Medications for the sinuses – compositions and indications. Over-the-counter and prescription sinus medications

Proven content

Clogged sinuses are the cause of many unpleasant ailments and can reduce the quality of life for many weeks. Troublesome pains, fever, lingering discharge, which is difficult to get rid of, may consequently lead to a condition that requires antibiotic therapy. If left untreated, inflammation can result in complications such as brain abscess and meningitis. So it is best to start treatment at the stage where we can use over-the-counter medications.

Sinuses – general characteristics

The sinuses are located in the bones between the eyes, behind the cheeks and on the forehead. The sinuses are invaginations of the mucosa that are ingrown from the nasal cavity into the surrounding bones. The beginning of their development in humans falls in fetal life, while their final dimensions are reached in the second decade of life.

The sinuses produce mucus that moisturizes the nose. This mucus is a kind of protection against dust and allergens.

The role that the sinuses play in the human body has not been finally confirmed. However, it is indicated that the paranasal sinuses perform the following functions:

1. respiratory – they contribute to moisturizing and heating the inhaled air, as well as equalizing the pressure difference during breathing;
2. olfactory;
3. mechanical – are responsible for protecting the skull against injuries;
4. thermal – they are responsible for heating the base of the skull and the eye socket;
5. static – they reduce the weight of the craniofacial skeleton;
6. phonetic – they create a resonant space – which means that the sinuses protect the inner ear from conduction through the bone conduction of its own voice.

There are several types of paranasal sinuses, and their names depend on the surrounding bone. And so, in the human body are present: frontal sinuses, sphenoid sinuses, maxillary sinuses, lacrimal sinuses and ethmoid cells.

If you want to learn more about the structure and role of sinuses, read on: Bays – types, structure, functions. Symptoms and treatment of sinus diseases

Sinus Medications – When Will They Be Needed?

The problem with your sinuses isn’t just about blockage. Sinus pain can be caused by many different medical conditions. In addition, it is worth remembering that sinus pain is a symptom that is very often accompanied by other ailments. Very often, sick sinuses are accompanied by nasal obstruction and runny nose.

The causes of sinus pain include chronic and acute sinusitis, sinus mycosis, sinus polyps, sinus cysts, or malignant and benign tumors. Blocked sinuses are very often diagnosed.

Clogged sinuses with difficult to remove secretions can cause a number of ailments, there is pain and a feeling of pressure. A common cold, allergic rhinitis, polyps, asthma, septal deviation may be responsible for this condition. The cause of clogged sinuses is often sinusitis, which may arise from a bacterial, viral or fungal background. Inflammation can be a consequence of untreated respiratory infections or dental disease.

The sinuses can be supported with dietary supplements that also support the functioning of the immune system. Order Na Zatoki – Panaseus dietary supplement today.

What are the most common sinus problems? Read: Sinus problems – what are the most common, what can cause them and how to treat them?

Sinus Medications – How do you recognize a blocked sinus?

The sinuses function properly when their openings are kept open, otherwise problems begin. The most common cause of sinus obstruction is a runny nose. Very often in the course of colds, mucus accumulates and lingers in the sinuses, which is a breeding ground for microorganisms. Hence, the path to sinusitis is not far away.

Clogged sinuses and sinusitis are easy to diagnose, especially if you have the following symptoms:

1. train;
2. runny nose – can be one-sided;
3. chronic headache radiating from the root of the nose – this pain is aggravated when moving the eyeballs or bending down;
4. stuffy nose;
5. discharge of secretions down the back of the throat;
6. olfactory disorder;
7. purulent discharge from the nose;
8. in some cases, fever;
9. bad breath – not in all cases.

Sinusitis can be acute or chronic. This ailment is viral, bacterial or fungal in origin.

As an aid in the treatment of sinus problems, it is worth using resin liner for sinuses, available at a promotional price on Medonet Market.

If you want to know more about sinusitis read on: Sinusitis – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment. Complications of sinusitis

Sinus medications – doctor’s appointment and diagnosis

Before you decide to use drugs for sinuses, it is worth doing appropriate tests and consulting your doctor about your symptoms.

