Nasal congestion or, conversely, severe runny nose - these symptoms are common. Drops in the nose immediately come to the rescue. The course of the disease, its progression, or complete elimination will depend on correctly selected drops. To do this, it is better to understand what nasal drops are, when it is better to get along simply with saline solutions, and when they are difficult.
Why does a runny nose appear
Inflammation of the nasal membrane (rhinitis) occurs for a reason. External factors affecting the mucosa appear. And these factors are strong, otherwise the immunity would have coped instantly. And the mucous membrane can not perform its functions, hence the inflammation of the nasal mucosa.
Viruses
This is one of the causes of the common cold. The most common. The virus enters the nasal mucosa and infects mucosal cells there, starting to multiply. Symptoms of the disease appear, depending on the type of virus, they can be either severe or mild. This disease is called acute respiratory viral infection.
Bacteria
This is the second cause of the common cold. Bacteria are much larger than viruses. Moreover, viruses need a cell, they cannot develop separately from it, and bacteria are separate living organisms that can support themselves, for which they need food and certain conditions. The nose has a very favorable environment for this, which is why bacteria cause bacterial rhinitis.
Such a runny nose can pass as a separate disease. Often with SARS, a runny nose begins and then the throat, cough, and so on join. If a runny nose is caused by a bacterium, then it remains a separate disease, without the addition of other symptoms to it.
Viral bacterial cause
It happens that the initial cause of the common cold was a virus, but then, as a result of a weakened immune system or other reasons, a bacterial infection joins. Bacteria live inside a person, but with the normal functioning of the immune system everything is in symbiosis, and no one bothers anyone, but if a failure occurs, then the immune system is already working incorrectly, and the bacteria begin to multiply, causing an infection.
Colds
If the human body is supercooled, then thermoregulation and blood circulation are disturbed, the protective properties of the body are aimed at maintaining the desired temperature (known to everyone as 36.6 °). And while the body is busy providing heat, the bacteria living in the nasopharynx again begin to multiply intensively.
Allergy
Allergy, as the cause of the common cold, is also very well known. Irritants act on the nasal mucosa, and an allergic rhinitis occurs. One person may not have an allergy at all (and as a result of an allergic rhinitis), but there are times when the ailment occurs due to flowering in the spring, because of poplar fluff in the summer or because of paint during repair work. The cause of the disease is not fully known, why some respond to stimuli, while others do not. But the fact that it is an allergy that can cause rhinitis is a well-known fact.
Several types of drugs
We will consider five types of medicines. The first is vasoconstrictive drops in the nose from a runny nose. The second is salt remedies. The third is oil drops in the nose. We will also analyze combined preparations and complex drops.
Vasoconstrictor drugs
Rhinitis - the name comes from the Greek language and means inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Often, vasoconstrictive drops are used to treat it. Such drugs are common for the treatment of rhinitis in both adults and children. Drops in the nose from a runny nose are suitable for young children. Adults or children after six years of age are preferable to use these drugs, but already in the form of sprays.
Once in the nose, the drops act on the mucous membrane by narrowing the blood vessels, and as a result, the swelling of the nose subsides, and normal and habitual breathing returns to the person. Of course, this is a temporary result, but what a tangible one.
Under the influence of vasoconstrictive drops, nasal mucus forms more slowly and becomes less fluid, due to which breathing is restored easily and congestion passes.
Any drops in the nose should be prescribed by a doctor, this article is not a guide for action, it is informative.
It is important to understand that vasoconstrictor drops in the nose from a runny nose give a short-term result and should be used with special courses. You can not use such drops for a long time, since addiction can develop, and breathing without drops will no longer be possible.
Active substance
In the pharmacy, a huge selection of drugs with all kinds of names opens before the buyer. It is important to understand that there is such a thing as an active substance. It happens that the same active substance is in different bottles under completely different names. But this does not play a role, because the meaning is clear: we choose the funds for the main component. So, what to choose drops in the nose from nasal congestion? The list of drugs is presented below, based on the active substance of the medicines.
Short acting drugs
The exposure time is 4-6 hours. Three groups of such drugs are distinguished, different in active substance:
- Naphazoline. In the pharmacy based on it you can find the drops: "Nafazolin", "Nafazol-Homofarm", "Naphthyzin", "Sanorin".
