Decongestants
Decongestants are drugs that help reduce nasal congestion. They are available in a pill or nasal form. However, decongestants will not cure sinusitis. Nasal decongestants can actually worsen sinusitis by increasing sinus inflammation. Due to the lack of evidence for nasal decongestants’ benefits for sinusitis, the FDA has ruled that manufacturers of over-the-counter (OTC) nasal decongestant products remove from their labeling all references to sinusitis.
Your doctor may still recommend that you take either an OTC or prescription nasal decongestant to help relieve blockage symptoms associated with sinusitis. If you think you have sinusitis, it is important that you check with your doctor before taking a decongestant. Do not try to treat sinusitis by yourself.
Nasal Decongestants. Nasal decongestants come in long-acting or short-acting forms. The effects of short-acting decongestants last about 4 hours; long-acting decongestants last 6 to 12 hours. The active ingredients in nasal decongestants include oxymetazoline, xylometazoline, and phenylephrine.
Tips for Use. The following precautions are important for people taking nasal decongestants:
- When using a nasal spray, spray each nostril once. Wait a minute to allow absorption into the mucosal tissues, and then spray again.
- Do not share droppers and inhalators with other people.
- Discard sprayers, inhalators, or other decongestant delivery devices when the medication is no longer needed. Over time, these devices can become reservoirs for bacteria.
- Discard the medicine if it becomes cloudy or unclear.
Decongestants Taken by Mouth. Pseudoephedrine is the only decongestant taken by mouth that is currently available over-the-counter (OTC) in the United States. It decreases the volume of mucous in the nose, as well as within the Eustachian tubes. Many brands of OTC oral decongestants are available. A common brand is Sudafed. Oral decongestants such as Sudafed can also be helpful for relieving cough associated with postnasal drip.
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