title: [Clinical review of 33 cases of rhinitis medicamentosa by decongestant nasal spray].
abstract: Long-term use of decongestant nasal spray (alpha adrenergic agonist) causes nasal congestion by rhinitis medicamentosa.
  
  
  METHODS
  We clinically reviewed the cases of 33 patients of rhinitis medicamentosa (23 men, 10 women; mean age, 44.4±15.6 years) treated with nasal steroid sprays instead of decongestant nasal sprays in our clinic from October, 2011 to December, 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Periods of drug use were generally long. Only 7 cases had a duration of use less than 1 year, and about half (48.5%) had a duration of use longer than 2 years. Causes of use included acute inflammation (n=6), chronic rhinosinusitis (n=2), and allergic rhinitis (n=20) and unknown cause (n=5). About two-third of the patients failed to answer questions concerning their use of decongestant nasal spray in a questionnaire prior to examination; therefore, careful observation was necessary. Among the 33 cases, 31 were followed up, all of whom showed improvement and stopped using decongestant nasal spays within 4 weeks. Periods for recovery were as follows: 3 days in 19 cases (61.3%) and 1 week in 25 cases (80.6%). Duration of drug use did not correlate with the period required for recovery; therefore, these results suggest that patients with long-term drug use are able to improve quickly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rhinitis medicamentosa with nasal congestion appears readily reversible with suitable treatment.
authors.affiliation: Yuta Clinic.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yuta
authors.affiliation: Yuta Clinic.
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogawa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D057915:Drug Substitution; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate; D014663:Nasal Decongestants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D059085:Nasal Sprays; D011244:Pregnadienediols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000730:Androstadienes; D014663:Nasal Decongestants; D059085:Nasal Sprays; D011244:Pregnadienediols; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate; D000068298:Fluticasone