Types of Common Side Effects

• The most common side effects of oxymetazoline are burning, dryness and stinging in your nose, increased nasal discharge and sneezing, according to the Mayo Clinic.
  
  

Time Frame

• The side effects of oxymetazoline are usually temporary and gradually diminish as your body becomes accustomed to the drug, reports Drugs.com.
  
  

Warning

• Despite the fact that it is available without a prescription, oxymetazoline is dangerous if taken more often than every 12 hours or at a dosage higher than recommended. Symptoms of an overdose of oxymetazoline include blurred vision, irregular heartbeat, drowsiness, hypertension, nervousness, trembling and weakness.
  
  

Risks

• Some patients develop serious allergic reactions to oxymetazoline, causing hives, difficulty breathing and swelling of the lips, face and extremities. Oxymetazoline also poses a slight risk for seizures or hallucinations.
  
  

Considerations

• Children are at a greater risk for side effects from oxymetazoline than other patients. If you have a history of type 2 diabetes, an enlarged prostate, glaucoma, heart disease, hypertension or hyperthyroidism, it may not be safe for you to take oxymetazoline, according to the Mayo Clinic.