Antihistamines dry up the mucus in your body. While this helps relieve congestion, it also dries up the layer of mucus that protects your vocal cords. If your vocal cords are dry they can stiffen or inflame, which can make your voice raspy.
What drugs can cause hoarseness?
Medications from the following groups can adversely affect the voice:
- Antidepressants.
- Muscle relaxants.
- Diuretics.
- Antihypertensives (blood pressure medication)
- Antihistamines (allergy medications)
- Anticholinergics (asthma medications)
- High-dose Vitamin C (greater than five grams per day)
What helps a hoarse voice from allergies?
Home Remedies: Helping a hoarse voice
- Breathe moist air. …
- Rest your voice as much as possible. …
- Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration (avoid alcohol and caffeine).
- Moisten your throat. …
- Stop drinking alcohol and smoking, and avoid exposure to smoke. …
- Avoid clearing your throat. …
- Avoid decongestants. …
- Avoid whispering.
Are antihistamines good for laryngitis?
Prevailing data do not support the use of antihistamines and corticosteroids. If a patient uses these medications, he or she may have the false impression that the laryngitis is resolving and may continue to use his or her voice, leading to further insult. The drying effect of these medicines may also be deleterious.
Can sinus drainage cause you to lose your voice?
When the vocal cords become inflamed or infected, they swell. This can cause hoarseness. The most common cause of hoarseness is a cold or sinus infection, which most often goes away on its own within 2 weeks. A rare but serious cause of hoarseness that does not go away in a few weeks is cancer of the voice box.
What is a hoarse voice a sign of?
Hoarseness or a change in your voice
One of the most common causes is acute laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx). This usually happens due to a cold, a chest infection or over use of the voice, such as shouting or screaming. Smoking can also cause hoarseness because it irritates the throat lining (mucous membranes).
What illness causes hoarse voice?
Hoarseness can be caused by a number of conditions. The most common cause of hoarseness is acute laryngitis (inflammation of the vocal cords) caused most often by an upper respiratory tract infection (usually viral), and less commonly from overuse or misuse of the voice (such as from yelling or singing).
Can you get a hoarse voice from allergies?
Allergies can affect your voice in several ways, and yes, they can even cause you to lose your voice. First, allergens themselves can irritate and enflame the vocal cords, which can cause hoarseness. Second, the congestion from a stuffed nose or postnasal drip can make it difficult to breathe easily.
When should I worry about hoarseness?
Usually, the problem goes away after several days with self-care and by resting your voice. However, hoarseness can be more than a temporary nuisance. I recommend that anyone experiencing hoarseness who hasn’t gotten better after two weeks should see a doctor.
Can allergies affect your voice?
Allergies can also take a toll on your voice in several ways: An allergic reaction can cause your vocal cords to swell. Post-nasal drip — when mucus moves from your nose into your throat — can irritate your vocal cords. Coughing and clearing your throat can strain your vocal cords.
What is the fastest way to cure laryngitis?
This article will discuss ways a person can get their voice back more quickly and when to see a doctor.
- Rest the voice. When a person has laryngitis, it is essential that they rest their voice. …
- Avoid irritants. …
- Drink plenty of fluids. …
- Over-the-counter medications. …
- Use a humidifier. …
- Use steam. …
- Gargle salt water. …
- Ginger.
Will Benadryl help laryngitis?
Symptoms can be controlled by giving allergy medicines. Use either a short-acting (Benadryl) or long-acting (Zyrtec). Since pollen allergies recur each year, learn to control the symptoms.
What is the best antibiotic for laryngitis?
In the first trial, penicillin V (800 mg) or placebo was given twice daily for five days to 100 adults with laryngitis. Symptoms reported by the patients and a blinded assessment of voice quality were recorded for up to six months.
Why is my voice hoarse for months?
Causes of chronic laryngitis. Laryngeal symptoms such as cough, sore throat and hoarse voice are frequently caused by prolonged irritation of the larynx and vocal cords. If laryngitis persists for weeks or months, this can result in vocal cord strain and injuries and growths or polyps developing on the vocal cords.
How long can hoarseness last?
There are many causes of hoarseness; fortunately, most are not serious and tend to go away in a short period of time. If hoarseness persists longer than two weeks, a visit to your physician is recommended.
How do you get rid of sinus drainage in your throat?
Other methods you can try include:
- Take a medication such as guaifenesin (Mucinex).
- Use saline nasal sprays or irrigation , like a neti pot, to flush mucus, bacteria, allergens, and other irritating things out of the sinuses.
- Turn on a vaporizer or humidifier to increase the moisture in the air.