the nose and does not travel through the body. As a general rule, physicians advise patients that if they can buy it without visiting the pharmacy counter, short term use will not harm the baby during pregnancy.
Category B drugs have been shown through animal testing to not harm an unborn baby when the mother takes the medication during pregnancy. If a runny nose is more of a problem than a congested one, antihistamines such as Diphenhydramine, Loratadine or Cetirizine are all safe to take during pregnancy. However, there are also other health considerations when starting a new medication. As with any new medication, patients should discuss possible side-effects with their health care provider prior to taking it.
Some decongestants, especially ones that contain pseudoephedrine, can cause elevations in blood pressure, so patients with chronic or pregnancy-induced high blood pressure should stay away from those medications. Photo credit: iStock. Featured video. Stuffy nose during pregnancy.
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