The effectiveness of drugs used for vasoconstriction of the nasal mucous membrane

Using changes in nasal temperature to reflect changes in nasal blood flow, an assessment has been made of the efficacy of various nasal vasoconstrictive drugs. The drugs tested were 10 per cent and 5 per cent cocaine, 1 1,000 epinephrine, and naphazoline hydrochloride 0.05 per cent (Privine), with normal saline solution as a control. The drugs were found to be effective in producing nasal vasoconstriction if applied following induction of anesthesia rather than prior to induction, as usually recommended. Epinephrine 1 1,000 and 10 per cent cocaine were found to be the most efficacious drugs in producing vasoconstriction of nasal mucous membrane. Naphazoline hydrochloride 0.05 per cent was comparable to 5 per cent cocaine in producing vasoconstriction of the nasal mucosa.