General Medical Information

Intranasal Anticholinergics

Shawn D. Newlands

Intranasal anticholinergic agents are poorly absorbed systemically. They are useful in the management of rhinorrhea caused by increased cholinergic activity. This drug is particularly useful in the management of parasympathetically mediated rhinitis, such as gustatory rhinitis and vasomotor rhinitis. Because part of the allergic reaction is cholinergically mediated, this drug also is useful to control rhinorrhea in allergic rhinitis. The use of ipratropium bromide is contraindicated in the care of patients who have narrow-angle glaucoma or who are taking another anticholinergic agent, as in therapy for prostatic hypertrophy or bladder neck obstruction.