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What to Take for a Runny Nose

When you get a runny nose, the tissues in your nasal passages have become congested with extra fluid that drains out of the front of your nose. The most common causes of a runny nose are a cold or allergies. Many patients who suffer from a runny nose will also experience congestion symptoms. There are several potential remedies you should consider.

  1. Prevention/Solution

    • Over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines can help stop a runny nose. Common over the counter cold medicines used for a runny nose include Robitussin, Tylenol Cold, Advil Cold and Sinus, Vicks and Zicam. Allergy-related runny noses are often treated with one of the following over the counter medicines: Sudafed, Claritin or Benadryl.

    Features

    • If the mucus from the nose is dark yellow or green, it can indicate a sinus infection. If the thick and colored mucus persists for more than a week, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics in order to treat the runny nose. Antiviral and antihistamine medications are also occasionally used by patients per a doctor's direction in order to clear up a runny nose quickly.

    Considerations

    • Besides medications, take in a lot of fluids. Drink a lot of water and consume plenty of hot tea. Hot tea with lemon can help relieve some of the congestion that is causing your runny nose.

    Effects

    • Many people rely on natural supplements to help treat a runny nose caused by a cold or flu virus. Alternative treatments used to stop a runny nose include increasing your vitamin C and zinc intake. Echinacea is another symptoms used for a runny nose.

    Warning

    • In some cases, a runny nose can indicate a more serious problem and require medical attention from your physician. A runny nose can be a symptom of a thyroid problem, whooping cough, sinus infection, chickenpox and bronchitis. If you continue to suffer from a runny nose for more than five days, make an appointment with a doctor for evaluation. In some cases, rest will be the only thing recommended to treat a runny nose. For instance, many pediatricians will advise against giving over-the-counter cold medications to children under the age of 6 for a runny nose.

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