AboutMary E Scott, RPh, CGP Expertise I am a certified geriatric pharmacist with over 23 years experience as a long-term care consultant to nursing homes. I also do community-based consulting on an individual basis. My facility-based monthly newsletter on pharmacy topics is read by nurses in over 200 long-term care facilities in 5 states.
Experience I received a BS in Pharmacy in 1980 with post-graduate work in public health. I have had a Consultant Pharmacist license since 1984.
Organizations American Society of Consultant Pharmacists .I received certification in geriatric pharmacy in 1998.
Question Mary, can you tell me what decongestant only pills are available for me to ask my doctor about. I recently came down with a nasty sinus infection after a flight, and for future flights i want to take a decongestant before during and after my trip to avoid this, most pills i looked up have an antihistamine decongestant combination, is there any plain good decongestants on the market my doctor can give me? The OTC stuff works ok but was wandering what else exists. thanks
Answer Hi,Marc,
Having just got over a sinus attack, I can surely sympathize! There really aren't any prescription decongestant only products on the market. If you seem to only get sinus congestion after a flight, you could use a nasal spray such as Afrin or Neo-synephrine before and after the flight, as long as you don't use it more than 3 days in a row to avoid rebound congestion.
If you have sinus attacks more than that,Sudafed or an extended release pseudoephedrine such as Drixoral 12 hour works well. I always take Sudafed 60mg with ibuprofen 400-600mg as soon as I feel congestion and it works well.
I used to take Entex LA until the FDA took it off the market,but due to the extended-release action, I sometimes wouldn't sleep for 2 days.
If the congestion lasts more than 2 days,and you experience a colored discharge or a fever, you should contact your doctor to determine if it is a sinus infection that would require an antibiotic. Hope this helps, Mary
