What is "oxymetazoline"

n. A selective alpha-1 agonist and partial alpha-2 agonist topical decongestant, developed from xylometazoline.

Oxymetazoline is a selective α adrenergic receptor agonist and α adrenergic receptor partial agonist. It is a topical decongestant, used in the form of oxymetazoline hydrochloride in products such as Afrin, Dristan, Nasivin, Nezeril, Nostrilla, Logicin, Vicks Sinex, Visine L.R., Sudafed OM, Zicam, SinuFrin and Mucinex Sinus-Max. It was developed from xylometazoline at E. Merck Darmstadt by Fruhstorfer in 1961. Oxymetazoline is generally available as a nasal spray.