Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesMedicationsNon-Drug TreatmentsWhen to Call a Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Medications
Non-Drug Treatments
When to Call a Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
At-home remedies and medicine for a stuffy nose, or a combination of both, can help you reducecongestionand breathe a little easier. This includes options like using acool-mist humidifier, saline nasal sprays, decongestant or steroid nasal sprays, and oral decongestants and anthistamines.
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This article explores the causes of a stuffy nose and the various drug and non-drug treatments. It also explains when to call a healthcare provider if the symptoms persist or are a sign of something more serious.
What Causes a Stuffy Nose?
Among adults, structural abnormalities such as adeviated septum, enlargedturbinates, or nasal polyps can cause congestion-like symptoms.These problems may be inherited or the result of an injury, chronic allergies, or chronic sinusitis. Dry air and tobacco smoke can make the stuffiness worse.
Nasal congestion can also result fromcontinuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)therapy, a type of treatment forobstructive sleep apnea.
Because infants do not know how to breathe through their mouth, a stuffy nose can become problematic and cause problems with feeding or sleeping. Children also can get a stuffy nose from enlarged adenoids, which sometimes need to be surgically removed.
Over-the-Counter Medications for a Stuffy Nose
Oral and Nasal Decongestants
While Sudafed is available without a prescription, it is kept behind the pharmacy counter and requires an ID to obtain. A similar drug calledSudafed PE (phenylephrine)can be purchased without hindrance but has not proven to be anywhere near as effective as pseudoephedrine.
Nasal decongestant sprayslikeAfrin (oxymetazoline)also provide short-term relief of a stuffy nose. They should also not be used for longer than three days due to the risk of rebound congestion (sometimes referred to as “nasal spray addiction”).
Nasal Steroid Sprays
Because nasal steroids blunt the immune response, overuse of the drug can lead to an increased risk of sinus infections.
One Nostril Blocked: Causes and How to Clear It
Oral Antihistamines
Warning For ChildrenThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises against giving children under 2 any cough and cold remedy containing a decongestant or antihistamine. Doing so may lead to potentially life-threatening side effects like convulsions, rapid heartbeats, and death.
Warning For Children
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises against giving children under 2 any cough and cold remedy containing a decongestant or antihistamine. Doing so may lead to potentially life-threatening side effects like convulsions, rapid heartbeats, and death.
Stuffy noses do not always need to be treated with drugs. There are several home-spun remedies and over-the-counter products that may be suitable for treating mild sinus or nasal congestion.
These include:
Most of the time, a stuffy nose will clear up on its own within a week. Nasal congestion that lasts longer may be a sign of a serious sinus infection in need of treatment.
You may also want to see a healthcare professional if the symptoms are interfering with sleep or your ability to function normally.
A stuffy nose may require medical attention if:
Summary
Depending on the underlying cause, a stuffy nose may be treated with oral or nasal decongestants, nasal steroids sprays, or oral antihistamines. Non-drug options include a neti pot, menthol cough drops, a saline nasal spray, a cool-mist humidifier, and adhesive nasal breathing strips.
Learn More13 Reasons You Have a Runny Nose
Yes, you can get rid of a stuffy nose without medicine. Humidifiers, inhaling steam from a hot shower, and neti pots using distilled water are popular options to relieve a stuffy nose.These options offer short-term relief in clearing sinus congestion, but other treatments like medicine may be needed if the symptoms do not go away.
Different over-the-counter drugs can help relieve sinus or nasal congestion. They include oral or nasal decongestants, nasal steroid sprays, and oral antihistamines.
