FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF OXYMETAZOLINE AS NASAL DECONGESTANT

Nasal drug delivery systems offer rapid onset of action, improved patient compliance, and localized therapeutic effects, making them suitable for the treatment of nasal congestion. Oxymetazoline hydrochloride, a selective α-adrenergic receptor agonist, is widely used as a topical nasal decongestant due to its potent vasoconstrictive action on nasal mucosa. The present study aimed to formulate and evaluate oxymetazoline hydrochloride nasal spray using different concentrations of propylene glycol as a solubilizing agent. Five formulations (F1–F5) were prepared and evaluated for physicochemical properties, drug content, viscosity, spray characteristics, droplet size distribution, sterility, and irritancy. The formulations exhibited acceptable pH values (6.9–7.4), uniform drug content, clarity, and non-irritant behavior. Among all formulations, F5 showed optimum viscosity, highest drug content (98.45%), appropriate droplet size distribution, and stability. The results indicate that oxymetazoline hydrochloride can be effectively formulated as a stable, safe, and efficient nasal decongestant, with formulation F5 identified as the optimized batch.