Over-the-counter sinus medications should not be taken for longer than 7 days. If your health does not improve after this time, it is worth diagnosing your symptoms with your primary care physician. After a diagnostic interview and general examination, the doctor will decide whether a consultation with a specialist, i.e. an ENT specialist or an allergist, is needed.

A more specialized examination is endoscopy of the sinuses, during which the doctor inserts the tube into the nasal cavity and on the monitor screen can observe any abnormalities, such as polyps, swelling or the presence of residual discharge.

However, the most accurate and reliable examination in the diagnosis of sinusitis is computed tomography, which reflects the anatomical structures and pathological changes in the sinuses. Such a thorough diagnosis allows the doctor to determine the true cause of sinus problems and implement the appropriate treatment.

What is chronic sinusitis and how do you fight it? Read on: How do you cure chronic sinusitis?

Over-the-counter sinus medications

In the case of clogged sinuses, sea water and saline solution will certainly be the treatment supportive agents. It is also a safe way for children and the elderly. Rinsing the nose with solutions is the first step to decongesting the paranasal sinuses. A good and well-known home method of sinus treatment prophylaxis will be inhalations with the addition of essential oils.

You can get pills, ointments and sprays at the pharmacy without a prescription. Clogged sinuses are often accompanied by pain, so if we are prone to sinus-related diseases, we should always have a painkiller at home, such as Ibuprom Zatoka or Metafen Zatoka, which will help reduce the discomfort caused by pain ailments. Not only is pain an annoying problem in sinus related conditions, but also severe runny nose, fever, decreased immunity and general malaise.

Over-the-counter drugs such as Sinupret are available in pharmacies over the counter. Sinupret is used in the prophylaxis of treatment of sinus diseases, especially chronic ones, and as a supplementary antibiotic therapy.

In addition to Sinupret, tablets with a similar analgesic and antipyretic effect, changing the consistency of the discharge and helping to remove it from the sinuses: Sinudafen, Sinulan Forte, Zatoxin, Acatar Healthy Sinuses, Gripex Zatoki and others, will also work.

If we have problems with clogged sinuses, medications that thin the mucus will help us. Suitable: Afrin, Afrin ND Menthol, Humer (hypertonic seawater), Irigasin (nasal and sinus irrigation set), Ibuprom Sinus Hipertonic spray, Narivent (anti-swelling nasal spray).

There are also preparations for children in pharmacies. In the case of sinus problems in children, you can use: Fixsin Junior (set for rinsing the nose and sinuses), Pneumolan Plus Nose and Sinuses, RenoPuren Sinuses Junior.

Herbal sinus medications

In the case of sick sinuses, herbs and preparations containing a mixture of medicinal herbs are gaining more and more popularity. Herbs for the sinuses it is used in the form of dietary supplements in tablets or liquid extracts, inhaled with herbal infusions or by applying compresses to the forehead. Herbal drugs for sinuses include:

1. gentian root;
2. primrose flower along with the calyx;
3. sorrel herb;
4. elderberry flower;
5. goals advertisey;
6. echinacea root;
7. died
8. Icelandic lichen;
9. mullein;
10. chamomile;
11. lips
12. thyme;
13. Melissa
14. pine tree
15. coltsfoot;
16. geranium,
17. camphor
18. saffron;
19. wormwood;
20. angelica root,
21. rhubarb root.

You can buy herbal mixtures at the pharmacy, but you can also make them yourself at home. For home inhalation, all you need is a bowl of hot water, a towel, and a herbal mixture or essential oil.

At Medonet Market you can buy, for example, SinuGrip for sinuses Herbal Monasterium – herbal dietary supplement in the form of capsules.

What is worth knowing about medicinal herbs? Check: Medicinal herbs

Drugs for sinuses – pills or nasal drops?

In the case of sinusitis, patients often have to choose between pills and nasal drops? Currently, sinus medications are available in tablets, dissolving sachets, and nasal drops and sprays. Some of them are available over the counter, while antibiotics and glucocorticosteroids are available on prescription.

