sinus decongestant?

[mousesweetie]

Depends on whats causing it, but I use benedryl, extra strength tylenol, and mucinex D. I also drink caffiene drinks, like Dr. Pepper or Mt. Dew. Usually works for me. The caffiene is for if you get a sinus headache with it. I'd rather drink a soda, then take like excedrine.

 

[MomToOne]

I had increasing problems with my sinuses over several years. It got to the point where I hadn't been able to breath through my nose for months. My co-worker took to calling me "Darth Vadar" because of the awful sounds I made...

As everyone has said, there are various things to try:
1. Sudafed, or other over-the-counter sinus medications. Combining with Ibuprofin will help reduce swelling even more.
2. Antihistimines - will help only if your congestion/inflamation is allergy-related. I take Zyrtec daily, but different antihistimines work for different people. If I could handle the drowsiness, good ole Bendryl is amazing and one of the most effective on the market. I still resort to it when I have a bad allergy attack.
3. Neti Pot, or other sinus rinse systems - I tried this, but my sinuses were so inflamed I couldn't get the water to flow. But my doctor finally started to take my complaints seriously when I told her I had tried using a Neti Pot for weeks but just couldn't make it work. I think Doctors realize you are truly desperate and aren't just complaining about a minor problem when you voluntarily try a Neti Pot!
4. Nasal steroid prescription medications - Flonase is the most wonderful drug ever. Within 4 days of starting it, I was breathing again. I use it once a day now, and haven't had a problem since. There are several other drugs in this same class (Nasonex, etc) each with their own pros/cons - you and your doctor may need to play around to see which one works best for you.

Also, it is possible (although not common) to have a sinus infection that doesn't cause a whole lot of other symptoms. In this case, antibiotics are needed. My doctor put me on a round to see if that was the cause of my problems, but they didn't do a thing, so we went onto the Flonase.

So try #1, 2 and 3. If the problem doesn't clear up with those, go see your doctor.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

ib profin. seriously. the troubles isn't nessesaryily the mucus, it is the inflamed passages, which ib profin will help. get well soon.

We always try ibp, steam, and a little sinus massage (like a previous poster suggested). I have had my kids to the doc for sinus issues many many times and they always push the ibp and steam....not decongestants or antihistamines (unless there are allergies). I took DD9 to a chiro for quite some time and he could always get those sinuses drained. I try, but am not nearly as effective! As for the steam... as many showers as possible (bend down and touch toes while in there) and run a humidifier at night.

I've heard the neti pots are great, too.

Or, maybe it's time to see the doc.

 

[Kae]

Afrin for 5 days & try not to blow your nose.

Kae

 

[sdbbcampbell]

The only and I mean only over the counter help I get is from Aleve cold and sinus. You usually have to get it from behind the pharmacy counter, even though it is not prescription. My DH and I swear by it. I suffer very bad from sinus pain, pressure and congestion, but this WORKS...really!! Only take 1 every 12 hours. Good Luck

 

[thebeesknees]

I finally tried a neti pot this year after resisting it for a long time, and it works really well. It does feel like you are drowning in a pool the first time you do it, but after you know what to expect, it isn't so bad. Do I enjoy it? NO! But, it works very well for me. I've been using it twice a day, and for the first time in months, I am able to breathe through my nose. I am prone to sinus infections, and when I mentioned it to my doctor, she told me that it would definitely help to keep things clear up there if I used it regularly. I have not had a sinus infection since I started using it, and I usually get one a month during this time of year.

Have you checked with an allergist? My son gets horrible congestion, and we finally took him to an allergist. The allergist had us try a number of different things over the course of 6 months until we hit on the combination of Rx and over-the-counter drugs that work best for him. It was quite a bit of trial-and-error, but he feels SO much better and can actually go out and play in the summer like the rest of the kids now, instead of being stuck inside from his allergies.