Can you take nasal spray and Sudafed?

Category: medical health cold and flu
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2 Don't double your decongestants.
Second, taking them together could lead to an overload of decongestant, increasing the risk of side effects. But you might consider switching to an oral decongestant, namely pseudoephedrine, if you still have symptoms after using a spray for three days.



Similarly, can you take Sudafed and use Afrin?

No interactions were found between Afrin Sinus and pseudoephedrine. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist.

One may also ask, what can you take with Sudafed? View interaction reports for Sudafed Congestion (pseudoephedrine) and the medicines listed below.
  • albuterol.
  • amoxicillin.
  • Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • Claritin (loratadine)
  • Cymbalta (duloxetine)
  • Flonase (fluticasone nasal)
  • gabapentin.
  • Headache Relief (acetaminophen / caffeine)

Consequently, can you get rebound congestion from Sudafed?

Oral decongestants do not cause rebound congestion but are not as effective as topical formulations. Agents that combine an oral decongestant, usually pseudoephedrine, with an antihistamine are frequently used for the treatment of acute and chronic rhinitis due to a variety of causes.

Can Sudafed make congestion worse?

Examples of commonly used decongestants include phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine. In addition, using nonprescription decongestant nasal sprays (Afrin, Dristan, others) for more than three or four days can cause even worse nasal congestion once the decongestant wears off (rebound rhinitis).

29 Related Question Answers Found

Which is better Afrin or Sudafed?

Use Afrin spray or similar products for no more than 72 hours and only when you have an acute cold. Oral decongestants, like pseudoephedrine (like Sudafed) or phenylephrine (like Vicks Sinex), may be a better option.

What if nasal spray goes down throat?

Aim straight. Point the nozzle of the nasal spray container toward the back of your head. If you don't spray straight, you will waste the medicine and may cause more irritation in your nose. If the pump spray is used correctly, the spray should not drip from your nose or down the back of your throat.

What is the best nasal spray for congestion?

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).

Why does Afrin work so well?

It is a solution that's applied as a squirt into the nostril. Once applied, Afrin stimulates receptors in the smooth muscle of the blood vessels of the nose, leading to constriction of these blood vessels that, in turn, reduces nasal congestion. Afrin is not addictive in the same way that other drugs may be.

Can I take Oxymetazoline and Sudafed?


To avoid rebound congestion, try taking the oxymetazoline nasal drops or sprays for the first three days, then make a switch to pseudoephedrine pills (Sudafed and generic). Be aware too that exceeding the recommended dosage of pseudoephedrine can cause nervousness, dizziness or sleeplessness.

Can nasal spray make you more congested?

Long-term use of these sprays can also damage the tissue, causing infection and pain. Symptoms of rebound congestion or dependency on nasal spray may include: feeling congested again shortly after using a decongestant spray. using a decongestant spray regularly but feeling that it doesn't work anymore.

What is the difference between pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine?

Phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine are both adrenergic agonists. Phenylephrine has primarily an affinity to only alpha-adrenergic receptors, while pseudoephedrine has an affinity to both alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors. Their side effect profiles are very similar.

What are the long term effects of Sudafed?

Although pseudoephedrine has some effectiveness in chronic congestion, it also has some abuse potential, and I would be more concerned about its side-effects, including difficulty sleeping, irritability and tremor, and headache.

Why does Sudafed work so well?


Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that constricts (shrinks) dilated blood vessels within the nose, relieving congestion. It causes vasoconstriction by stimulating primarily alpha-adrenergic receptors. It also has weak activity at beta-adrenergic receptors.

How do you treat rebound nasal congestion?

Rebound congestion treatment
“One can use a nasal steroid (such as Flonase) to help limit the symptoms while the body recovers. In severe cases, an oral steroid can be prescribed, which may help.” Dr. Gels adds that saline spray might help to reduce the inflammation.

Can I take Sudafed everyday?

Sudafed Congestion
Adults and children 12 years and older: Take two tablets every four to six hours. Do not take more than eight tablets every 24 hours.

Why is Sudafed bad for you?

Pseudoephedrine constricts blood vessels in the nose and sinuses. Unfortunately, the drug doesn't affect only the head — it tightens blood vessels throughout the body. One effect is a possible increase in blood pressure.

How long can I take Sudafed tablets for?

Pseudoephedrine can be taken for a few days, usually up to 5 to 7 days, for the short-term relief of a stuffy or blocked nose. Is it safe to take for a long time? Decongestants should only be used for a short time, usually less than 10 days. If you take them for longer, you're more likely to get side effects.

How do I stop rebound congestion?


To prevent rebound congestion, use over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays for no more than five days in a row, with as few doses as possible each day. Prescription nasal sprays containing steroids don't cause this rebound effect, so they can be used on a daily basis for years.

How long does rebound nasal congestion last?

Congestion is usually the only symptom. And if you continue to use your nasal spray, this congestion can last for weeks or even months. There isn't a test to formally diagnose rebound congestion. But if rhinitis medicamentosa is to blame, your symptoms should improve after you stop using the medication.

What can you not mix with Sudafed?

You shouldn't use pseudoephedrine if you are currently taking or have taken within the past two weeks monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), a class of antidepressant medications that includes furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), and phenelzine (Nardil), among other drugs.