Side‐effects of peroral mucous membrane decongesting agents have been described in recent years while at the same time documentation of the efficiency of these preparations is sparse. The prescription of the agents is very frequent. This article reviews the literature on the use of oral sympathomimetic agents for the treatment of diseases in the upper respiratory passages. The survey was initially instituted by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare to consider the indications for the prescription of these drugs. The article concludes with some suggested indications for these preparation