Question

A patient comes to the clinic with symptoms of sinus fullness and sinus inflammation. what group of upper respiratory drugs causes local vasoconstriction therefore decreasing blood flow and shrinking swollen membranes to improve air flow?

a. antitussives
b. decongestants
c. expectorants
d. mycolytics

Answer 1

Decongestants are the drugs that cause vasoconstriction to improve airflow by shrinking the swollen membranes in the upper respiratory tract, and phenylephrine is a typical example.

Step-by-step explanation:

The group of upper respiratory drugs that cause local vasoconstriction, therefore decreasing blood flow and shrinking swollen membranes to improve airflow, are decongestants. An example of such a drug is phenylephrine, which is a common component in these medications. Phenylephrine is an α₁-adrenergic agonist, meaning it stimulates a response that leads to the constriction of blood vessels in the nasal passages, thus alleviating the symptoms of sinus fullness and inflammation.