Xylometazoline is a sympathomimetic agent with marked alphaadrenergic activity, and is intended for use in the nose. It constricts the nasal blood vessels, thereby decongesting the mucosa of the nose and neighboring regions of the pharynx. This enables patients suffering from colds to breathe more easily through the nose. The effect of Xylometazoline begins within a few minutes and persists for several hours. Xylometazoline is generally well tolerated and does not impair the function of ciliated epithelium. Systemic absorption may occur following nasal application of Xylometazoline.