Correction - August 3, 2023: This article was updated to correct the type of medication Flonase (fluticasone) was listed as in the FAQ section; Flonase is a corticosteroid, not an antihistamine.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Stuffy or runny nose - adult.Kahraman E, Cil Y, Incesulu A.The effect of nasal obstruction after different nasal surgeries using acoustic rhinometry and nasal obstruction symptom evaluation scale.World J Plast Surg. 2016;5(3):236-243.Inoue A, Chiba S, Matsuura K, Osafune H, Capasso R, Wada K.Nasal function and CPAP compliance.Auris Nasus Larynx. 2019;46(4):548-558. doi:10.1016/j.anl.2018.11.006Calvo-Henriquez C, Branco AM, Lechien JR, et al.What is the relationship between the size of the adenoids and nasal obstruction? A systematic review.International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. 2021;151:110895. doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2021.110895Laccourreye O, Werner A, Giroud JP, Couloigner V, Bonfils P, Bondon-Guitton E.Benefits, limits and danger of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine as nasal decongestants.European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Diseases. 2015;132(1):31-34. doi:10.1016/j.anorl.2014.11.001U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Use Caution When Giving Cough and Cold Products to Kids.U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Is Rinsing Your Sinuses With Neti Pots Safe?
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Stuffy or runny nose - adult.Kahraman E, Cil Y, Incesulu A.The effect of nasal obstruction after different nasal surgeries using acoustic rhinometry and nasal obstruction symptom evaluation scale.World J Plast Surg. 2016;5(3):236-243.Inoue A, Chiba S, Matsuura K, Osafune H, Capasso R, Wada K.Nasal function and CPAP compliance.Auris Nasus Larynx. 2019;46(4):548-558. doi:10.1016/j.anl.2018.11.006Calvo-Henriquez C, Branco AM, Lechien JR, et al.What is the relationship between the size of the adenoids and nasal obstruction? A systematic review.International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. 2021;151:110895. doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2021.110895Laccourreye O, Werner A, Giroud JP, Couloigner V, Bonfils P, Bondon-Guitton E.Benefits, limits and danger of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine as nasal decongestants.European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Diseases. 2015;132(1):31-34. doi:10.1016/j.anorl.2014.11.001U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Use Caution When Giving Cough and Cold Products to Kids.U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Is Rinsing Your Sinuses With Neti Pots Safe?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Stuffy or runny nose - adult.Kahraman E, Cil Y, Incesulu A.The effect of nasal obstruction after different nasal surgeries using acoustic rhinometry and nasal obstruction symptom evaluation scale.World J Plast Surg. 2016;5(3):236-243.Inoue A, Chiba S, Matsuura K, Osafune H, Capasso R, Wada K.Nasal function and CPAP compliance.Auris Nasus Larynx. 2019;46(4):548-558. doi:10.1016/j.anl.2018.11.006Calvo-Henriquez C, Branco AM, Lechien JR, et al.What is the relationship between the size of the adenoids and nasal obstruction? A systematic review.International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. 2021;151:110895. doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2021.110895Laccourreye O, Werner A, Giroud JP, Couloigner V, Bonfils P, Bondon-Guitton E.Benefits, limits and danger of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine as nasal decongestants.European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Diseases. 2015;132(1):31-34. doi:10.1016/j.anorl.2014.11.001U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Use Caution When Giving Cough and Cold Products to Kids.U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Is Rinsing Your Sinuses With Neti Pots Safe?
MedlinePlus.Stuffy or runny nose - adult.
Kahraman E, Cil Y, Incesulu A.The effect of nasal obstruction after different nasal surgeries using acoustic rhinometry and nasal obstruction symptom evaluation scale.World J Plast Surg. 2016;5(3):236-243.
Inoue A, Chiba S, Matsuura K, Osafune H, Capasso R, Wada K.Nasal function and CPAP compliance.Auris Nasus Larynx. 2019;46(4):548-558. doi:10.1016/j.anl.2018.11.006
Calvo-Henriquez C, Branco AM, Lechien JR, et al.What is the relationship between the size of the adenoids and nasal obstruction? A systematic review.International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. 2021;151:110895. doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2021.110895
Laccourreye O, Werner A, Giroud JP, Couloigner V, Bonfils P, Bondon-Guitton E.Benefits, limits and danger of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine as nasal decongestants.European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Diseases. 2015;132(1):31-34. doi:10.1016/j.anorl.2014.11.001
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Use Caution When Giving Cough and Cold Products to Kids.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Is Rinsing Your Sinuses With Neti Pots Safe?
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