Do not take antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (one brand: Benadryl), loratadine (one brand: Claritin), or cetirizine (one brand: Zyrtec) for sinus symptoms because they make mucus thicker and harder to drain.
Does Zyrtec thicken mucus?
When they dry out mucus, they can actually thicken it. Newer antihistamines like loratadine (Claritin, Alavert), fexofenadine (Allegra), cetirizine (Zyrtec), levocetirizine (Xyzal), and desloratadine (Clarinex), may be better options and are less likely to cause drowsiness.
Do antihistamines make mucus thicker?
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.
What medications thicken mucus?
Prescription medications.
Mucolytics, such as hypertonic saline (Nebusal) and dornase alfa (Pulmozyme) are mucus thinners that you inhale through a nebulizer. If your excess mucus is triggered by a bacterial infection, your doctor will most likely prescribe antibiotics.
Can allergies cause thick phlegm?
Allergies cause your sinuses to work overtime to produce extra mucus to sweep out allergens. The excess mucus production can lead to sticky, rubbery pieces of mucus collecting toward the back of your throat and inside your nose.
Is Zyrtec good for sinus drainage?
Do not take antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (one brand: Benadryl), loratadine (one brand: Claritin), or cetirizine (one brand: Zyrtec) for sinus symptoms because they make mucus thicker and harder to drain.
Can Zyrtec help with congestion?
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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.
Does blowing your nose make congestion worse?
Feeling stuffy? Blowing your nose could make you feel worse. That’s because you’re building up the pressure in your nostrils. This pressure can cause mucus to shoot up into your sinuses, instead of out of your nose.
Do Antihistamines help mucus?
Antihistamines are commonly used to treat postnasal drip caused by sinusitis and viral infections, but they’re also used in combination with nasal sprays to treat allergies. Antihistamines work by drying out the mucus that causes coughing, sore throats, and other postnasal drip symptoms.
What naturally kills mucus?
6 foods to eliminate excess mucus as suggested by Luke Coutinho
- Ginger. Ginger can be used as a natural decongestant and antihistamine. …
- Cayenne pepper. Excessive cough and mucus can be eliminated with the help of cayenne pepper. …
- Garlic. …
- Pineapple.
What helps thin mucus?
You can try products like guaifenesin (Mucinex) that thin mucus so it won’t sit in the back of your throat or your chest. This type of medication is called an expectorant, which means it helps you to expel mucus by thinning and loosening it.
What is the best antihistamine for sinus drainage?
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.
What is white phlegm a sign of?
Allergies, asthma and often viral infections cause white phlegm or phlegm without a lot of color to it.
What’s the difference between mucus and phlegm?
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Mucus and phlegm are similar, yet different: Mucus is a thinner secretion from your nose and sinuses. Phlegm is thicker and is made by your throat and lungs.
What color is allergy mucus?
Rajani said a runny nose and mucus is typically clear in allergy sufferers. Yellow or green-colored mucus likely points to a viral condition, such as the flu.