person breathing clearly after use of OTC nasal decongestant

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sinus sinus products can relieve pressure in your head and nose These products are designed to help you carry on with your day if you are having trouble breathing due to cold, flu, or allergies.

It is not always easy to choose the best one for you when you can get them over the counter.

There are different OTC sedan formulas. Some target multiple symptoms and bring together multiple active ingredients to do so. Others are designed to relieve a bad smell. Some may make you sleepy, while others may make it hard for you to sleep. Knowing the difference between these products will help you choose the best product for your situation.

We rounded up the best over the counter sedans to make the decision-making process simpler.

It is possible to narrow down what kind of product you are looking for by knowing what common decongestant types are. In general.

  • decongestant ingredients work by dilating your blood vessels to relieve pressure in your sinuses
  • antihistamine ingredients work by blocking your body’s response to allergens
  • corticosteroid ingredients work by reducing your immune response to allergens and decreasing inflammation
Decongestant type Best for Possible side effects
Phenylephrine decongestant sinus congestion caused by cold and flu restlessness, dizziness, anxiety
Pseudoephedrine decongestant sinus congestion caused by cold and flu restlessness, dizziness, anxiety, nausea, upset stomach
Intranasal decongestants sinus congestion caused by cold and flu restlessness, dizziness, sore throat, bloody nose
Intranasal corticosteroids hay fever and allergies headache, sore throat, bloody nose
Antihistamines sneezing and runny nose drowsiness

  • Customer reviews: We chose products that scored high marks in trust with customers, according to hundreds of verified reviews.
  • Transparency: We looked for products and brands that make realistic, medically-sound claims about their products.
  • Clinical trials and peer-reviewed literature: We read through what doctors and researchers have observed about different active ingredients available on the market.

Pricing guide

  • $ = under $5
  • $$ = $5–$10
  • $$$ = over $10

Best OTC sinus decongestant for allergies

Benadryl Allergy Plus Congestion Ultratabs

  • Price: $$
  • Type: oral tablet
  • Drowsy effect: yes

What we liked: These tablets contain diphenhydramine, an antihistamine ingredient that fights allergy symptoms, as well as phenylephrine, which reduces sinus congestion. You can take one of these tablets every 4 hours throughout the day, and reviewers note that they take effect relatively quickly.

What to know: These tablets aren’t intended to fight the flu or a cold, so they should only be taken if your sinus congestion is caused by allergies. You should also be aware that diphenhydramine can make you feel quite sleepy, so avoid this medication on days when you need to be alert.

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Best OTC sinus decongestant for a headache

Advil Sinus Congestion and Pain

  • Price: $$
  • Type: oral tablet
  • Drowsy effect: no

What we liked: These coated tablets contain proven decongestant ingredient phenylephrine along with pain reliever ibuprofen. You can take a tablet up to every four hours. The combination of nasal swelling relief, along with the pain relief medication, can quickly relieve many sinus-related headaches. Many reviewers who have frequent sinus headaches swear by this product as being better than even some prescription medications.

What to know: Make sure to keep track of the amount of ibuprofen you’re taking if you’re using this product. Don’t take additional pain relievers, like acetaminophen or aspirin, along with this product unless you’re instructed to by a doctor. It’s easy to end up taking a dose that’s higher than recommended of analgesics when you’re mixing medications.

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Best OTC sinus decongestant nasal spray

Afrin No Drip Severe Congestion

  • Price: $$$ (twin pack)
  • Type: nasal spray
  • Drowsy effect: no

What we liked: Nasal sprays like Afrin shrink swollen nasal passages by directly applying an active ingredient to your sinuses. The advantage of this can be that sprays tend to work more quickly than a tablet or a liquid decongestant. Afrin’s spray contains oxymetazoline hydrochloride as well as menthol, which relaxes and refreshes your nasal passages pretty much right away, according to reviewers.

What to know: Afrin should only be used temporarily to relieve sinus congestion. Rebound stuffiness can occur in as little as 3 days. Using nasal sprays for a long duration can lead to side effects.

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Best OTC sinus decongestant for kids

Little Remedies Decongestant Nose Drops

  • Price: $$
  • Type: nose drops
  • Drowsy effect: no

What we liked: These dye-free drops contain phenylephrine in a dosage that’s safe for kids 2 and up. The dropper-dose formula can be applied 2 to 3 drops at a time directly to nasal passages, which makes for fast relief. (No waiting for tablets to kick in at bedtime). This decongestant can work for symptoms of a cold or flu, or it can be used to help manage congestion caused by allergies.

What to know: It can be difficult to get little ones to sit still and have the drops applied into their nose. You may have better luck putting the formula in a spray-mist bottle or another mist-based bottle to get your child to cooperate.

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Best OTC decongestant day/night duo

Sudafed PE Day and Night Sinus Pressure Tablets

  • Price: $$
  • Type: oral tablet
  • Drowsy effect: daytime formula is nondrowsy; nighttime formula has drowsy side effects

What we liked: These tablets contain phenylephrine for sinus congestion relief during the daytime, as well as an additional antihistamine ingredient for nighttime use. These ingredients can treat environmental allergies as well as congestion caused by the common cold. There are 12 tablets meant for daytime use and 8 that you can take at night, which means you can take a few extra tablets during the day if you need to but stick to one right before bedtime once you’re ready to sleep.

