Nasal Decongestant for Stuffy Nose Nasal Congestion Relief Treatment, Decongestants Side Effects

Unhinged by an irksome stuffy nose?  Tired of gasping for air between bites?  Nasal decongestant relief treatment can cause a drain on your nasal congestion.

Decongestants control stuffy nasal congestion by constricting your nose’s blood vessels. The diminished blood flow causes swollen nasal tissue to shrink. And relief is realized because air can then freely pass through your nose.

OTC (no prescription required) nasal decongestants come in pill, drop or spray forms. The active ingredients in pills arepseudoephedrine and phenylephrine. Oxymetazoline is in sprays and drops.

A decongestant provides only temporary relief for stuffy nose sinus congestion and pressure caused by:

They do not treat the cause of your symptoms nor expedite recovery.

If you are healthy and make occasional use of a nasal decongestant, then side effects typically aren’t a concern. However, decongestant side effects can be a problem if you have health issues or use them for a long duration.

A nasal decongestant containing pseudoephedrine may cause some side effects, like:

If you develop any of these side effect symptoms beyond mild, then this drug shouldn’t be a future choice for relief of your stuffy nose congestion.

Phenylephrine causes some side effects as well:

  • dizziness
  • nervousness
  • sleeplessness

Ditto on the usage of this stuff for relieving nasal congestion should any of these side effects arise.

Nasal sprays and drops containing oxymetazoline may cause these side effects:

  • nausea
  • sneezing
  • dizziness
  • headache
  • nervousness
  • nose dryness
  • fast, slow heartbeat
  • nasal burning, stinging
  • nasal discharge increase
  • difficulty falling, staying asleep

Stop using decongestant nose sprays and drops if side effects unfurl. Also, do not use these stuffy nose relief products for more than 3 days. Lest you’ll encounter fresh congestion upon their stoppage.

Always follow the directions on your chosen decongestant package label carefully.  Never use the treatment more often than directed.

Decongestants can interact with numerous other medications. Discuss taking a nasal congestion relief treatment with your health care person first if you are on:

Likewise, a doc talk needs to happen before treating congestion with an OTC decongestant if you have any of these conditions:

Decongestants are often combined with antihistamines and pain relievers.  So if you take more than one drug to relieve other symptoms beyond your stuffy nose, you may wind up taking too much.

Because decongestants cause restlessness or sleep problems, cutting back on caffeine is prudent.  As for decongestant use for a child’s stuffy nose, follow directions on the label very carefully.

If taking drugs isn’t your thing, then nasal washing or steam inhalationare a couple healthy alternatives for reducing nasal inflammation stuffiness.

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