- Phenylephrine. On sale can be found as “Nazol Baby” and “Nazol Kids”.
- Tetrizoline. Trade names: "Tizin" and "Burnil".
Medications
The exposure time of such drugs is 8-10 hours. This includes two groups:
- Xylometazoline. Based on this active substance, you can find many inexpensive drugs in the pharmacy: Galazolin, Fornos, Influurin, Xylen, Otrivin, Ximelin, Rinonorm, Rinostop, Farmazolin.
- Tramazolinum. In the pharmacy can be found as "Lasolnazal plus", "Rinosprey."
Long-acting drugs
The active substance is oxymetazoline, the duration of this substance is more than 12 hours. In the pharmacy can be found under these trade names:
- Afrin;
- "Nazivin";
- Knoxpray
- "Nazol";
- "Sanorinchik";
- “Fairx Spray”;
- Leconil.
Absolutely all of the above funds have a vasoconstrictor effect, act quickly and relieve swelling, also affect the reduction of mucus and ease of breathing. This is not a complete list of nasal drops from nasal congestion, but now it is becoming more clear that drugs should be selected based on the active substance.
Recommendations for use
The following are tips on when to use these medicines:
- If nasal breathing is impaired due to acute respiratory infection, then this is an indication for the use of vasoconstrictor drugs. Mouth breathing increases a possible violation of the integrity of the mucous membranes, changes in the fluidity and viscosity of sputum. And as a result, complications arise.
- At high temperatures, when the room is dry and hot, and in addition to this, nasal congestion is observed. These factors will affect the greater likelihood of developing complications, and in this case, the use of vasoconstrictor drugs is justified.
- During sleep, while lying down, the mucus located in the nasal passages has the ability to accumulate. And therefore, it is better to use effective nose drops in advance.
- With otitis or sinusitis, the use of vasoconstrictive drops is justified, since the drugs restore the obstruction of the nasal sinuses and ear canals.
- It is recommended to use nasal drops from nasal congestion from the list as needed. If the nose is stuffy, then you need to use the drug, and if the nose is breathing, then it is not recommended to use vasoconstrictors again. An exception is nasal instillation during illness before bedtime.
- Vasoconstrictor drugs should be used from 3 to 5 days. Seven days is the maximum time for using drops or sprays. If, after a week of using vasoconstrictor drugs, nasal breathing is absent, then you need to seek medical help.
- Phenylephrine has a minimal amount of side effects. It has already been noted above that in the pharmacy, drugs based on it can be found under the names Nazol Baby and Nazol Kids. Unlike all other drugs, phenylephrine does not affect the heart rhythm, and therefore children’s nose drops are prescribed on its basis. For children under two years old, it is better to use drugs based on phenylephrine.
Salt preparations
Often there are situations that children do not know how to blow their nose, and aspirator suction does not give the desired result. Mucus accumulates in the posterior nasal cavity, and the easiest way to eliminate it is to use saline drops. Almost all drops or sprays sold, having a different name and varying in price (from cheap and affordable to expensive and seemingly effective), have the same active substance - sodium chloride. In the pharmacy, you can buy it as a saline solution. Salt drops in the nose for children is the best and safest treatment for the common cold.
For children up to one year, from one to three drops are dripped every fifteen minutes, for children after a year, three to five drops are dripped. Such a drug can hardly cause harm, and it can be dripped without fear, unlike vasoconstrictive drops. A large number of saline solutions are sold in pharmacies in the form of drops and sprays.
It is very convenient to take ready-made saline solutions with you on the road.
Salt preparations moisturize the mucus in the nose, make sputum liquid, after which it can be easily removed by aspiration or aspiration by suction.
The list of salt preparations for hydration:
- “Aqua Maris”;
- Dolphin;
- "But the salt";
- "Salin";
- "Marimer";
- Humer.
The pharmaceutical industry does not stand still, and new drugs are being produced that, in fact, contain salt water that can cleanse, moisturize and prevent mucus from drying out.
Oil
In the treatment of the common cold, in most cases in children, oil drops are often used. The oil creates a thin protective film on the mucous membrane of the nose and nasopharynx, and thus the mucous membrane does not dry out. If the house is hot, dry, and also at high temperature, it is recommended to use oil drops.
