How does phenylephrine help with nasal congestion?

Phenylephrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose). Phenylephrine nasal is used to treat nasal congestion and sinus pressure caused by allergies, the common cold, or the flu.

What does Sudafed do for your sinuses?

Pseudoephedrine works by reducing the swelling of blood vessels in your nose. This helps mucus and air flow more freely in the cavities in your nose (sinuses), helping you to breathe more easily.

What is the best medicine for sinus congestion and drainage?

Decongestants. These medicines help reduce the swelling in your nasal passages and ease the stuffiness and sinus pressure. They come as nasal sprays, like naphazoline (Privine), oxymetazoline (Afrin, Dristan, Nostrilla, Vicks Sinus Nasal Spray), or phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine, Sinex, Rhinall).

What Sudafed is best for sinus drainage?

Most patients and healthcare providers will agree that Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) is more effective for congestion than its counterpart Sudafed PE (phenylephrine). This is likely due to the fact that the intestines will absorb only about 38\% of the amount of Sudafed PE in one tablet, while Sudafed is 100\% absorbed.

Is phenylephrine good for sinus infection?

Phenylephrine is used for the temporary relief of stuffy nose, sinus, and ear symptoms caused by the common cold, flu, allergies, or other breathing illnesses (e.g., sinusitis, bronchitis). This medication works by decreasing swelling in the nose and ears, thereby lessening discomfort and making it easier to breathe.

Does Sudafed help loosen mucus?

Relieve your symptoms with SUDAFED. Our SUDAFED® Mucus Relief Triple Action Cold and Flu tablets help alleviate the symptoms of cold and flu by loosening chest mucus, easing nasal passage swelling to reduce that congested feeling as well as relieving pain.

Does Sudafed dry you up?

“Decongestants dry up the mucus that collects in the back of the throat as a result of the infection. Expectorants melt the mucus.” Look for over-the-counter decongestants that contain pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine, such as Sudafed.

Does Sudafed help post nasal drip?

Over-the-counter decongestants like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) can help reduce congestion and eliminate postnasal drip. Newer, nondrowsy antihistamines like loratadine-pseudoephedrine (Claritin) can work to get rid of postnasal drip. However, these are more effective after you take them for several days.

Does Sudafed make mucus thicker?

“That’s why it’s important to make the right diagnosis,” says Ellis, who also warns against self-medicating with decongestants like Sudafed, which are also drying and will further thicken your mucus.