The Use of Ophthalmic and Nasal Naphazoline in the Outpatient Setting

Aim: The present study aimed to describe the use of ophthalmic and nasal naphazoline in the outpatient setting.

Methodology: This was a retrospective study that includes reviewing the electronic prescriptions of naphazoline among outpatients in a public hospital in Alkharj.

Results: During the study period of 6 months, 393 patients received naphazoline. Most of them were male patients (77.35%) and the age of 34.35% of them was between 20 and 29 years. The majority of the prsecriptions that contained naphazoline were prescribed by residents (99.75%). Most of the patients received naphazoline as nasal drops either alone (47.84%) or combined with chlorpheniramine (36.13%). The majority of the prescriptions were written by the emergency department (99.24%).

Conclusion: The present study showed that naphazoline was commonly prescribed in Alkharj. Further studies are needed to explore the frequency and pattern of naphazoline use as well as to explore the frequency of prescribing other sympathomimetic vasoconstrictors in different settings.