A nasty sinus infection can quickly derail your week.

Also known as sinusitis, the combination of intense pressure and a stuffy nose can lower your quality of life, especially if you don’t deal with it quickly.

If you’re looking for some relief, we’ve compiled a list of the best antihistamines for sinus infections.

‍Disclaimer: This article isn’t intended as medical advice. Always seek additional information from a healthcare professional before taking a new medication.

What is sinusitis?

Behind the upper bones in your face — around your eyes, forehead, and nasal cavity — there’s an air-filled space called the sinuses. This space is lined with tiny internal hairs called cilia, which trap dirt, pollutants, and allergens before making their way into your body and causing issues.

Once trapped, the cilia push those pollutants back out through congealed mucus in the nasal passages, like an internal filtration system.

While this process is usually efficient, the sinus area can become inflamed. Inflammation can happen because of allergies, air pollution, or viruses. And when the nasal passages become inflamed, they narrow. This creates localized pressure as the air pockets fill with mucus. The fluid retention from the liquid thickens, making the nose feel stuffy.

The congestion leads to sinusitis, commonly referred to as a sinus infection. Fortunately, most sinus infections are temporary, and you can recover within a few days.

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Sinusitis symptoms

Before deciding on the best medicine for a sinus infection, you need to take stock of your symptoms. 

You’ll find four different types of sinus infections, corresponding to the areas of the sinuses — ethmoid, frontal, maxillary, and sphenoid —  each with its own problems.

• Ethmoid infections occur between the nose bridge and the eyes. They can cause a loss of smell, sinus pain, or swelling.

• Frontal infections build up behind the forehead and eyes. They can induce headaches that will worsen depending on your body’s upright or prone position.

• Maxillary infections happen in the cheek area. They cause pain in the cheeks, teeth, upper jaw, and eye sockets.

• Sphenoid infections occur behind the nose and eyes. They cause headaches, earaches, and neck pain. 

For all types of sinusitis, you could encounter the following symptoms: 

• Fever

• Sneezing

• Nasal discharge

• Exhaustion 

• Facial pain

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What to take for sinus infections

If you’re searching for allergy meds or the best decongestants for cough, cold, or flu symptoms, remember that a sinus infection can be caused by repeat exposure to allergens. In this case, you can be proactive by taking antihistamines when you have an allergic reaction.

Sinus infection medications come as decongestants or antihistamines:

• Steroid nasal sprays are decongestants administered through the nasal cavity. They reduce sinus inflammation from an illness or an allergic reaction. 

• Over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines can be taken in liquid form, chewable tablets, pills, and puffers (the last available with a doctor’s prescription).

Why antihistamines? Histamine is the chemical that prompts swelling, sneezing, runny noses, hives, and allergic rhinitis in your immune system. Antihistamines prevent histamine release during an allergic reaction. For the best over-the-counter medicine for sinus infection, you’ll want to choose second-generation antihistamines, which have milder side effects.

If neither nasal sprays or antihistamines are your jam, you can opt for allergy shots. They give you long-lasting protection against histamine triggers by gradually exposing you to the contaminant itself to build up your immune system response to a particular allergen.

Which antihistamine is best?

For over the counter medications, we recommend the following:

1. Afrin (Oxymetazoline)

Afrin is a  decongestant nasal spray used for stuffy noses, decreasing sinus pressure, and pain management. Side effects can include drowsiness, dizziness, and high blood pressure. Avoid taking it for longer than the box recommends. 

2. Tylenol (Acetaminophen)

Acetaminophen — traditionally known for its pain relief qualities — can work well as a decongestant. Tylenol Sinus Severe and Tylenol Cold + Flu are excellent OTC options. Make sure to follow the recommended dosage.

3. Flonase (Fluticasone Nasal)

Flonase is designed to deal with allergy symptoms. It’s not recommended for a sinus infection itself, and you should speak to a medical professional if you have sinusitis. However, Flonase can work as an excellent pre-emptive measure, reducing allergen inflammation by eliminating the source.

Flonase helps with watery eyes, nasal congestion, and sneezing. Side effects include nasal dryness, irritation, and nosebleeds. Follow the recommended dosage and use the instructions on the package.

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Other treatments for sinusitis

Outside of our top choices, a few other antihistamines can help. 

‍Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) is unsuitable for long-term use, but it can reduce allergy symptoms short term and act as a preventative measure against sinus infection. 

Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra are three second-generation antihistamines that alleviate allergy symptoms that can lead to sinusitis. Some of them can be used daily. 

Other methods you can use to alleviate your sinus struggles include:

• Putting a cold compress on your forehead, as applying ice can reduce swelling and sinus pressure. 

• Using eye drops to alleviate sinus congestion by reducing redness, itchiness, and puffiness around your eyes.

• Checking the ingredients on your skin products, perfumes, and lotions to see if they may be affecting your sinuses. The scents of these products can aggravate the sinuses long-term. 

• Avoiding stress as much as possible. Being a new parent or working a demanding job can weaken your immune system, so make sure you’re mitigating your stress in other ways. 

Whatever you choose, remember the following tips

These tips are only a guideline. Visit a medical professional if your sinus infection lasts several days.

• Not every antihistamine will help relieve your symptoms. Some will work better for different types of congestion, so match your symptoms with the information on the product’s box.

• While most decongestants are safe for the average adult, some exceptions apply. For example, if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, consult with your doctor before trying new medications.

• Side effects from first- and second-generation antihistamines can include drowsiness, dizziness, and lightheadedness, which make you prone to falling. If you’re a senior, exercise caution during use.

• Your reflexes could be impaired as a result of your medication. Adults of all ages should avoid driving or operating heavy machinery. 

• Certain pre-existing conditions could be impacted by your sinus medication. Exercise caution if you have high blood pressure, epilepsy, diabetes, glaucoma, asthma, or liver disease.

Don’t forget: one of the easiest ways to shop for allergy medications is through Gopuff. You can order online, skip the lineups, and have your supplies delivered straight to your door.