Each person has to face a runny nose repeatedly throughout his life. He appears for various reasons. A runny nose can be an independent pathology or a symptom of a disease. Most often, rhinitis is of viral origin. Less commonly, pathology becomes bacterial in nature. Sometimes it appears due to allergies. Contact your doctor to correctly determine the cause of the ailment. Only then can you choose an effective spray for the common cold and nasal congestion. A list of the best drugs will be presented to your review in today's article.
A little bit about a runny nose
Rhinitis can have an acute or chronic course. If the snot does not pass more than two weeks, then we are talking about the second option. As you already know, medicine divides the common cold into bacterial, viral, allergic, medication, atrophic, and so on. In each situation, a separate drug is needed. There are several stages of the development of rhinitis:
- reflex (lasts only a few hours and is manifested by sneezing, dry nose, burning sensation);
- catarrhal (lasts 3-5 days and has severe symptoms of the disease in the form of nasal congestion, hyperemia, copious secretion);
- recovery (occurs on average after 5-7 days) or a complication in the form of a bacterial infection (requires enhanced treatment).
Consider which spray from a runny nose and nasal congestion will be effective in a particular case. Always remember that self-medication can lead to unpleasant consequences. Therefore, to select an effective drug, it is better to consult a doctor (otorhinolaryngologist or therapist).
Viral runny nose and its treatment
What will help with a cold from a runny nose and stuffiness? The spray, which has an antiviral and immunomodulatory effect, is prescribed in the very early stages of the disease. As soon as you feel itching and swelling in your nose, begin to sneeze or feel swollen mucous membranes - immediately start using an antiviral spray. From a runny nose and nasal congestion, it will help quickly enough, as it does not allow the disease to progress. What drugs are more popular today?
"Grippferon", "Genferon", "Nazoferon" are interferon inducers. They contain alpha interferons that do not interact with the virus. The medication boosts its own immunity, allowing the body to cope with the pathology on its own. The safety of these medicines allows them to be used by pregnant and lactating women, as well as infants from the first days of life. Formulations sold without a prescription. They are not addictive.
"Derinat" - a spray from a runny nose and nasal congestion. This medication is unique, because in addition to the antiviral and immunomodulatory effects, it also has a regenerating effect. The healing of inflamed tissues helps reduce swelling, which in turn makes breathing easier. Nasal medicine is also acceptable for use by infants and expectant mothers. It is safe for prolonged use and can be used for prevention.
Complex preparations based on sea water
Will a sea water preparation (spray) help with a runny nose and stuffiness? Such medicines are considered safe, they are suitable for long-term use. The most popular trade names for the drugs are: “Aqumaris”, “Dolphin”, “Aqualor”, “Physiomer”, “Humer”, “Rinostop”. The composition of all drugs includes an isotonic solution of sterile sea water. It is known that all of the described medicines can be replaced with a conventional solution of sodium chloride.
How do these tools work? Medications wash the nasal passages, moisturize the mucous membranes, which improves the person’s breathing and relieves him of the crusts in the nose. Also, drugs are effective against runny nose and nasal congestion. Spray (any of the mentioned) incorporates salt. It draws excess fluid from edematous tissues. Due to this, there is a decrease in hyperemia. When washing the nasal passages, excess mucus with pathogens is also removed. All this contributes to a speedy recovery and a gradual decrease in the amount of secretion secreted.
Vasoconstrictors: decongestants
It is believed that the best sprays for runny nose and nasal congestion act immediately. Drugs quickly relieve swelling due to narrowing of blood vessels. A few seconds after application, the person begins to breathe normally. The action of vasoconstrictor drugs lasts from 2-3 to 8-12 hours. Much depends on the active substance. How to choose a remedy for the common cold and nasal congestion (spray)?
- Galazolin, Otrivin, Snoop. They contain the active substance xylometazoline. The effect of the application lasts for 8 hours.
- “Nazivin”, “Nazol”, “Knoxpray”. The composition of the medication includes oxymetazoline. Such tools work for about 12 hours.
- "Sanorin", "Naphthyzin" remain effective for 4-6 hours. The main component of the drug is naphazoline.
- “Tizin Xilo” includes tetrizoline. Works for 4 hours.
All these medicines are not used for more than five days. The optimal treatment period is three days. If you use the compounds for a long time, then addiction to them may develop. Please note that not every spray for the common cold and nasal congestion for children can be used. Many medicines are limited to one, two, or six years. When using such medicines, be careful. Do not use them thoughtlessly. Before applying the medication to the nasal mucosa, rinse it. Use short-acting vasoconstrictors during the day. At night, you can use a stronger medicine. Discard the nasal spray immediately after you begin to breathe normally. Remember that these drugs do not treat. They only relieve the symptoms of rhinitis and temporarily ease breathing.
