What over the counter medicine dries up mucus?

Decongestants turn off this mucus release and unblock the nose, allowing you to once again smell that coffee and sound human again. Phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine are the most commonly used oral decongestants, while oxymetazoline can be found in nasal drops or sprays.
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What can I take to dry up mucus?

Expectorants: Expectorants like guaifenesin (Mucinex) help thin phlegm, making it easier to blow out or cough up. Vapor rubs: Vapor rubs provide relief from coughs and chest congestion. Decongestants: Decongestants that contain pseudoephedrine (like Sudafed) can dry out mucus in the chest, nose, and throat.
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Does Mucinex dry up mucus?

In summary, Mucinex increases the volume and reduces the viscosity (stickiness) of respiratory tract secretions. This makes it easier for mucus trapped in the airways to be coughed out. Mucinex belongs to the class of medicines known as expectorants.
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What breaks up mucus Besides Mucinex?

Water. Water increases the moisture in mucus making it easier to expel. You can use water as an expectorant by drinking plenty of it alone or in the form of herbal tea or by gargling with salty water. You can also get the effects by using a humidifier or via steam inhalation.
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Does Sudafed dry up mucus?

Sudafed 12 Hour (pseudoephedrine ) is a decongestant medication. Decongestant drugs cause the mucous membranes in nasal passages to contract, which decreases swelling and secretion of mucus.
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What over-the-counter medicine works best at kicking the cough of the common cold and bronchitis?



What is the fastest way to dry up mucus?

How to get rid of excess mucus and phlegm
  1. Hydrate more. Drink more water. ...
  2. Use a humidifier. ...
  3. Check filters on heating and cooling systems. ...
  4. Use a nasal saline spray. ...
  5. Gargle with salt water. ...
  6. Use eucalyptus. ...
  7. Use over-the-counter medication.
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Does Zyrtec dry up mucus?

The pseudoephedrine in Zyrtec-D is a decongestant that can relieve nasal congestion. However, antihistamines are not generally recommended for sinus infections because they can dry out the nasal passages.
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Can Benadryl dry up mucus?

Benadryl® can dry out secretions and mucous membranes. This can create problems not only in the eyes, nose and throat but throughout the rest of the body as well. Improvement in a runny nose during a cold is not due to the anti-histamine properties of the medication.
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What is the best antihistamine to dry up mucus?

There are several good options among antihistamines to dry up a runny nose, including diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Nytol), brompheniramine (Dimetapp Cold, Robitussin Cold & Allergy, Allergy Elixir), and doxylamine (Alka-Seltzer Plus Night-Time Cold Medicine, NyQuil).
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Does Claritin dry up mucus?

If it's caused by allergies, an allergy medication like Claritin can help dry out the mucus that causes congestion, coughing, and a sore throat. Other medications like nasal sprays, Mucinex, and Sudafed might be used if postnasal drip is being caused by a cold or the flu.
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What allergy medicine will dry up sinus drainage?

Antihistamines and decongestants can often help with postnasal drip caused by sinusitis and viral infections. They can also be effective, along with steroid nasal sprays, for postnasal drip caused by allergies.
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How do you dry up post nasal drip?

Now what?
  1. A humidifier or steam inhalation (as during a hot shower)
  2. Keeping well-hydrated (to keep the mucus thinner)
  3. Sleep on propped up pillows, to keep the mucus from collecting at the back of your throat.
  4. Nasal irrigation (available over-the-counter)
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How do you stop sinus drainage?

These self-help steps can help relieve sinusitis symptoms:
  1. Drink fluids. Water or juice will help dilute mucous secretions and promote drainage. ...
  2. Moisten your sinus cavities. ...
  3. Apply warm compresses to your face. ...
  4. Rinse your nasal passages. ...
  5. Rest. ...
  6. Sleep with your head elevated.
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Does mucinex help with sinus drainage?

Nasal irrigation and decongestants can help in the treatment of chronic sinusitis by keeping mucus loose and nasal passages clear. The mucus-thinning agent guaifenesin (Mucinex) is another option.
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Which mucinex is best for post-nasal drip?

Try Maximum Strength Mucinex® D for relief. It contains pseudoephedrine HCl and guaifenesin, which may help you clear excess mucus and nasal congestion (as well as the resulting post-nasal drip).
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Does Benadryl help post-nasal drip?

Postnasal drip caused by allergies can be managed with OTC antihistamines and decongestants. Note that older antihistamines like Benadryl and Chlor-Trimeton can actually thicken mucus; instead, try Claritin, Alavert, Allegra, Zyrtec, Xyzal or Clarinex.
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What is the best sleeping position for sinus drainage?

The best sleeping position for sinus drainage problems and other sinus issues is to sleep with your head propped up. Sleeping with your head propped up will help gravity naturally drain your sinuses and reduce the chance of excessive blood flow that can develop sinus congestion.
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Does Zyrtec stop sinus drainage?

Thin postnasal drip secretions caused by allergies may be treated with antihistamines. Second-generation antihistamines such as Zyrtec and Claritin may offer better relief than older-type antihistamines such as promethazine (older antihistamines tend to thicken post-nasal secretions).
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How do antihistamines dry up mucus?

How Do Antihistamines Work? Some types of them can help relieve your runny nose and sneezing when you have a cold. They block a chemical your body makes called histamine that makes the tissues in your nose itch and swell. Most experts say that histamine isn't the major cause of a runny nose when you have a cold.
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Does Benadryl help with mucus and phlegm?

Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) Breaks up mucus and relieves cough. Mucinex Dm (Dextromethorphan / Guaifenesin) is okay for loosening congestion in your chest and throat, but it could prevent you from coughing the mucus up. It comes as an extended-release tablet and a short-acting liquid.
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Should I take Benadryl for phlegm?

Benadryl for the family chesty cough and nasal congestion syrup helps to clear the phlegm of a productive cough and relieve nasal congestion (blocked and runny nose).
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Is Mucinex or Sudafed better for sinus drainage?

Is Sudafed or Mucinex better? Each medication is used for a different purpose. If you are experiencing nasal congestion, and you do not have any of the health conditions listed in the warnings above, you may want to take Sudafed. And if you are coughing up a lot of phlegm, you may want to take Mucinex.
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What happens to mucus when you take Sudafed?

Relieve your symptoms with SUDAFED. Our SUDAFED® Mucus Relief Triple Action Cold and Flu tablets help alleviate the symptoms of cold and flu by loosening chest mucus, easing nasal passage swelling to reduce that congested feeling as well as relieving pain.
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