Oral decongestants do not cause rebound congestion but are not as effective as topical formulations. Agents that combine an oral decongestant, usually pseudoephedrine, with an antihistamine are frequently used for the treatment of acute and chronic rhinitis due to a variety of causes.
Do antihistamines make congestion worse?
Forceful blowing can irritate the nasal passages and propel bacteria-laden mucus back up into your sinuses. Avoid antihistamines unless prescribed. Antihistamines make mucus thick and hard to drain. Be careful with decongestants.
What drugs cause rebound congestion?
Rhinitis medicamentosa (RM), also known as rebound rhinitis, is a condition characterized by nasal congestion that is triggered by the overuse of topical vasoconstrictive medications, most notably intranasal decongestants; recreational use of intranasal cocaine may also cause a similar condition.
Can antihistamines cause sinus problems?
Antihistamines and decongestants may dry out the mucous membranes in your nose and sinuses and slow the movement of the cilia (the tiny hairs that line the nose, sinuses, and the air passages inside the lungs and that remove irritants). This can make mucus thicker, adding to drainage problems.
How do I stop rebound congestion?
Rebound congestion treatment
“One can use a nasal steroid (such as Flonase) to help limit the symptoms while the body recovers. In severe cases, an oral steroid can be prescribed, which may help.” Dr. Gels adds that saline spray might help to reduce the inflammation.
Is it safe to take antihistamine and decongestant together?
If your nose and sinuses are stuffed up, a decongestant may help. You can use it alone or combine it with an antihistamine. Remember, though, it can increase your heart rate and may cause anxiety or make it hard to fall asleep. If you have a runny nose or sneezing, try an antihistamine.
Do antihistamines help with nasal congestion?
While antihistamines can’t block every allergy symptom, they’re particularly effective at preventing nasal congestion and helping some of those uncomfortable symptoms ebb away.
How long does rebound congestion last?
And if you continue to use your nasal spray, this congestion can last for weeks or even months. There isn’t a test to formally diagnose rebound congestion. But if rhinitis medicamentosa is to blame, your symptoms should improve after you stop using the medication.
Is rebound congestion permanent?
The swelling of the nasal passages caused by rebound congestion may eventually result in permanent turbinate hypertrophy, which may block nasal breathing until surgically removed.
How long does it take rhinitis Medicamentosa to go away?
Periods for recovery were as follows: 3 days in 19 cases (61.3%) and 1 week in 25 cases (80.6%). Duration of drug use did not correlate with the period required for recovery; therefore, these results suggest that patients with long-term drug use are able to improve quickly.
Do Antihistamines dry out your sinuses?
Antihistamines and decongestants
Over-the-counter and prescription medications formulated to dry out excess mucus also tend to dry out the nasal passages and sinus tissues. Antihistamines and decongestants are the medications that most commonly cause this problem.
Which antihistamine is best for nasal congestion?
Antihistamines
- Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
- Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)
- Clemastine (Tavist)
- Desloratadine (Clarinex)
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- Fexofenadine (Allegra)
- Loratadine (Claritin)
What will dry up sinuses?
“Decongestants dry up the mucus that collects in the back of the throat as a result of the infection. Expectorants melt the mucus.” Look for over-the-counter decongestants that contain pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine, such as Sudafed.
How should I sleep with nasal congestion?
To sleep with a stuffy nose, you should be propped up on your back with a pillow to help the mucus drain out. You should avoid sleeping on your side, since it may make one or both nostrils even more congested.
Why can’t you use nasal spray for more than 3 days?
Decongestant nasal sprays (DNSs) provide immediate relief by shrinking swollen blood vessels in your nasal passages. This reduces the inflammation and helps you breathe easier. DNSs are supposed to be used for a maximum of three days. If you use them longer than that, they can cause rebound congestion.
How does rebound congestion occur?
Rebound congestion is a constant nasal stuffiness (congestion) that develops from the overuse of nasal sprays (or drops or gels) that contain a decongestant medicine. This type of congestion occurs even when a person is not experiencing allergies or other cold-like symptoms.