Medication for Post-Nasal Drip With a Cough

Post-nasal drip is a condition where mucus builds up in the sinuses and drips down the throat. This can cause excess coughing, difficulty breathing, upset stomach (from swallowed mucus) and bad breath. Luckily, there are many medicines to treat this condition.

Antibiotics

• One of the causes of post nasal drip are bacterial sinus infections. Antibiotics can help treat these infections by killing the bacteria and avoiding excess mucus buildup.

Antihistamines

• Antihistamines block the production of histamine, a chemical which helps cause allergic reactions. This can help alleviate allergic mucus buildup. These drugs include such brand names as Allegra, Atarax, Benadryl, Claritin and Dimetane.

Decongestants

• Decongestants break down mucus buildup in the sinuses. They break down the mucus itself, instead of blocking histamine, which causes allergic reactions. These drugs include the chemicals ephedrine, naphazoline, oxymetazoline and phenylephrine.

Steroids

• Steroid sprays can be an effective way to open airways and allow excess mucus to be destroyed. Steroid sprays can be used for years safely, but only under medical supervision.

Antacids

• Post-nasal drip can also be caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease. Treat this disease by taking antacids like maalox, mylanta, zantac, tagamet and pepcid to eliminate these problems.