Many people suffer from allergies and other ailments that cause nasal congestion. There is a wide range of medicine for congestion these symptoms, both over the counter and by prescription. Dependent on the severity of the symptoms, a store-bought medicine is usually enough to provide relief for common congestion symptoms. Different people may experience side effects with certain decongestants including dizziness, nervousness, drowsiness or even restlessness. For seasonal allergy sufferers, finding an effective decongestant that does not cause drowsiness or nervousness can be difficult as symptoms and causes can vary from season to season. For some patients, trial and error is the only method that has helped them to find the correct medicines for their needs. Read on to learn more about medicinal treatments for congestion.
Over the counter remedies that effectively treat congestion include Claritin, Sudafed and Advil Cold and Sinus. If over the counter remedies do not work, a doctor can prescribe a stronger treatment such as Entex LA, Nasacort, and Clarinex. Prescriptions are often the same formulations as OTC drugs but in a higher dosage.
Medicine for congestion is effective but does come with some side effects such as dizziness, dry mouth, and insomnia. These effects are typically mild and the advantages of the treatment are believed to be worth the temporary discomfort.
Congestion occurs when the blood vessels in the membranes of the air passages and nose. Congestion can travel down to the chest, and make it difficult to breathe without discomfort. Decongestants help to relieve this swelling which in turn lessens the pressure on the sinuses.
Many people do find temporary relief from cold symptoms by using a decongestant. These medicines decrease the swelling in the nasal membranes that congestion, whether the membranes are affected by allergies or a cold virus, the resulting sinus pressure is the same.
Congestion associated with a cold or allergies is a temporary condition that eases within a week or so and responds well to decongestants and other medicines. If congestion lasts longer than 7 to 10 days and is accompanied by a fever of 101.5 or higher a doctor should be consulted.
The majority of sinus and congestion ailments are caused by allergies and colds. There are some steps to take to avoid catching a cold like washing hands regularly and getting an annual flu shot. Eating a nutritious diet and getting regular exercise are also helpful.
There are several ways to ease the discomfort of congestion such as using a humidifier, drinking a lot of hot and steamy beverages, and using a saline spray to prevent the nasal passages from drying out. A warm compress on the nasal region can also help to reduce the pain of swelling.
Some congestion medicines combine decongestants with antihistamines in order to offset the side effects of each, nervousness and drowsiness, respectively. Actifed and Isoclor are two combination remedies that are effective treatments for congestion.