It’s almost that time of year. Spring is nearly upon us. That means it’s time to get ready for allergies and congestion for a lot of people. If you suffer from serious Spring allergies, that means it’s time to start looking into good decongestants. That, and good allergy medicine! Today we’re looking at the former to try to help you get that stuffy nose to become a thing of the past.
Best Decongestants
Notes
Before taking any decongestants, be aware of the side effects. Some people note that they get jittery and have trouble sleeping when they’re on decongestant medicine. If this is the case for you, take it easy on caffeine while you’re on decongestants.
If caffeine doesn’t seem to be the problem and you remain jittery, it’s probably time to leave the decongestants alone. In these cases, you can opt, instead, for nasal sprays. These tend to not have notable side effects and can work well as short-term relief to extreme congestion.
How they Work
Generally speaking, decongestants work by shrinking swollen blood vessels and membranes. Allergies cause these areas of the body to swell up, which, in turn, causes congestion. Often, antihistamines alone don’t help with congestion. That’s because the sneezing and itching of allergy symptoms are actually caused by different functions within the body than those that cause congestion.
People who suffer from extreme allergy symptoms often need both antihistamines and decongestants. Be careful when mixing medications, though! Always speak to your doctor before starting any new medications so they can help you pick the ones that will work best for you.
Best Types of Decongestants
Decongestants come in a few forms. The most common of these are in pill form, though there are also nasal sprays and nasal drops. Some people prefer liquid medicines, which are taken orally, though these are less common. Common types of decongestant include pseudoephedrine, though these are often found behind the counter.
That’s because pseudoephedrine plays a role in the creation of some illicit substances. Buying decongestants with pseudoephedrine, like Sudafed, in bulk can result in attention from law enforcement.
Other types of decongestants include oxymetazoline, such as Dristan, Sinex and Vicks. Finally, phenylephrine-based medications are also common. Phenylephrine is found in medications like Suphedrin PE and Sudafed PE.
Combinations
Many allergy medications include a combination of antihistimines and decongestants. Examples of this type of hybrid medications are Allegra-D, Claritin-D and Benadryl Allergy. These are preferred by many allergy sufferers as they have two-in-one relief for allergy symptoms.