You're Using Nasal Spray Too Much The main chemical in nasal spray can cause your sinus infection to get worse! If you have had a sinus infection for over a week and are still using nasal decongestant spray, call our Southfield ENT specialists immediately to make an appointment.
Along the same lines as OTC options, antihistamine medications, such as Sudafed, Claritin, Zyrtec or Benadryl, can also offer sinus infection symptom relief. While these medications specifically target allergy symptoms, sinus infection symptoms can be similar, making antihistamines worth a try.
As for the varieties of oxymetazoline or phenylephrin that are taken orally, such as Sudafed, Dr. Ahmed says there's little risk of rebound congestion. "Rebound congestion seems to be limited to nasal decongestant sprays that deliver the active ingredients locally," says Dr.
Decongestant nasal sprays and drops should not be used for more than a week at a time because using them for too long can make your stuffiness worse. Speak to a GP if your symptoms do not improve after this time.
Take this medicine only as directed. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer period of time than recommended on the label (usually 7 days), unless otherwise directed by your doctor. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.
Pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine both narrow blood vessels in your nose and sinuses, opening up your airways and allowing the sinuses to drain. This helps clear your nose and allows you to breathe better.
Pseudoephedrine can interact with medications that affect the brain. These include tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), some types of headache medications, and caffeine. It's best to avoid interactions with pseudoephedrine. If needed, your healthcare provider can help suggest safer alternatives.
Don't drink alcohol: You shouldn't consume alcohol with a sinus infection. Alcohol dehydrates the body and can cause your nose and nasal cavities to swell when dehydrate, in turn exacerbating your symptoms.
The bacteria confine themselves in stubborn “biofilms,” making it difficult for your immune system or antibiotics to find and attack them. An overlap of additional factors such as smoking, environmental pollutants, and deviated septum, further complicate the picture of chronic sinusitis.
A chronic sinus infection, sometimes called chronic sinusitis, some can last for 12 weeks or longer. They can be caused by fungal infections or untreated bacterial infections, the constant infection and inflammation of chronic sinusitis won't go away on its own.
If you have any of the following health problems, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this product: diabetes, a certain eye condition (glaucoma), heart problems (such as heart attack, chest pain, heart failure), fast/irregular heart beat, high blood pressure, kidney disease, overactive thyroid ( ...
Sudafed is an OTC medication that helps relieve nasal and sinus congestion. It's a stimulant, so you may have headaches, anxiety, or trouble sleeping while you're taking it. You may also notice changes in your blood pressure or blood glucose. Generally, side effects will go away after you stop taking Sudafed.
Is your nightly routine sabotaging your sleep? Here's what to avoid before hitting the sheets. A stuffy nose keeps sleep at bay, but so does pseudoephedrine, the main ingredient in many OTC decongestants (it's been known to cause insomnia).
Sinusitis may require a call to your doctor.
Although many sinus infections go away on their own, you may need to see a doctor if: You have severe symptoms from the beginning. You start to get better but then feel worse again. Have symptoms that last more than 10 days.
Acute sinusitis symptoms may last a week to 10 days and often go away without medical treatment. Home care and over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants help ease acute sinusitis symptoms.
The sinus infection lasts for about 2 to 4 weeks. Many cases often go away on their own within ten days. Other times, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if the cause of your sinusitis is bacterial.
Allergens and pollutants in the air - like dust, outdoor air pollution, and strong odors like perfume - may contribute to coughing, irritate your nose, and cause inflammation that can increase your risk of sinusitis, according to Dr. Bains.
Sinus infections can be viral or bacterial. “Either way, it's best to stay home,” Wigmore says. Viral sinus infections are often contagious. If you have had symptoms longer than one week, or if you have severe facial pain, teeth/jaw pain, or fever, you may have a bacterial infection and should consult your doctor.
Avoid laying flat — If you sleep completely flat, blood will pool in your sinuses and increase pressure, causing headaches. Use extra pillows — The higher you keep your head, the better. Grab a few extra pillows to keep your head above your heart, allowing your sinuses to drain.
Our SUDAFED® Mucus Relief Triple Action Cold and Flu tablets help alleviate the symptoms of cold and flu by loosening phlegm and chest mucus, easing nasal passage swelling to reduce that congested feeling as well as relieving pain.
Ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine combination is used to relieve symptoms of cold or flu, including body aches and pains, fever, headache, or stuffy nose.
Taking pseudoephedrine with painkillers
Some cough and cold remedies contain pseudoephedrine mixed with painkillers. If you are taking a cough or cold remedy, check the label before taking any painkillers as it may already contain aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen or codeine. Taking both may cause you to have too much.