Sinus Drainage: What Medicines Work Best? - Verywell Health
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Sinus drainage, or postnasal drip, occurs when the cavities called sinuses around the nasal passages become swollen and inflamed due to a sinus infection, also known as sinusitis. It is the dripping of excessive mucus in the back of the throat.
Sinus drainage can result from an infection, cold, allergies, or other underlying medical conditions.
Common symptoms include stuffy or runny nose, cough, sneezing, headache, postnasal drip, etc. Sinus drainage is only a severe problem if it lasts longer than 10 days.
Treatment options include home remedies, over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, and prescription medicines for bacterial infections.
The article below will cover all the significant aspects and details regarding sinus drainage. It gives a detailed view of symptoms, causes, treatment options, and remedies to clarify your unanswered questions.
What Is Sinus Drainage?
Sinuses are the cavities around the nasal passages. Sinus drainage releases mucus around the nasal passages down the back of the throat.
Common symptoms of sinus infections include:
The sinuses constantly drain mucus down the back of the throat and into the stomach. Some health issues can make this drainage more noticeable, painful, and annoying. These problems lead to increased drainage and buildup of excessive mucus.
Common causes of sinus drainage may include:
Some research evidence suggests that stomach acid reflux in the esophagus (food pipe) can also trigger excess mucus production in the airways. It is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or acid reflux. GERD can cause postnasal drip.
OTC antacids (medicines that counteract stomach acid to treat indigestion), such as Prilosec (omeprazole), can help improve the post-nasal drip symptoms caused by GERD.
Medications for Sinus Drainage
Several underlying medical causes, such as bacterial infection, cold, viral infections, sinusitis, and allergy, can cause sinus drainage.
Whatever the cause, various treatment options are available for improving sinus drainage symptoms.
Medications for Sinus Drainage Due to Bacterial Infections
Antibiotics are prescribed to people who have a bacterial infection of the sinuses. They may also be needed in people with viral infections and inflammation in case of secondary bacterial infections.
Usually, antibiotics are not needed for many sinus infections. Most sinus infections get better without antibiotics treatment.
However, in some cases, you may need antibiotics. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best treatment for your illness.
Common antibiotics approved for use in bacterial sinusitis include:
- Zithromax (azithromycin)
- Biaxin XL (clarithromycin)
- Monodox (doxycycline)
- Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate)
Medications for Sinus Drainage Due to a Cold
Many cough, allergy, and cold medicines are safe to reduce mucus drainage and remove congestion and cough due to cold.
Healthcare providers generally prescribe decongestants and antihistamines (drugs that treat the common cold and other allergies) to improve sinus drainage symptoms.
Some common brands of antihistamines include:
- Zyrtec Allergy (cetirizine)
- Clarinex (desloratadine)
- Allegra Allergy (fexofenadine)
- Xyzal Allergy 24HR (levocetirizine)
Medications for Sinus Drainage Due to Sinusitis and Viral Infections
Sinus infections caused by viruses typically fade without medical treatment. To assist with pain, though, apply warm compresses to the area and give Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen).
However, do not give aspirin to children with a viral illness. Asprin is linked to Reye's syndrome, which can be life-threatening. The saline (salt) solution is safe and helps wash the inside of the nose and relieve congestion.
Sinusitis (sinus infection) caused by a bacterial infection might require an antibiotic prescription.
Surgery
Some people may have sinus problems due to structural issues. They may require surgery when sinus infections are caused by severe problems such as nasal polyps.
Nasal polyps are lumps of noncancerous tissue growing on the lining of the sinuses or nasal passages.
How Long Will Sinus Drainage Medications Take to Work?
Most people recover from sinus drainage–related symptoms within seven to 10 days. However, in some cases of sinusitis, the infection may last over three months. These are chronic cases that may resist therapy, or symptoms may reoccur.
If sinusitis does not improve within two to four days of drainage therapy or is very severe, it probably needs an antibiotic to help eliminate the trapped bacteria.
Antibiotic therapy for three to seven days is generally as effective as traditional 10- to 14-day treatment for uncomplicated acute sinusitis.
Many cases of sinusitis clear up on their own and do not need antibiotics. If your sinusitis lasts for less than two weeks, antibiotics are unneeded.
Your healthcare provider will prescribe antibiotics if your sinusitis lasts longer than two weeks or recurs often.
Antibiotics should be started if your child's symptoms worsen or do not improve after three days.
Talk with your healthcare provider if your child's symptoms show no improvement two to three days after starting the antibiotics. Your child might need a different medication or need to be reexamined.
Other commonly used drugs are antihistamines. Some brands and forms of antihistamines work for only four to six hours, while others last for 12 to 24 hours.
Home Remedies for Sinus Drainage
Some home remedies can relieve the discomfort if sinus drainage is not severe. Treating underlying causes and avoiding allergens can improve symptoms and improve mucus drainage.
