HEALTHY LIVING Get Relief From a Stuffy Nose Research finds some common decongestants are useless. :: BY CHRIS ILIADES, M.D. W
hether it’s from an infection or an allergy, most of us suffer from a miserable, stuffy nose sometimes. That’s why there are so many deconges-
tants filling up the cold and allergy section of your pharmacy. Those aisles may soon be a lot less crowded. In September, the Food and Drug Administration’s
advisory committee unanimously recommended removing the generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE) status of the most common over- the-counter oral decongestant phenylephrine, found in Sudafed PE, Vicks NyQuil, Sinex Severe, and Benadryl Allergy Plus. The committee says the most-
recent studies on phenylephrine determined that the common ingredient is not effective as a nasal decongestant. Phenylephrine and
pseudoephedrine are the only two OTC oral decongestants. Pseudoephedrine still works, but since 2005 it has been a behind- the-counter drug that you must ask your pharmacist for, because it was being stockpiled to make illegal amphetamines.
WHAT TO DO There are plenty of better options, says Rajesh Kakani, M.D., an ear, nose, and throat specialist at Mount Sinai South Nassau in New York. “Pseudoephedrine is still a good option for nasal
congestion due to an infection, but not for long-term use, because it can cause side effects like rapid heart rate and high blood pressure.” The best choice for an OTC decongestant depends on
the cause of your congestion. Viral infections like colds, flu, or COVID-19 are the most common cause of short-term nasal congestion and respond well to pseudoephedrine. But, if you have nasal congestion due to an allergy, there are oral antihistamines in the allergy section that are better choices, like Benadryl, Zyrtec, Claritin, and many others. “This would be the choice if you have congestion
along with runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes,” advises Kakani.
92 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | DECEMBER 2023
WHAT ABOUT OTC NASAL SPRAYS? The reason phenylephrine does not work orally is that it breaks down in the bloodstream before it gets to your nose. It still works if you spray it directly into your nose, by shrinking swollen blood vessels caused by inflammation. Oxymetazoline is the spray version (Afrin, Sinex, and others). “Decongestant nasal sprays are very effective, as
long as you limit use to three days. After that, you get a rebound effect that makes congestion worse. To avoid rebound, you should wait one week before using the spray again,” advises Kakani. A better option for long-
term use is a steroid nasal spray (Flonase, Nasacort, and others), if you have a condition that causes long-term nasal congestion like chronic sinusitis, allergies, or nasal polyps. “Steroid nasal sprays are safe
and effective, but they take a few weeks to have full effect and need to be used on a regular basis, so it is best to check with your doctor before starting a steroid spray on your own,” says Kakani.
Another option, which is new to the OTC market, is
an antihistamine nasal spray. “These sprays work very well for allergic rhinitis but
may also help nasal congestion from cold or flu,” says Kakani. Common brand names include Astepro and NasalCrom. Nasal irrigation is an effective option for long-term congestion, says Kakani. “But it should be avoided during acute infection, since it may spread virus or bacteria to the ears or sinuses,” warns Kakani.
BOTTOM LINE OTC treatment for nasal congestion can be safe and effective without oral phenylephrine, but consult your doctor if you have nasal congestion causing pain or visual changes. “If you have nasal congestion that lasts more than
seven days, occurs with fever lasting more than three days, or occurs with severe head or eye pain, don’t try to treat it on your own,” advises Kakani.
NOSE/TOXA2X2/SHUTTERSTOCK / MOLECULE/BACSICA/SHUTTERSTOCK
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108
