Have you ever had to go through a whole day with a stuffy nose? Difficulty breathing and the unease of having accumulated mucus in your nose can make it very challenging to get through your daily responsibilities. What’s more, if congestion gets out of hand, you may even experience headaches and pain associated with a clogged sinus.
Although problematic, a stuffy nose can be easily relieved by an effective decongestant. However, visit any drugstore and you’re bound to find a plethora of options. Which one is for you? Find out how to choose the best medicine for stuffy nose by keeping this comprehensive buying guide in handy.
Top 10 Medicines for Stuffy Nose Chart
Consider This When Buying Medicine for Stuffy Nose
The reason why pharmaceuticals have developed numerous different congestion medicine formulas is because not everyone responds to the same active ingredients in a positive way. Considering these three factors will help you understand your options better, thus allowing you to find the best medicine for stuffy nose that’s right fit for your body’s needs.
- Multi-Symptom Relief. A stuffy nose is caused by mucus production, which is a bodily response to a foreign invader such as a virus or bacteria. The purpose of the mucus is to expel the foreign body and relieve your system of invasion. Depending on the virus or bacteria present, it’s likely that you also develop several other symptoms along with the congestion.
If your congestion comes hand in hand with other symptoms like sneezing, coughing, sore throat, and irritation, it may be necessary to choose stuffy nose medication that targets these symptoms as well.
- Side-Effects. Even the mildest of stuffy nose medications can cause unpleasant side-effects, so be sure to read the labels before you take a dosage. Side-effects can range from drowsiness, to an altered state consciousness, and even toxicity in the long run. Understanding what you’re taking before you actually do will help you determine how your body will react to it later on. This will also help to keep you safe. For instance, drowsiness is a very common effect of these pharmaceuticals. So it would be best to avoid taking a dosage if you plan to go outside afterwards.
- Delivery Mechanism. Congestion medicines can come as syrups or tablets, capsules, and caplets. Syrups can be a good choice if you’re experiencing sore throat along with your stuffy nose, because the thick formula can coat the throat for immediate relief. Plus, because syrup no longer needs to be digested as it enters your system, it’s much easier metabolized and absorbed by your body. This means you’ll experience relief much sooner if you take syrup formulas.
Tablets and other solid form medications – while slower to take effect – are much easier to use on the go, making them the method of choice for a lot of adults and working individuals. What’s more, they’re also more powerful, providing greater results for a longer period of time.
Top 3 Best Medicine for Stuffy Nose Reviews
1. Advil Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever & Decongestant
Among all other options, this option has been rated by majority of users as the best medicine for stuffy nose. Advil is a very popular brand in the pharmaceuticals market, mostly specializing in pain relievers and fever reducers. Despite this however, their Congestion Relief formula works fast to clear out the sinus and provide both breathing and pain relief.
Compared to most other options, Advil is the one decongestant that does not cause even the slightest drowsiness. This makes it the ideal bet for people who can’t risk falling asleep after taking a dosage.
Another thing that buyers appreciate about Advil Congestion Relief Non-Drowsy Fever Reduction, Pain Reliever, and Decongestant is the fact that it works fast and consistently. Unlike other medications that lose effect after several doses, Advil doesn’t lose its ability to resolve decongestion.
2. Tylenol Sinus Congestion and Pain Reliever
Tylenol is a very popular brand in the pharmaceuticals market, which is why it has become a top pick as the best medicine for congestion. With pain killing properties, Tylenol Sinus Congestion and Pain Reliever is a good choice for people who have developed a headache along with congestion.
It’s relatively fast acting and long-lasting compared to other options, but there are a few downsides to this drug. Firstly, while it does say non-drowsy on the packaging, there are some people who still experience marked sleepiness after taking a dosage. Another thing is that the pain reliever active ingredient in Tylenol can be very potent. So if you don’t need pain relief, the added ingredients could cause toxicity in the long run.
3. Sudogest PE Generic for Nasal Decongestant
Although not quite as popular as the other two on the top three list, Sudogest has been ranked third when it comes to the best decongestant medications. Combining both pain relief properties and decongestant ingredients, this medication is also a good choice for people who experience headaches and even body pain along with sinus congestion.
The only main point of concern for a lot of Sudogest users is the fact that it takes a while longer to take effect than other options. However, taking its effectiveness into account, as well as the fact that it’s much cheaper than other options, it remains a viable option if you’re looking for real relief at a reasonable price point.