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Step 1
Evaluate your current medicines. When you have sinus problems, do you take an antihistamine and decongestant? You could have a prescription or over the counter medicines that comes as two separate pills or a combination pill. For many allergy sufferers, this combination of drugs is the standard treatment to alleviate both the allergies symptoms and sinus pressure.
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Step 2
Discuss your current medicine regimen with your doctor. For some individuals prone to sinus infections, an antihistamine is too drying and causes minor sinus congestion to turn into a full-blown sinus infection. Instead of sinuses draining the offending mucus, the antihistamine traps the mucus in the sinus cavities, causing it to become infected.
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Step 3
Stop taking your antihistamine and only take a decongestant when you have sinus problems with your doctors blessing. A good example of a decongestant only pill is the over the counter 12 hour Sudafed Decongestant. You may be required to sign a form and obtain this drug directly from the pharmacist. Many stores have cards on the shelves for these types of drugs instead of the actual drug packages to prevent abuse.
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Step 4
Evaluate your sinus symptoms. You may experience sinus drainage, but your sinus pressure shouldn’t turn into a sinus infection that requires medication. Drainage should be clear, or can be slightly yellow. Thick yellow or green drainage may indicate a sinus infection has already set up camp in your sinuses that might require an antibiotic. If you need an antibiotic, ask your doctor about continuing the decongestant only regimen.
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Step 5
Decide whether the medicine change cures your chronic sinus infections or if your prior medicine regimen works better for your sinus symptoms and continue the medications that work best for you.
