DECONGESTANT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does decongestant mean? 

• DECONGESTANT (noun)
  The noun DECONGESTANT has 1 sense:

1. a drug that decreases pulmonary congestion

  Familiarity information: DECONGESTANT used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DECONGESTANT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A drug that decreases pulmonary congestion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("decongestant" is a kind of...):

medicament; medication; medicinal drug; medicine ((medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decongestant"):

nasal decongestant (a decongestant that provides temporary relief of nasal symptoms of the common cold and rhinitis and upper respiratory infections)

 Context examples 

A combination preparation containing guaifenesin and the indirect-acting sympathicomimetic agent pseudoephedrine with expectorant and decongestant activities, respectively.

(Guaifenesin/Pseudoephedrine, NCI Thesaurus)

Medications such as decongestants may also help.

(Barotrauma, NIH)

A combination preparation containing phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine and guaifenesin with decongestant and expectorant activities.

(Phenylephrine/Phenylpropanolamine/Guaifenesin, NCI Thesaurus)

It has also been promoted as a decongestant, a weight loss aid, and as a supplement to increase energy.

(Ephedra, NCI Dictionary)

An oral combination preparation containing the antihistamine loratidine and the indirect-acting sympathicomimetic agent pseudoephedrine, with anti-allergic and decongestant activities.

(Loratadine/Pseudoephedrine, NCI Thesaurus)

A commercial combination preparation containing guaifenesin and phenylephrine hydrochloride with expectorant and decongestant activities.

(Entex, NCI Thesaurus)

Phenylephrine hydrochloride, a sympathomimetic agent, acts as a decongestant by inducing blood vessels constriction mediated via alpha-adrenergic receptors, thereby reducing blood flow and decreasing swelling which prevents nasal and sinus congestion.

(DuraVent DA, NCI Thesaurus)

Phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride is a decongestant that causes constriction of blood vessels mediated through its alpha-adrenergic signaling, thereby reducing blood flow and improving nasal air flow.

(Dimetapp, NCI Thesaurus)

There are lots of different cold and cough medicines, and they do different things.: • Nasal decongestants - unclog a stuffy nose • Cough suppressants - quiet a cough • Expectorants - loosen mucus so you can cough it up • Antihistamines - stop runny noses and sneezing • Pain relievers - ease fever, headaches, and minor aches and pains

(Cold and Cough Medicines, Food and Drug Administration)

Synthetic compounds or mixtures that usually contain a combination of any of the following agents depending on the symptoms that need to be treated: an antitussive, a decongestant, an antihistamine, an analgesic antipyretic, an expectorant and/or an anticholinergic agent.

(Cough and Cold Preparation, NCI Thesaurus)