Decongestants for snoring

Examples

Many non-prescription decongestants are available to treat snoring. The following are a few examples:

Generic Name	Brand Name
pseudoephedrine hydrochloride	Sudafed
oxymetazoline hydrochloride	Afrin
phenylephrine hydrochloride	Sinex Decongestant Nasal Spray

Some decongestants are sprayed into the nose; others are taken in pill form.

How It Works

Decongestants narrow blood vessels, reducing the blood supply to nasal mucous membranes. This reduces nasal congestion. If snoring is caused by nasal congestion, snoring may be reduced.

• Oral decongestants not only narrow blood vessels in the nose, they also narrow blood vessels in other parts of the body, which can cause side effects such as high blood pressure and nervousness.
• Nasal decongestant sprays narrow blood vessels only in the nose and not in other parts of the body, so they rarely cause the side effects that oral decongestants do. Unfortunately, you can only use nasal decongestants for a few days. Using them longer than this can lead to rhinitis medicamentosa (also called rebound congestion), a condition in which the decongestant causes initial relief followed by worsening nasal congestion. Using a nasal decongestant continually to avoid rebound congestion can result in a dependence on the medication.

Why It Is Used

Decongestants are used for nasal congestion. Nasal congestion may contribute to snoring, so using decongestants may help reduce snoring.

How Well It Works

Nasal spray decongestants work within about 10 minutes and may relieve nasal congestion for up to 12 hours. Oral decongestants work within 30 minutes and may relieve nasal congestion for up to 6 hours.¹ If you can reduce the amount of nasal congestion, you may be able to reduce your snoring.

Purchased or homemade salt water (saline) nasal sprays may also help clear up a stuffy nose. See information on cleaning your nasal passages with salt water.

Side Effects

If too much nasal decongestant spray is used or if it is used for too long a time, rebound congestion may occur between uses or after use is stopped.

Side effects of decongestant pills may include:

• High blood pressure.
• Trouble sleeping (insomnia).
• Nervousness or irritability.
• Headache.
• Increased pulse rate (tachycardia).

In men with an enlarged prostate, use of decongestants may cause difficulty urinating.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

• Decongestant nasal sprays should be used only for short periods of time (not more than 3 days in a row).
• Overdose of decongestants can cause high blood pressure, nervousness, kidney failure, heart rhythm disturbances, strokes, and seizures. However, commonly used decongestants have little effect on blood pressure when used as directed. If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, you should not use these medications.
• If you have coronary artery disease, diabetes, or thyroid problems, talk to your health professional before using decongestants.
• If you have glaucoma or other conditions that cause increased pressure inside the eye, talk with your ophthalmologist before using decongestant medications.
• If you are taking tricyclic antidepressants and/or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), which are sometimes used to treat depression and migraine headaches, talk with your health professional before using decongestants.
• Many non-prescription preparations for other health problems, such as some diet pills, contain decongestants. Avoid taking two medications that contain decongestants at the same time because of possible overdose.

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Author:	Douglas Dana Ralph Poore	Last Updated: May 1, 2006
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine Jan Ulfberg, MD, PhD - Sleep Disorders
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