Uses
Oxymetazoline is used to treat ongoing facial redness caused by rosacea (a skin disease that causes redness and pimples on the face). Oxymetazoline is in a class of medications called alpha-adrenoceptor agonists. It works by narrowing the blood vessels in the skin.
Side Effects Of Oxymetazoline
Oxymetazoline may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- inflammation of the skin
- itching
- worsening redness
- pain
- worsening of pimples
Oxymetazoline may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.
Warnings & Precautions
Before using oxymetazoline:
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to oxymetazoline, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in oxymetazoline cream. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: alpha-blockers such as alfuzosin (Uroxatral), doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), silodosin (Rapaflo), tamsulosin (Flomax), and terazosin (Hytrin); beta-blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), betaxolol (Betoptic S), labetalol (Normodyne), levobunolol (Betagan), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), and timolol (Betimol, Timoptic); digoxin (Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin); and other medications for high blood pressure. Also, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking the following medications or have stopped taking them within the past two weeks: isocarboxazid (Marplan), linezolid (Zyvox), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had high or low blood pressure, Raynaud’s disease (problems with blood flow to the fingers, toes, ears, and nose), glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye that may lead to vision loss), problems with blood circulation, a stroke or ministroke, Sjogren’s syndrome (a condition that affects the immune system and causes dryness of certain parts of the body such as the eyes and mouth), scleroderma (a condition in which extra tissue grows on the skin and some organs), thromboangiitis obliterans (inflammation of the blood vessels in the arms and legs), or heart disease.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while using oxymetazoline, call your doctor.
Dosage Of Oxymetazoline
Oxymetazoline comes as a cream to apply to the skin on your face. It is usually used once a day. Use oxymetazoline at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use oxymetazoline exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Oxymetazoline cream is only for use on the skin of your face (forehead, nose, cheek, and chin). Do not use it in your eyes, mouth, or vagina. Do not apply it to irritated skin or open wounds.
Oxymetazoline cream comes in a tube or pumps bottle with instructions for use. Read these instructions and follow them carefully. Apply a pea-sized amount of the cream in a thin layer to the affected skin. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about how to use oxymetazoline cream.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient.
Other
Keep all appointments with your doctor.
Do not let anyone else use your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Source
All information has been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.
