This entity is called a rhinitis medicamentosa , which basically means it is a medicine-induced condition from overuse of an over-the-counter medication. Patients often go weeks to months or even years before they realize that they have developed a chemical addiction to over-the-counter oxymetazoline. Often they think that they have a cold that has not gone away for months. The only one way to overcome this dependence, much like any other addiction, is to stop the medicine once and for all.
Understandably, the first couple of days will be very tough as most patients will have a rebound congestion that is beyond anything they can handle.
It will take a lot of determination not to be tempted to once again use the over-the-counter medication. Most ENT doctors prescribe various different oral decongestants along with steroids and even antibiotics in appropriate settings.
If the patient is able to successfully go through the first couple of days of rebound, they will experience significant relief from their nasal congestion issues after two days. Once the initial chemical dependence on the over-the-counter medication is addressed, additional anatomical factors may be investigated that could lead to recurrent congestion or blockage issues.
Some of these are due to allergies, deviation of the septum, or other various anatomical abnormalities. These may need to be independently addressed as well, but only after cessation of use of oxymetazoline. Keep medicines in a cool, dry place. This helps prevent them from becoming less effective before their expiration dates. These locations are often hot and humid. Like any medicine, decongestants can sometimes cause side effects.
They can temporarily cause nervousness, dizziness, and sleeping problems. They can cause heart palpitations feeling like your heart is racing or higher blood pressure.
If decongestants make you feel restless or make it difficult for you to sleep, you may want to avoid taking them at bedtime. It also may help to cut back on caffeine. Or you may need to discontinue the medicine. Talk to your doctor about any questions. Taking decongestants can raise your blood pressure even if it is controlled or nearly normal. You may need to look for an alternative to decongestants. Instead, there are other ways you can treat their symptoms:. Decongestants can interact with many other medicines you take.
If you take any of the medicines listed below, talk to your doctor before taking a decongestant:. Decongestants are often combined with antihistamines or pain relievers.
For safest practice, try to avoid combination products that treat many symptoms at once. This will help you avoid taking too much of any 1 ingredient. There are other treatments that are safer to use. Last Updated: March 19, This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.
In allergic rhinitis, the immune cells trigger the same type of response in the nose, sinuses and throat. Pseudoephedrine constricts blood vessels in the nose and sinuses.
This shrinks swelling and drains fluids, letting you breathe easier again. Unfortunately, the drug doesn't affect only the head — it tightens blood vessels throughout the body.
One pseudoephedrine side effect is a possible increase in blood pressure. In general, this increase is minimal in people with controlled high blood pressure. But prior studies found a small percent of people had marked increases in blood pressure.
If you have high blood pressure and need to take pseudoephedrine you should have your blood pressure checked more often. The FDA says that pseudoephedrine is safe when taken as directed. Indeed, millions of people use it each year without any dire consequences. That doesn't mean it's risk free. Over the years, there have been reports of heart attacks, strokes, disturbed heart rhythms, and other cardiovascular problems linked with use of pseudoephedrine.
Alternatives to oral decongestants are available. In the drug realm, antihistamines such as diphenhydramine Benadryl , chlorpheniramine Chlor-Trimeton , cetirizine Zyrtec , and loratadine Claritin can help with a stuffy nose are safe for the heart. Nasal sprays deliver a decongestant right where you need it.
In theory, this should minimize cardiovascular effects. The research showed that the activity of neutrophils — a type of white blood cell — was reduced in the presence of the soup, which theoretically would lessen inflammation.
In addition, the steam from a hot bowl of soup could help open a stuffy nose by thinning mucus so it can drain more easily. Similarly, drinking other hot fluids, like tea and broth, can also help, as can taking a steaming hot shower. Probably not. Most stuffy noses are caused by infection with a virus, so antibiotics are powerless in treating them. Antibiotics are only effective in treating infections caused by bacteria.
Still, there are warning signs that your congestion may be a sign of something more serious, such as a sinus infection. See a doctor if you experience congestion symptoms that last more than 7 to 10 days, cause an earache , are accompanied by a fever of more than By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools.
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