How to Use Decongestants

A decongestant is a medication that can bring about great relief to you if you are experiencing problems breathing, due to cold, flu, or allergies. The active ingredient, pseudoephedrine, causes the swollen tissue inside of the nose to normalize, thereby clearing your nasal passages for the free flow of oxygen. Although decongestants can work wonders for your breathing, there are a few precautions that should be taken when using them.

Instructions

• 1

  Check with your pharmacist or physician to ensure that the decongestant will not cause a drug interaction with other medications you may be taking. A few of the drugs that decongestants may interact with are seizure, asthma, and high blood pressure medications.

• 2

  Read the label to check for warnings and dosage instructions. For example, the decongestants should not be taken before consulting your physician if you have a condition such as diabetes, kidney or thyroid disease.

• 3

  Take the dosage as recommended on the label. Do not take over-the-counter decongestants for extended periods of time, as this could lead to dependency. If you are still congested after taking decongestant for a few days, consult your physician to be checked for an underlying condition.