Sinus headaches are quite common in a large percentage of the general population. It occurs when the cavities behind your nose, at the back of your eyes, in your cheeks and forehead are clogged due to some infection or allergy or even simple cold. This leads to severe headache, causing pressure in the area between your eyes, above the nose.
Sinus headaches can be very troublesome. It not only causes pain and pressure in your sinus region, but also causes serious discomfort. The discomfort increases if you try to lie down or bent over. Usually the symptoms of sinus headache include nasal discharge or stuffy nose or sore throat and cough, along with fatigue. If you do not have these additional symptoms, then you may not have sinus headache. However, if you do, it is important that you have it treated soon, as delay will only increase your pain and discomfort.
Best Medications to get Rid of Sinus Headaches Fast
The doctor would prescribe medication that will be helpful not only for treating the pain and the discomfort, but also cure the root cause of the condition. Here are some of the best medicines that can be used for treating sinus headache. These are:
Decongestants:
The University of Maryland Medical Centre considers the best medication for sinus headaches to be the decongestants. Phenylephrine and Pseudoephedrine are the two common decongestants that are sold over the counter which can help get rid of sinus headaches fast. These medicines decrease blood flow and thereby, reduce the swelling in the sinus cavity. This will help drain fluid in the sinus cavity and you will be able to breathe through your nostrils again.
However, along with the rapid effectiveness of these decongestants, these medicines also come with certain side effects such as nervousness, sleeplessness and an increased heart rate. So, it is important that you follow the dosage and do not take the oral decongestants for more than 7 days at a stretch and also the nasal decongestant sprays for more than 3 days. Consult with your doctor if your condition doesn’t improve and if you want to continue taking these medicines.
Over the Counter Painkillers to Get Rid of Sinus Headaches
Though the decongestants can reduce the swelling and improve the breathing through nostrils, it cannot reduce the pain. So, to reduce the pain, there are some over the counter painkillers that are best to get rid of sinus headaches fast. These include Ibuprofen, Aspirin, and Acetaminophen and Naproxem sodium. However, for these medicines as well, prolonged intake is not recommended. You must follow the label instructions for dosage and stop taking them altogether if it is already 10 days or as your doctor prescribes.
For pregnant women, aspirin and ibuprofen are not prescribed. They can take acetaminophen instead. However, one must consult a doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications since it may have major side effects on the pregnancy and the baby.
It must also be mentioned that many of the over the counter painkillers already contain decongestants. So, if you are taking decongestants separately, make sure that you control your dosage and avoid taking too much of it through two different medicines. Most of the over the counter pain relievers help in reducing inflammation along with the pain. So, if the cause of the sinus headache is inflammation, these medicines would be able to cure them as well.
Antihistamines for Sinus Headaches
The other possible cause of sinus headaches is an allergy and antihistamines are the best medications to treat allergies. The body experiences allergic symptoms and reactions due to a hormone that is released in the body, named histamine. This leads to the formation of excessive mucus and it blocks the nasal passage or the sinus cavity. Antihistamines block the release of histamine in the body. Thereby, the sinus cavity will not be inflamed as a result of the allergy. Thus, the fluid in the sinus cavities would be reduced.
There are many popular antihistamines that are commonly used for treating sinus headaches like Diphenhydramine and Loratadine. The older antihistamines can cause drowsiness in most people. On the other hand, the newer antihistamines like Loratadine do not cause as much of drowsiness in healthy adults. Still, if you are taking the antihistamines, it is advised that you do not drive at that time. Even, operating any machinery after taking the antihistamines must be avoided.
Conclusion
Though, these are the best medications that will help you to get rid of sinus headaches sooner than ever, it is always important that you have your condition diagnosed by a doctor. The doctor will be able to tell if you have sinus or not. The doctor will also prescribe the best medications according to the cause of your sinus headache and as per your condition. There is no uniform or average dosage for these medicines as the symptoms vary to a great extent from person to person. It is always a good idea to evaluate the condition by a doctor and follow the doctor’s instructions.
Also Read:
- Vacuum Headache: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention- Medications, Hydration
- Sinus Headaches: Causes, Symptoms,Treatment, Prevention, Differentiating it from Migraine, Risk Factors, Investigations
- 6 Alternative Ways to Treat Sinusitis or Sinus Infection
- What is Frontal Sinusitis & How is it Treated?
- What is Sphenoid Sinusitis, Know its Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Prognosis, Pathophysiology