What to know: There’s no pain relief ingredient included in either the day or nighttime formulas of these tablets. That means that if you have a headache and treating your sinus pressure doesn’t give you relief, you might still find yourself reaching for acetaminophen at the end of the day.

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Best OTC sinus decongestant on a budget

Cabinet Nasal Decongestant Tablets

  • Price: $$$
  • Type: oral tablet
  • Drowsy effect: no

What we liked: This mega-size container of 225 tablets is a great solution if multiple people in your family are prone to allergies or sinus headaches. The no-frills phenylephrine formula is comparable to the dosage you’d find in a name brand, but at a fraction of the cost. The formula doesn’t contain anything that will make you sleepy, and you can take a tablet every 4 hours on days when symptoms are hitting you hard.

What to know: Some customers complained that the bottle is too large to fit in their medicine cabinet, which seems like a small complaint for a product if you’ll be using it often. This particular tablet only targets sinus congestion, so it will not relieve symptoms like fever or a cough.

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Best OTC decongestant for bedtime

Mucinex Nightshift Cold and Flu Liquid

  • Price: $$$
  • Type: liquid
  • Drowsy effect: yes

What we liked: This liquid formula contains a pain reliever, a cough suppressant, and an antihistamine ingredient that work together to give you a good night’s sleep when you’re sick. It does not contain any decongestant, however, so keep that in mind when using this treatment. It’s great for bedtime because it tames coughing fits that may be keeping you up at night. Although it does not contain a decongestant, the antihistamine ingredient may also reduce nasal congestion caused by seasonal allergies.

What to know: Unlike the other decongestants on this list, this product doesn’t contain anything that loosens mucus. Some reviewers note that they really dislike the taste of this medicine.

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When you are shopping for a sputum, you need to determine what is causing your congestion.

If it’s allergies, you’ll probably want a product that contains an antihistamine ingredient like diphenhydramine. Antihistamines target your body’s immune response to allergens like pollen. Antihistamines usually make the person taking them a bit drowsy, so keep in mind taking them at any time other than bedtime may have you needing a nap.

If you have cold or flu symptoms, you may be looking for a product that includes phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine. These ingredients work by shrinking your blood vessels, which can help you breathe more easily and reduce the symptoms of a sinus headache or a stuffy nose.

Both of these ingredients can make it difficult to sleep. These drugs can make you sick. phenylephrine may have less serious side effects than pseudoephedrine. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should always consult a doctor.

“Some OTC sinus snoozing formulas include both pain relief and pain relief ingredients. It is best to treat symptoms that you have, not symptoms that you don’t.”

“If you already take over-the-counter pain relief medication for a sore throat, you don’t want to add more pain relief medication to the mix.”

It’s difficult to keep track of dosage when you’re mixing medications that have overlapping active ingredients, and too much of any pain reliever can lead to complications like stomach problems, rebound headaches, and kidney damage.

“OTC products don’t always provide relief. If you experience any of the following, you should seek professional medical care.”

  • It lasts for a week or more.
  • A high temperature that lasts for more than 48 hours.
  • Any kind of chest pain.
  • Difficult breathing

There are also home remedies that you can use to relieve discomfort and clear your congestion. Natural decongestion remedies include:

  • You should have a humidifier in your room.
  • The essential oils are diffuse.
  • Using sprays.
  • Taking steamy showers.
  • using a neti pot

When should I use a nasal decongestant?

If you have mild congestion caused by cold, flu, or seasonal allergies, you may want to consider an OTC nasal decongestant. This can help you breathe easier.

“You don’t have to take a sputum to treat your symptoms. The congestion will clear up on its own once your allergies are gone or if your infections is gone.”

Can or should I take a sinus decongestant for a sinus infection?

Administering certain drugs for a sinus infection is possible.

“If you have a sinus infection, Decongestants that only contain pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine are more likely to be recommended. Decongestants with additional ingredients may interfere with your body’s ability to fight an illness.”

If you have a severe sinus infection or are on antibiotics, you should talk to your doctor about the best OTC medication choice.

Do sinus decongestants work for ear congestion?

“sinus decongestants can help relieve pressure in the upper sinus. Relieved ear pressure can help manage your pain. sinus decongestants can’t treat an ear infection”

Is it safe to take sinus decongestants while pregnant?

It depends on the active ingredient. OTC pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine should only be used during pregnancy under your doctor’s supervision. They should not be used during the first trimester, only after, and even then, only with your doctor’s recommendation.

If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, you should talk to your doctor about the drugs. The drugs the mother takes can have adverse effects on the fetus. There are not enough studies to be sure how the drug will affect the fetus. The potential benefit and potential risk should be considered when using these drugs.

Can you take sinus decongestants if you have high blood pressure?

Phenylephrine is not considered to be safe if you have high blood pressure. Sinus decongestants that contain pseudoephedrine may actually raise your blood pressure and counteract the blood pressure medication that you’re on. If you have high blood pressure, you should speak with your doctor about which decongestant they recommend for you.

The active ingredients are the best way to choose an OTC decongestant. A good sputum should only treat the symptoms you have, and not any additional symptoms.

“OTC decongestants are not a solution for chronic allergies. If you find that OTC decongestants aren’t effective in managing your symptoms, you may need to speak with your doctor about a long-term strategy.”