Name
NAFAZOLINA PENSA 1 mg/ml nasal spray, solution
Naphazoline nitrate
What is it and what is it for?
NAFAZOLINA PENSA nasal spray contains the active ingredient Nafazoline which belongs to a group of medicines called decongestants and acts as a vasoconstrictor at the level of the venous vessels of the nasal mucosa, i.e. reducing the size of the blood vessels in the nose.
NAFAZOLINA PENSA nasal spray is indicated to clear the nose (nasal decongestant) when you have:
• acute inflammation of the inner wall of the nose and throat with catarrh (acute catarrhal rhinitis and pharyngitis);
• inflammation of the inner lining of the nose due to allergies (allergic rhinitis);
• acute inflammation of the internal parts (mucous membranes) of the cavities located in the bones of the skull near the nasal passages (acute sinusitis).
Talk to your doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse after a few days of treatment.
What you need to know before taking the medicine
Do not use NAFAZOLINA PENSA nasal spray
- if you are allergic to the active substance or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6);
- if you suffer from serious heart disease and your blood pressure is very high (severe arterial hypertension);
- if you have a disease caused by high pressure inside the eye (glaucoma);
- if you suffer from excessive activity of a gland called the thyroid (hyperthyroidism);
- if you are taking medicines used to treat depression or have stopped using them less than two weeks ago (see "Other medicines and NAFAZOLINA PENSA nasal spray");
- if it is for a child under 12 years old.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using NAFAZOLINA PENSA nasal spray:
- if he is elderly;
- if you have an enlarged gland called the prostate (prostatic hypertrophy) as there may be a risk of your urine being retained in your bladder (urinary retention);
- if you have heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) diseases, especially if you have high blood pressure, the use of the medicine will be evaluated from time to time by your doctor;
- if you are pregnant or breastfeeding (see "Pregnancy and breastfeeding").
Continued use of medications used to clear a stuffy nose can disrupt the normal function of the nasal lining (mucosa) and the adjacent bony cavities (sinuses) and can also lead to habituation (addiction) to the medication, which may no longer be effective. Long-term use can be harmful.
The use of topical medications, especially if prolonged, may cause allergic reactions (sensitization). In this case, discontinue treatment and, if necessary, consult your doctor for appropriate therapy.
Stop taking the medicine and consult your doctor immediately if you experience a sudden onset of severe headache.
Children and adolescents
NAFAZOLINA PENSA nasal spray is contraindicated in children under 12 years of age.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The medicine may cause a worsening of the sensation of nasal blockage, irritation and swelling of the blood vessels in the inner lining of the nose (rebound sensitization and congestion of the mucous membranes).
The rapid absorption of the medicine through the inflamed internal walls of the nose (mucous membranes) can cause effects that involve the whole organism (systemic):
- increased blood pressure (arterial hypertension);
- slowing of the heart rate (reflex bradycardia);
- heachache;
- urinary problems.
Reporting of side effects
If you experience any side effects, including any not listed in this leaflet, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system at: https://www.aifa.gov.it/content/segnalazionireazioni-avverse .
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.