Corticosteroid medicines
How to use a nasal congestion spray? Without a cold, the presence of edema is often the result of improper use of vasoconstrictor medications. At the same time, you can hear a diagnosis of drug rhinitis from doctors. Corticosteroids are used to correct it. These are hormonal nasal sprays that facilitate breathing. Note that all drugs begin to act after some time. Do not expect an instant effect.
The most popular corticosteroid nasal agents: Avamis, Nazonex, Tafen. You can buy them at a pharmacy without a prescription. But you should not use them thoughtlessly. The appointment of the drug should be done by a doctor. A corticosteroid spray for nasal congestion (without or with a runny nose is not so important) has been used for a long time. Drug withdrawal occurs gradually. The maximum effect of the application is achieved on 2-4 days. Also, such compounds are prescribed for the treatment of allergies and acute respiratory infections in the nose.
Unique "Rinofluimucil"
What else can I buy a spray for runny nose and nasal congestion? The list of the best continues with the drug based on acetylcysteine. Its trade name is Rinofluimucil. The nasal spray relieves edema, thereby improving breathing and normalizing the overall well-being of the patient. The drug also has an anti-inflammatory effect, which accelerates the healing process. The medication has a mucolytic effect. It liquefies the thick mucus that builds up in the sinuses. If congestion is caused precisely by this factor, then the other drugs described may be powerless.
An effective spray for rhinitis and nasal congestion "Rinofluimucil" is used no more than one week. It is prescribed for acute and chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, sinusitis. It is important that children can use this medication only after three years. Reviews about this nasal remedy are different. Many consumers say that at the beginning of its use, a runny nose intensifies: the amount of mucus being separated increases. But this does not mean that the medication does not help you. The medicine, as you know, has a mucolytic effect. Due to it, the secret liquefies and is brought out. This action prevents further inflammation and the attachment of the bacterial flora.
In case of bacterial infection
What is the most effective for a runny nose and nasal congestion? Spray with antibacterial action is used to confirm the corresponding infection. The following symptoms report a bacterial rhinitis: green snot, severe swelling and congestion. Often all this is accompanied by a pulsation in the frontal lobe.
To relieve swelling and eliminate bacterial rhinitis, it is necessary to use the drug "Polydex". This is a good remedy for the common cold and nasal congestion - spray. It includes an antibacterial component and phenylephrine. The latter, in turn, helps to narrow the vessels and normalize the condition of the nasal mucosa. The use of the drug lasts from 5-7 to 10 days. For children under 3 years of age, spray from the common cold "Polydex" is contraindicated. Also, the medicine is not prescribed for expectant mothers and lactating women.
Reviews say that the spray "Polydex" allows you to "kill two birds with one stone." During therapy, you get an antibacterial effect, and also provide symptomatic treatment. Phenylephrine relieves congestion, itching, burning in the nose. This component has an antihistamine effect.
Allergic nasal congestion
What are the best sprays for a runny nose and stuffy nose? If swelling and mucus separation is caused by an allergic reaction, then you should definitely consult a doctor. With the help of simple laboratory tests, the doctor will find out the cause of your ailment. Based on this, further therapy is prescribed. Most often prescribed antihistamines for oral and intramuscular use. But there are situations in which a person cannot accept them. Then doctors prefer nasal drops and sprays. How to relieve nasal congestion and eliminate a runny nose with allergies?
"Sanorin-Analergin" includes naphazoline, which has a vasoconstrictive effect and has a short effect. The drug also has antazolin, an antihistamine. After application to the mucous membranes, the maximum effect occurs. It is important that the medicine can be used only for five days. If there is no improvement during this time, then you should again contact the doctors to correct the treatment.
Vibrocil is another treatment for allergic congestion and a runny nose. The composition of the drug includes phenylephrine and dimethindene maleate. This spray can be used for children, but only from the age of six. The medication perfectly relieves nasal congestion and freshens the breath. It relieves all the symptoms of an allergic reaction, including copious mucus separation. The vasoconstrictor effect fails phenylephrine. The second component - dimentindene maleate - blocks the functioning of histamine receptors, without affecting the activity of ciliated epithelium of the nasal mucosa.
