EFFECT OF XYLOMETAZOLINE AND ANTAZOLINE ON CILIARY BEAT FREQUENCY

The ciliotoxic effects of xylometazoline and antazoline were evaluated using cilia from the rat trachea. It is shown that both drugs exert dose-dependent ciliotoxic effects. A factorial experiment showed that the two drugs moderated each other's ciliotoxicity at concentrations of 0.05% for xylometazoline hydrochloride and 0.0007% for antazoline nitrate. No interaction was observed at higher concentrations up to 0.1% xylometazoline hydrochloride and 0.007% antazoline nitrate. The data suggest that the co-formulation of an H-1 antihistamine and an alpha-1 vasoconstrictor may indeed reduce their ciliotoxicity.