Decongestants work by shrinking blood vessels, thereby relieving the effects of an allergic reaction, particularly in the mucus membranes of the nose. They can be taken as tablets or as nasal sprays (e.g. Otrivine, Afrazine and Sudafed). They can be effective against hay fever and rhinitis, but their major drawback is that they lose their effectiveness as time goes on. Moreover, they can actually make symptoms worse when their use is stopped. The blood vessels react to this cessation by expanding again, which causes congestion once more, even if the allergen is absent and you are not reacting.

The best advice is not to use decongestants continuously for more than three to five days, and to avoid prolonged use. You should use them on doctor’s advice rather than buy them over the counter.

Some decongestants are combined with anti-histamines (eg. Congesteeze, Haymine, Sudafed Plus).

Decongestants can be dangerous if you have a history of high blood pressure or heart disease. Consult your doctor.

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