Home treatment for congestion with an upper respiratory infection includes: includes general measures and medications. Medications include oral decongestants, decongestant nasal sprays and antihistamines.
General Measures- Blow your nose gently. Forceful blowing can cause pain and bleeding.
- Apply petroleum jelly to the nostrils if the skin becomes dry.
- Drink plenty of liquids.
- Place a vaporizer or nebulizer in the bedroom at night.
- Use saline (saltwater) nose spray, such as Ocean Nasal Mist: saline helps to keep the lining of nasal passages moist. Saline may be used to flush the nasal passages:
- Lie on your back and tilt your head back.
- Apply 2- 4 drops of saline in one on nostril, then wait 1 minute.
- Blow your nose.
- Repeat in the other nostril.
Oral Decongestants Oral decongestants, such as
pseudoephedrine (
Sudafed), help to thin the mucus responsible for the congestion. Decongestants are safe for adults and adolescents.
Decongestant precautions:
- Decongestants can elevate the blood pressure. Do not use oral decongestants if you have high blood pressure.
- Talk to your doctor before you take oral decongestants if you have:
Decongestant SpraysDecongestant nasal sprays, such as
pseudoephedrine (
Afrin) can relieve congestion faster than oral medications.
Examples include:
- Afrin Nasal Spray
- Duration Nasal Spray
- Four-Way Fast Nasal Spray
- Neo-Synephrine Nasal Spray
- Vicks Sinex Nasal Spray
Precautions include:
- Do not use decongestant nasal sprays for longer than 3 days. After three days, the nasal tissues become dependent on the medication. When the medication is stopped, the nasal tissue swells and congestion worsens.
Antihistamines Antihistamines, such as
diphenhydramine (
Benadryl)
brompheniramine and
chlorpheniramine, dry nasal tissue.
Examples include:
Antihistamine precautions:
