Oral norephedrine in the treatment of acute otitis media. Results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

One hundred patients with acute otitis media were treated with oral norephedrine or with placebo for one to two weeks. Symptom cards, otoscopy and tympanometry were used for evaluation of the results. There were no differences between the two groups with regard to acute symptoms or healing of the disease. It is concluded that oral decongestants are of no value in the management of acute otitis media.