Contralateral effects of unilateral nasal decongestion

Abstract

The effect of topical nasal decongestants or placebo in one nasal cavity was studied by means of rhinomanometry in 61 subjects with nasal congestion. Active substance induced a decongestion on the treated side, while placebo did not. On the contralateral side, congestion was found after active substance ipsilaterally. However, it was shown that the contralateral effect was not dependent on the ipsilateral treatment, indicating that the nasal mucosa is not controlled by the state of the contralateral side.