Abstract
A prospective analysis was performed on healthy volunteers to determine whether pretreatment with the vasoconstrictor, oxymetazoline, could decrease the blood concentration of cocaine topically applied to the nasal mucosa. Blood pressure, pulse, continuous ECG recordings, and participant responses also were monitored as an indicator of systemic effects. Anesthesia was roughly assessed using a sterile 22-gauge needle touched to the anterior aspect of the inferior turbinate. Blood samples drawn at predetermined intervals were analyzed for cocaine using gas chromatography. Pretreatment with oxymetazoline significantly reduced the rate and extent of the increase in blood cocaine levels and resulted in a statistically significant lower systolic blood pressure and pulse rate. There was no significant difference in topical anesthesia between the two groups. Pretreatment with oxymetazoline before application of nasal cocaine thus appears to be beneficial.