Corticosteroids are also used in the treatment of allergic rhinitis and congestion. The list of drugs is presented to your attention above. It is worth remembering that a nasal spray alone is not enough. Of course, the compounds will facilitate breathing. But they will not fix the problem without your efforts. In allergic rhinitis, it is necessary to exclude the source of irritation.
Herbal ingredients for the treatment of rhinitis and nasal congestion
To treat swelling in the nose and eliminate snot, you can choose drugs based on vegetable oils. These include Pinosol. Such a medication costs an average of 300 rubles. According to reviews, it helps a lot from a runny nose and nasal congestion. Spray is cheap (analogue with the same action) - this is Pinovit. The composition of the drugs is approximately the same. They include vegetable oils: mountain pine, peppermint, eucalyptus. Thymol and vitamin E are also present. If a runny nose is caused by addiction to vasoconstrictive drops or if atrophic rhinitis is involved, then these drugs will be one of the best. They do not affect the vessels of the mucous surface, and, therefore, are not addictive. Medicines refresh and facilitate breathing, soften the mucous membrane, eliminate crusts, and promote healing of damaged areas.
The use of Pinosol and Pinovit sprays is contraindicated in case of allergic rhinitis and congestion. In this case, your actions will only worsen your well-being. It is also forbidden to use the medicine in the form of a spray in children under 2 years old. It is important that the medications described are permissible to prescribe during pregnancy. If the future mother is not allergic to any component, then she can safely use a herbal preparation that will help with a runny nose and nasal congestion.
Spray: reviews about drugs for the treatment of the common cold
If you turn to consumers, you can hear a variety of opinions about medicines. Doctors cannot give feedback on the described drugs in the complex, since they are all intended for different cases.
According to medical opinion, the safest are sprays based on sea water. They partially relieve swelling and cleanse the nasal mucosa. But the effect of such drugs does not always live up to consumer expectations. If nasal congestion is strong and is caused precisely by vasodilation, then cleansers based on seawater may seem useless. In such a situation, it is advisable to use vasoconstrictive sprays. For allergies, they can also be used, but only for a limited time. If the reaction is caused by a strong irritant, with which you constantly have to contact, then glucocorticosteroids should be preferred.
Antiviral and antibacterial compounds are used in the infectious process caused by the action of microorganisms. It is better to determine it by a doctor, since it is very difficult to make the correct diagnosis on your own. Herbal formulations are in great demand among pregnant and lactating women. Newly made and future mothers say that such drugs are effective and safe. You can use them for a long time (unlike vasoconstrictive sprays).
additional information
Often consumers ask themselves: what to choose for the treatment of runny nose and nasal congestion? What is the superiority of sprays? Can I use them for children?
Sprays for the treatment of the common cold and the elimination of nasal congestion have an advantage over the medicines in the form of drops. The spray nozzle allows you to irrigate the mucous membrane evenly. Small droplets fall even in the most inaccessible areas. This is a significant advantage of sprays over drops. The advantage of many drugs is that the active component is practically not absorbed into the bloodstream. He works locally. It is worth noting that many drugs in the form of sprays are prohibited for use in children. For example, vasoconstrictor formulations are contraindicated for up to a year (and some up to six years). Antiviral drugs can be used already from birth, while antibiotics are prescribed from 2-3 years.
The issue of the safety of the use of sprays in infants remains a controversial issue. Children of the first three years of life have a special structure of the ear canal. The tube connecting the nose and ears is short and wide. If you enter the medicine under pressure (spraying the medicine), then the active substance together with pathogens will enter the Eustachian canal. The result of such treatment will be otitis media. As a result, you will not only not help the baby cope with a runny nose, but also worsen the condition of the child. Do not self-medicate. Be sure to consult your doctor before applying this or that nasal spray.
Summarize
From the article, you learned how to choose a spray for the common cold and nasal congestion. Reviews and a review of the drugs are presented to your attention. If you use the composition yourself, then be careful. Lack of effect for three days should prompt you to see a doctor. You need to see a doctor in the following cases:
- if a headache joins or shoots in the ear;
- mucus secreted from the nose has purulent impurities (green or yellow);
- nosebleeds are noted;
- symptoms of the disease intensified (sneezing, lacrimation appeared);
- body temperature rises;
- there is a sore throat;
- there is dripping snot on the back of the throat (often accompanied by a nightly obsessive cough);
- the nose is blocked so that even vasoconstrictive drugs do not help.
All these signs indicate that the medication you have chosen is not suitable for treatment. Therefore, its further use is impractical. With severe congestion and a runny nose, an otorhinolaryngologist will help you. All the best, breathe freely!