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Clearing the Airways
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If oral decongestants with phenylephrine don't relieve your stuffy nose and you don't want to wait at the pharmacy counter for products containing pseudoephedrine, what other nonprescription options exist?
Two types of nasal sprays may offer mild temporary relief. Consider:
· Saline nasal sprays: A squirt in the nose can help keep nasal tissues moist, relieving congestion. Look for brand names such as Ayr and Ocean, or pharmacy brands.
· Nasal decongestant sprays: While phenylephrine may lack punch in oral decongestants, it's a sure-fire winner in nasal sprays because the chemical reaches the nose directly, reducing nasal passage swelling. Look for phenylephrine in some Neo-Synephrine sprays. Oxymetazoline, the ingredient in Afrin and other sprays, works equally well.
One caveat: Avoid using decongestant sprays for more than three to four days, experts say. Prolonged use can actually cause nasal congestion.
-- Francesca Lunzer Kritz
