Decongestants
Blocked, stuffy, or congested nose is an extremely irritating and annoying condition; no less than a nuisance. That’s when you look for nasal decongestants to de-clog your nasal passage and relieve you of the above symptoms.
What are decongestants?
Decongestants are medications used to relieve the nasal congestion or blockage by clearing the passage from clogged mucus and bringing down the swelling in and around the nasal mucosa.
Decongestants are drugs that dry up nasal passage, sinus, and bronchial secretions by causing the blood vessels to constrict (narrow) and reduce the blood flow in that area. This helps in opening up the nasal airway, making it easier to breath.
Purpose and usage:
Decongestants are an effectivetreatment, available over-the-counter, for quick but short term relief from conditions such as
- Nasal congestion because of cold and flu
- Certain coughs and headaches, especially from sinus problems
Decongestants score relatively well in treating minor congestion from viruses and other illnesses. Wherein, if the illness has become an infection, decongestants may not be as effective.
Available forms and dosage:
Decongestants are available in various forms ranging from syrups, tablets, caplets, capsules, gel-caps, liqui-caps to nasal sprays and nose drops.
As far as the dosage is concerned, just like any other medication, it differs for various age groups.
For adults and children over 12 years old: 2 tablets every 4-6 hours, not to exceed 4 doses in 24 hours
For children between 6-12 years old: 1 tablet every 4-6 hours, not to exceed 4 doses in 24 hours
For children between 2 - 6 years old: 1 teaspoon every 4-6 hours, not to exceed 4 doses in 24 hours.
For children under 2 years old: Best to ask the physician
Common decongestants:
Some of the most common decongestants are:
Limitations:
It is important to understand that decongestants can only “relieve” symptoms for a short period of time but “do not cure” the underlying cause (such as a cold or allergy) of congestion. They prove to be effective only for five to seven days but beyond that they can even cause the nasal passage to become more blocked and congested (rebound congestion).
Who all should avoid decongestants?
These medications should not be used by those who are allergic to them. Also, they may cause undesirable side effects in individuals with the following conditions:
- Poorly controlled high blood pressure
- Coronary artery disease (hardening of the arteries)
- Men with prostate problem
- History of mental illness
- Pregnant or women who are trying to get pregnant
Probable side effects:
Decongestants are not as innocent as they sound.They also come laced with several side effects and should be consumed with caution.
Side effects of decongestant nasal sprays and nose drops:
The commonest side effects of decongestant nasal sprays and nose drops are sneezing, temporary burning, stinging, or dryness in the nasal area. These effects are usually momentary and do not need medical attention. But there could be more serious side effects such as,
- Increase in blood pressure
- Fast, slow, or fluttery heartbeat
If any of these occur, stop the medication immediately and call or visit your physician.
Do not use nasal decongestants for more than 3-5 days. Use beyond that may cause swelling in the nasal passage and aggravates allergic symptoms.
Side effects of decongestant taken by mouth: The most common side effects are nervousness, restlessness, dizziness, excitability, drowsiness, nausea, headache, weakness, and sleep problems.
Patients who experience the below written symptoms while taking decongestants should discontinue the medication and call the physician immediately.
- Fast, irregular, or fluttery heartbeat
- Tightness or discomfort in the chest
- Severe headache, breathing problems
- Fear, anxiety, trembling, or shaking
- Hallucinations and convulsions (seizures)
- Painful or difficult urination
Drug interaction:
Decongestants can interact with several other medicines. If an individual is taking any of the medicines listed below, he should consult doctor before taking a decongestant:
- Medicines for high blood pressure
Natural decongestants:
If someone is not comfortable using the commercial medicinal forms of decongestants, there arecertain home remedies and natural ones available such astakingsteaming, drinking lukewarm salt water, eating onions, garlic, apple cider vinegar, and honey. Spicy food is also natural mucus thinner.
Consume a lot of fluids. The fluids will thin out the mucus and the nose will get unblocked due to the drainage taking place.
Written by: Healthplus24 team
Date last updated: August 16, 2011