It will be better to use such funds before bedtime.
It is advisable to apply drops three times a day, one or two drops in each nasal passage.
If there are no special oils at hand, then olive oil, liquid paraffin, and also vitamin E and A in liquid form are suitable for these purposes.
List of oils for nasal instillation
These drugs are in the free market:
- "Chlorophyllipt 2%";
- "Pinosol";
- "Menthol";
- "Evacept";
- "Vitaon";
- "Pinovit";
- olive oil;
- peach oil;
- sea buckthorn oil.
If after applying salt and oil preparations the nose does not want to breathe in any way, then it is already necessary to use vasoconstrictors, as described above.
Combination drugs
The pharmaceutical market does not stand still, and more and more new medicines are produced and appear on the shelves of pharmacies. And now on sale you can find such drugs as a mixture of oil solutions and vasoconstrictor drugs.
On sale, a combined preparation in the form of a mixture of vasoconstrictor and oily agents can be found under the trade name:
- "Nazol Advance" in the form of a spray.
- "Nazol Kids" in the form of a spray.
- "Dr. Tyss's Nasal Spray."
- "Evkazolin" in the form of a spray.
The combined preparation in the form of a mixture of vasoconstrictor and antiallergic components:
- "Vibrocil" in the form of drops, spray and gel.
- "Sanorin-Anallergin" in the form of drops.
And the third combined example of a combination of a vasoconstrictor drug and a drug that affects the viscosity of sputum is presented in the pharmacy as "Rinofluimuscil." In the treatment of sinusitis drops in the nose, these are very effective.
In addition to these combination drugs, doctors have many other proven recipes. After all, before, many medicines could not be bought, namely, made in a pharmacy according to a doctor’s prescription. Often people have had positive reviews of nose drops prepared by a pharmacist. But progress does not stand still, and now many options for drops can be bought at the pharmacy.
Immunomodulating drugs
In 95% of cases, it is the virus that causes the common cold, and there are drops that can fight viruses. Thus, they increase immunity and belong to immunomodulatory drugs:
- Drops in a nose "Grippferon". A drug with an antiviral effect, anti-inflammatory, with immunomodulatory properties. The main active substance of these nasal drops is interferon alfa-2b. The drug can be used to prevent acute respiratory viral infections during exacerbations, and is also used for treatment. It can be used even for young children. On sale, it is available in bottles of five and ten milliliters and is sold in the form of nasal drops. "Grippferon" drops in the nose have positive reviews.
- "Ingaron." It contains gamma interferon. The medication is effective at all stages of the disease.
- Drops in the nose "Interferon". Under this name, in a pharmacy you can buy powder in ampoules, which is diluted with boiled water. Such drops are dripped every two hours, five drops in each nostril for three days. In order to prevent interferon, five drops are administered twice a day. Ready-made drops with interferon in a pharmacy can be bought under the trade names: "Nazoferon", "Laferon Nasal." In the form of sprays, there is still the drug “Genferon Light” based on interferon.
- "Euphorbium compositum" - refers to homeopathic remedies that help in the treatment and prevention of the common cold.
- Drops in a nose "Derinat". Another drug that has positive reviews among mothers. It has anti-inflammatory, antiviral and immunomodulating properties. Drops in the nose "Derinat" are composed of the active substance sodium deoxyribonucleinate. The drug activates the immune system.
Nasal drops with antibiotics
Sometimes situations arise when the use of antibacterial drugs is justified. Such drugs should be prescribed by a doctor. Nose drops with antibiotics are recommended when a diagnosis such as bacterial rhinitis is made.
Such drugs exist, but they are available in the form of sprays:
Drops in the nose with sinusitis
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the maxillary sinuses. The treatment of the disease should be carried out by a doctor, and self-medication in this case is not recommended.
To get rid of sinusitis, complex therapy is used, often including antibiotics, drops in the nose, rinsing the nose, and in some cases a puncture to ensure the outflow of pus.
An otolaryngologist will help to cure any runny nose, the main thing is not to be afraid to contact him and follow his recommendations regarding which nasal drops to use for nose congestion. The list of drugs is presented in this article for educational purposes. Before using this or that remedy, you should coordinate its use with your doctor.