What is the difference between a decongestant and antihistamine?

If you have nasal or sinus congestion, then a decongestant can be helpful. If you have drainage — either a runny nose or postnasal drip or itchy, watery eyes — then an antihistamine may be helpful. Over-the-counter antihistamines often make people drowsy; decongestants can make people hyper or keep them awake.

Is Sudafed a decongestant or an antihistamine?

Sudafed is also used to relieve nasal congestion due to the common cold. Benadryl and Sudafed belong to different drug classes. Benadryl is an antihistamine and Sudafed is a decongestant. Benadryl and Sudafed are available in generic form and over-the-counter (OTC).

Can you take a decongestant with an antihistamine?

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.

What does a decongestant do?

Decongestants are a type of medicine that can provide short-term relief for a blocked or stuffy nose (nasal congestion). They can help ease the symptoms of conditions such as colds and flu, hay fever and other allergic reactions, catarrh and sinusitis.

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What is the best decongestant and antihistamine?

Antihistamine/Decongestant Combos

  • pseudoephedrine/loratadine.
  • R-Tannate.
  • Respahist-II.
  • Semprex-D.
  • Sudafed Sinus and Allergy.
  • Triplex AD Liquid.
  • Vazotab Chewable.
  • Zyrtec D.

Is it bad to take a decongestant everyday?

Is it safe to take for a long time? Decongestants should only be used for a short time, usually less than 10 days. If you take them for longer, you’re more likely to get side effects. Only take pseudoephedrine for longer than 10 days if a doctor has said it’s OK.

What is the best decongestant for sinuses?

Decongestants . These medicines help reduce the swelling in your nasal passages and ease the stuffiness and sinus pressure. They come as nasal sprays, like naphazoline (Privine), oxymetazoline (Afrin, Dristan, Nostrilla, Vicks Sinus Nasal Spray), or phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine, Sinex, Rhinall).

Should I use a decongestant or antihistamine?

If you have nasal or sinus congestion, then a decongestant can be helpful. If you have drainage — either a runny nose or postnasal drip or itchy, watery eyes — then an antihistamine may be helpful. Over-the-counter antihistamines often make people drowsy; decongestants can make people hyper or keep them awake.

What is the best antihistamine for sinus congestion?

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.

Is it better to take a decongestant or not?

Pressure worries aside, decongestants — while they help relieve symptoms — should be used with caution. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it’s generally not a good idea to take oral or nasal decongestants of any type for a long period of time.

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What is the most powerful decongestant?

  • Best Overall: GoodSense Nasal Decongestant. …
  • Best Natural: Vicks Cool Mist Humidifier. …
  • Best Spray: Flonase Allergy Relief Nasal Spray. …
  • Best for Colds: Mucinex Sinus-Max Liquid. …
  • Best for Sinus Infections: Sudafed PE Pressure + Pain + Relief. …
  • Best Neti Pot: ComfyPot Ergonomic Ceramic Neti Pot.

Do Antihistamines dry up mucus?

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 is a natural decongestant?

9 Ways to Naturally Clear Up Your Congestion

  • Humidifier.
  • Steam.
  • Saline spray.
  • Neti pot.
  • Compress.
  • Herbs and spices.
  • Elevated head.
  • Essential oils.

What is the most effective antihistamine?

If your allergies only appear sporadically – say when pollen count is high or you have that random encounter with your friend’s cat – fast-acting antihistamines will be your best bet. These include medications like Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Claritin (loratidine), Allegra (fexofenadine), and Zyrtec (cetirizine).7 мая 2018 г.

How can I permanently cure sinusitis?

Treatments for chronic sinusitis include:

  1. Nasal corticosteroids. …
  2. Saline nasal irrigation, with nasal sprays or solutions, reduces drainage and rinses away irritants and allergies.
  3. Oral or injected corticosteroids. …
  4. Aspirin desensitization treatment, if you have reactions to aspirin that cause sinusitis.

Do Antihistamines help 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.

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