The doctor should always decide which drugs are most suitable for sick sinuses. However, it is worth remembering that the choice of a specific drug depends on the type of ailment with which the patient reports to the doctor.

In the case of acute viral sinusitis, medications are usually used to reduce the swelling of the mucous membranes. The doctor may prescribe the use of anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drugs in tablets and drops. In addition, the prescribed prescription should include mucolytic drugs that thin the secretion and reduce the viscosity of the residual mucus. These preparations are available in both tablets and nasal drops. On the other hand, agents intended for irrigation of the sinuses, which flush residual secretions, are usually available in the form of a spray.

If a patient comes to a doctor with chronic viral sinusitis that lasts more than 10 days, the doctor will probably decide to use nasal glucocorticosteroids.

If sinus disease is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotic treatment is indicated. The most common antibiotics for sick sinuses are:

1. amoxicillin – for example: Amotaks, Duomox, Ospamox;
2. amoxicillin and clavulanic acid – for example: Amoksiklav, Augmentin, Taromentin;
3. cefuroxime – for example: e.g. Bioracef, Ceroxim, Zinnat.

In the treatment of sinus patients, antibiotic therapy usually lasts about 10-14 days.

When is it worth reaching for nasal drops? Check: Nasal drops – indications, contraindications, addiction, alternatives [WE EXPLAIN]

Medications for sinuses – contraindications

Generally available sinus medications should not be used by all patients. Contraindications to the use of sinus medications are:

1. arterial hypertension;
2. ischemic heart disease;
3. taking MAO inhibitors;
4. the period of pregnancy and breastfeeding;
5. allergic to any component of the sinus medication.

In addition, in the case of certain diseases, special care should be taken. The doctor should be informed about diseases such as hyperthyroidism, diabetes, prostate hyperplasia, liver and kidney diseases.

What are bay lamps and when should you choose them? Check: Are sinus lights effective?

Sinus remedies and home treatments for blocked sinuses

Medications for sinuses allow you to quickly relieve and reduce the annoying symptoms. However, it is worth remembering that you can also fight the symptoms of congested sinuses with home remedies. Home remedies for clogged sinuses include:

1. body hydration – a simple activity that can greatly speed up the treatment of blocked sinuses. Hydration of the body allows you to hydrate the residual secretion, thanks to which it will be faster and easier to expel it from the sinuses;
2. irrigation – also known as sinus irrigation. A fluid with a certain salt concentration is usually used for irrigation. This action allows not only to rinse and unblock the nose, but also helps to remove residual pollen and dust from the sinuses and nose, which is of great importance in the case of allergy sufferers;
3. unblocking and anti-inflammatory effect – it is worth doing this activity prophylactically, but it will also work well at the initial stage of sinusitis. There are currently many preparations available in pharmacies that will help to unblock the nose and sinuses. It is worth reaching for sprays and rinses with hypertonic salt, drops and sprays with xylometazoline, oxymetazoline and naphazoline, or tablets and sachets with decongestants;
4. heating of sore sinuses – by inhaling steam with the addition of salt or essential oil, in a sauna or using an infrared lamp. It is also recommended to sleep in a hat. The hat should not be forgotten during everyday training outside;
5. nebulization – this is a form of inhalation that is becoming more and more popular, for which you must have a nebulizer. The nebulizer consists of a fluid container and a mask. Nebulization affects the hydration of the mucous membranes. Saline can be used for this home treatment;
6. massage the sinuses – massage of the bridge of the nose will improve the circulation of lymph and blood. Improved circulation means that more nutrients and cells supporting the immune system reach the sick sinuses;
7. air filter – it is worth getting an air purifier, especially when you live in a town with a high concentration of dust, and thus smog.

For other home remedies for sinus problems, check out: Home remedies for sinuses. 5 ways to combat sinus pain

Before use, read the leaflet, which contains indications, contraindications, data on side effects and dosage as well as information on the use of the medicinal product, or consult your doctor or pharmacist, as each drug used improperly is a threat to your life or health. Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home. Now you can use e-consultation also free of charge under the National Health Fund.