Try giving the following home remedies to relieve symptoms of sinus drainage before using medications:
Elevate the Head While Sleeping
The buildup of mucus at night can be very irritating. To avoid the buildup, keep your head elevated with pillows. It helps mucus drain and reduces congestion.
Drink Plenty of Fluids
Dehydration (loss of water) is also one of the common causes of postnasal drip discomfort. The deficiency of water causes the mucus to thicken and affect breathing.
Drinking plenty of water reduces the mucus thickness, reduces blockage, and makes it easy to flow.
Steam Therapy
Steam can thin the mucus, allowing it to flow more efficiently and help relieve cough, pressure, and difficulty breathing. A hot, steamy shower or inhaling steam from a steamer or a hot water bowl can ease the symptoms.
Avoid Cigarette Smoke
Smoke can irritate the nasal passages and cause a buildup of mucus. Long-term cigarette smoking is associated with problems in the respiratory system.
It also affects the natural process of clearing airways. Avoiding smoking may improve the symptoms of postnasal drip.
For nonsmokers, stay away from places where people smoke.
Use a Humidifier
Sinuses may dry out in cold weather, or dry climates can worsen postnasal drip symptoms. Humidifiers moisten the air and reduce the effects of cold weather and dry air.
The mist from a humidifier moistens the sinus tissues and thins the mucus secretions.
Nasal Washes
You can use OTC nasal wash devices such as a neti pot, squeeze bottle, nasal bulb, and others. They help flush pollen, dust, and other debris from the nasal passages.
It helps remove excess mucus (snot) and adds moisture. Nasal washes relieve nasal allergy symptoms and help prevent sinusitis.
Don't use over-the-counter nasal sprays more often than three days on and three days off unless told to by your healthcare provider.
Eucalyptus oil
Australian natives have used eucalyptus oil as a remedy for wounds and inflammation. Clinical studies confirmed the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of eucalyptus oil.
It helps people with asthma and sinusitis symptoms and prevents chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from worsening.
What Does My Mucus Color Mean?
Mucus is a sticky, gelatinous material lining the lungs, throat, mouth, nose, and sinuses. The mucus made in the respiratory system is also called sputum. Being able to clear mucus adequately is essential for lung health.
Persistent accumulation can lead to infection by providing an environment for microbial growth. Increased production of mucus or sputum is an indication of an underlying medical condition.
The change in the amount of mucus production and the color of sputum is also crucial in determining the respiratory system's health.
Below are some different mucus colors and the causes of their color change:
| Mucus Color Chart | |
|---|---|
| Color of Mucus: | Cause of Change in Color: |
| Clear or White | Allergy or viral infection |
| Dark Yellow or Green | Pneumonia or cystic fibrosis (CF, an inherited condition causing excessive mucus buildup), bronchitis |
| Pink or Red | Pneumonia, tuberculosis, congestive heart failure, lung cancer |
| Black | Smoking, fungal infection, pneumoconiosis (lung diseases caused by inhaling dust) |
| Brown | Bacterial pneumonia, bacterial bronchitis, CF, pneumoconiosis (lung diseases caused by inhaling dust), lung abscess (pus-filled cavity in lungs) |
How to Safely Take Medications for Sinus Drainage
Most sinus drainage medications are available OTC. Read the label carefully before taking medicines. When taking a prescription medicine, follow the guidelines on the prescription label.
Many medicines are available in combinations containing two or more active ingredients. Use with caution to avoid any drug interactions.
Before taking any prescription or OTC drug, always talk to your healthcare provider about any underlying condition, such as pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Do not give OTC cough and cold medicines to children under age 4 without a healthcare provider's prescription. Cough and cold medicines can result in severe and sometimes life-threatening side effects.
Summary
Various causes of increased sinus drainage include allergies, viral or bacterial infections, sinusitis, dehydration, cold, and flu. Sometimes the passages become blocked or fail to let the sinuses drain effectively.
Sinus drainage is also commonly known as postnasal drip. Its symptoms include cough, bad breath, headache, runny or stuffy nose, and facial pressure.
If the problem is not very severe and an underlying condition is not present, home remedies may help. Sipping hot soup, taking a hot bath, breathing in steam, and using a dehumidifier may help.
In some cases, sinus infections need medical treatment, including medicines such as antibiotics, nasal washes, and antihistamines. Chronic sinus problems may need further treatment, such as surgery to open sinus passages and allow adequate drainage.
Talk to your healthcare provider before taking medication, such as allergy medications.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Most people recover from symptoms within seven to 10 days. However, in some cases of sinusitis, the infection may last a few months.
Call your healthcare provider to prescribe medications if the symptoms do not improve within two to four days of drainage therapy.
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Eucalyptus oil is also often helpful in steam inhaling to help clear nasal and sinus congestion.
It helps improve sinusitis symptoms and prevents chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from worsening.
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