Drugs to treat rhinorrhea

Definition

Rhinorrhea is a symptom that is common to many respiratory diseases (eg colds, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, etc.): more precisely, rhinorrhea consists of an overproduction of mucus - often abundant and rather fluid - emitted by the nose. In jargon, rhinorrhea is simply referred to as a "runny nose": we are not dealing with a serious pathological condition, but rather a typical sign of some diseases.

Causes

The rhinorrhea is an indicator light of some diseases affecting the respiratory tract, such as nasal polyps, colds, rino-sinusitis, allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. In addition to the predisposing factors listed above, rhinorrhea can be a secondary effect of crying, prolonged exposure to cold temperatures or opiate withdrawal (in drug addicts).

Risk factors: seasonal allergies, hormonal changes, nose cancer, cystic fibrosis, viral insults, otitis, head injury

Symptoms

The rhinorrhea manifests itself with an abundant emission of mucus from the nose, previously accumulated inside the nasal cavities; consequently, the mucus creates a sort of "plug", which makes it difficult for air to pass through the nose. Respiratory obstruction, in turn, can cause headache, facial pain, ear pain, sore throat and cough. Often the rhinorrhea is accompanied by sneezing and nosebleeds.

Information on rhinorrhea - drugs for the treatment of rhinorrhea is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Rinorrea - Drugs for Rhinorrhea Treatment.

drugs

Being simply a symptom, it would not be correct to speak of "cure" for rhinorrhea: in fact, the main objective of the treatment consists in removing the predisposing factor, be it an allergen, a virus or an etiopathological element of other nature.

When rhinorrhea is an expression of an allergy, the most indicated drugs are antihistamines; different speech must be addressed for the bacterial or viral form of rhinorrhea: in similar situations, it is recommended to take antibiotics or antivirals (if necessary).

Some patients complaining of recurrent rhinorrhea benefit from the application of nasal sprays with a vasoconstrictor action; however, it should be emphasized that excessive use of these drugs can cause a counterproductive effect (drug rhinitis).

When rhinorrhea is a symptom of far more serious diseases, such as nose cancer, the most appropriate treatment - always established by the doctor - can be chemotherapy.

Subjects at risk of rhinorrhea - such as patients predisposed to allergies, singers, etc. - they can implement some simple strategies to minimize the risk: it is advisable to perform a nasal irrigation regularly, which consists in the usual rinsing of the nasal cavity with special hydrosaline solutions.

Antiviral drugs for the treatment of flu-dependent rhinitis: when rhinorrhoea is caused by common affections of the respiratory tract (eg influenza), it is possible to take specific drugs for the disease that arises at the origins. Treatment from influenza, by reflex, also involves the control of normal nasal mucus production.

Oseltamivir (eg Tamiflu, Oseltamivir): take the drug (class: neuraminidase inhibitors) at a dose of 75 mg, twice a day for 5 days. The administration of this drug is useful to prevent the risk of complications of influenza, especially in the elderly. Generally, the use of Oseltamivir reduces symptoms in 1-2 days, including rhinorrhea.
Rimantadine (eg Flumadine): it is recommended to take the drug orally at a dose of 100 mg twice a day, for 7 days, unless further instructions from the attending physician.
Zanamivir (eg. Relenza): the drug (class: neuraminidase inhibitors) should be taken by inhalation at a dose of 10 mg every 12 hours, for 5 days. Whenever possible, take the first two doses on the same day of symptom onset, two hours apart.

For further information: read the article on drugs for treating influenza

Antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial rhinorrhea: when it is recognized that the cause responsible for rhinorrhea is a bacterial insult, the best cure is the administration of antibiotics. In most cases, bacterial rhinorrhea is accompanied by a series of different symptoms, such as facial pain, tearing, general malaise, cough, fever, etc. For the reasons described above, in addition to the antibiotic it is possible to take therapeutic aids, such as painkillers and antipyretics.

Below are two examples of antibiotics:

Amoxicillin (ES. Augmentin, Klavux): take a dose equal to 250-500 mg of drug 3 times a day for 10-14 days; alternatively, take the antibiotic at a dosage of 500-875 mg orally twice a day. Do not prolong therapy beyond 4 weeks.
Moxifloxacin (eg. Vigamox, Avalox, Octegra): take 400 mg of oral or intravenous active every 24 hours, for 10 days. Also in this case, the antibiotic should be administered exclusively to treat rhinorrhea caused by bacteria.

For further information: read the article on drugs for the treatment of sinusitis

In association with antibiotics, it is recommended to take probiotics to restore intestinal bacterial flora (eg Lacteol, Lacteol Forte), altered by drug administration.

Antihistamines for the treatment of allergic rhinorrhea: indicated for the control of symptoms (including rhinorrhea) in a patient sensitive to allergies

Diphenhydramine (eg. Aliserin, Difeni C FN): indicated to treat sinusitis on an allergic basis associated with rhinorrhea. Take 25 mg of medication (tablets / sachets) every 4 hours, as needed. Do not exceed 150 mg per day.
Chlorphenamine (eg Trimeton, tablets or solution for injection): the drug is often associated with phenylpropanolamine, a substance widely used for the formulation of products for the treatment of cooling symptoms, such as stuffy nose, runny nose, weakness, etc. Yes recommended to take 4 mg of active every 4-6 hours. Do not exceed 32 mg a day.
Loratadine (eg Loratadine, Fristamin, Clarityn): the recommended dose for treating rhinorrhea in the context of allergic rhinitis is 10 mg a day.
Azelastine (eg Lasticom, Allespray): for chronic forms of rhinorrhea (generally, in the context of allergic rhinitis), the dosage of the drug (0.15% solution) involves applying two sprays for each nostril, twice a day .

Antimuscarinic nasal spray to treat the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, including rhinorrhea:

Ipratropium (eg Atem, Breva): although generally indicated to treat asthma, this drug is also available in drops for the treatment of chronic forms of rhinitis - both allergic and non-allergic - also for treating rhinorrhea. Two spray applications (42 mcg) are recommended in each nostril, two or three times a day.

For further information: read the article on drugs for the treatment of allergic rhinitis

Cortisonics : steroid drugs can also be used to treat rhinorrhea. Generally, the use of these medicines is reserved for patients suffering from nasal polyposis, in which - even in this case - rhinorrhea is a symptom of it. Below is the list of the most widely used medications for this purpose.