There's not a lot of case history yet, but anecdotal evidence would suggest that phenylephrine is NOT a good substitute for pseudephedrine. Which is moot in your case, since neither works for you.

Sinus headaches are the pits. Snorted warm saline is just about the only option left to you, except to take a full-on antihistamine. Don't know about you, but one Contac or Benedryl and I'm done for the next 24 hourzzzzzzzzzzz...

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Ah, but if you are asleep, you aren't as aware of how miserable you feel. :)

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When sinus pills don't work for me, antihistamine doesn't either. Actually antihistamine never does anything for sinus congestion.

I feel for you because I would get some bad ones when I was pregnant. The best thing that worked for me was a salt steam facial. I would boil salt water on my stove, get a towel and trap myself in the steam. I bought those saline inhalers, but they never worked either.

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I assume you took the pot off the stove before putting your face over it? I am not terribly familiar with how those work, can you tell?

Not that I can do it until I get home. :p

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I just turn the burner on low, but I have an electric range. If I had a gas one, I'd turn it off.

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Nothing has helped my nasal congestion (except Afrin) since they pulled phenylpropanolamine off the market. Fuckers.

I do a similar trick as stuology: I do a saline nasal rinse until I have some room for air to flow through my nostrils. Then I boil some water, sprinkle in one or two drops of eucalyptus oil, put a towel over my head, and breathe in that steam until I can't stand it anymore.

Feel better soon.

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Compared to what I did feel like, I AM better. ;) Right now I am just whining because my head hurts.


I am not sure I ever really got to try phenylpropanolamine. And all because SOME people might actually have totally mis-used the DIET concentrations (much higher than the decongestant concentrations). Bah.

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I carry a bottle of Eucalyptus essential oil around with me, and sniff right from the bottle.
I recommend five drops in a cup of hot water, hold it under your snoot and sniff the vapors for as long as you can stand to, or until your co-workers notice you haven't moved your coffee cup from under your nose.
Three times a day, it clears up a sinus infection.
I also drink the stuff, but that's not supposed to be recommended, so ... you didn't hear that from me. But it works for me.

On really bad days, I dab a bit on the side of my wrist and sniff occasionally.

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Have you tried mucinex?

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I am not sure that's even hit my radar. I have some idea of how the previous two worked, do you know how Mucinex is supposed to work?

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Mucinex is pretty much a mega dose of extended-release guaifenesin. I have some of the generic version. You're welcome to the rest of my bottle, if you like.

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I might have to use that as a last resort. I could be wrong, but I think that's the stuff that makes my sense of smell take a vacation for about 24 hours.

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Generic version! Wow, I have been looking do you have a brand name? Muinex is expensive, but very effective. I would prefer a less expensive alternative.

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I got mine at Walgreen's. It's not exactly the same, but the dosage of guaifenesin is equal, and anything else (like the decongestant) can be found an another generic pill.

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I was going to suggest this too. Its a mucus thinner I believe.

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I know a way to open those sinuses, but I'm not sure you'll like it.

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If it involves a knife, no, I won't. ;)

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No. No knives. Just a bed and a bottle of Vicks nasal spray.(The blue one, not the green one)

*sigh*

Ok, here's whacha do.(I've been having to do this since High School mine are so bad!)

*I mighta posted about this once or twice???*

Lay on your back and scootch your head over the edge till you can look straight at the wall. You need your nasals pointing at the ceiling.

Then open the dropper and drip a drop or two down into each nostril.(you may need to repeat this)

Yeah, it'll sting a bit, but only momentarily. Your sinuses are red and swollen afterall.

And just lay there with the fluid up in there working around. After the initial sting you can actually feel the popping as your passages opening up.

But depending on your severity you might need to apply additional drops.

And also, hold your head at one side then the next for a few minutes to also open the side passages as well.

You'll know your passages are open when you taste the bitters goin down the back of your throat.

I said it wasn't pleasant, but damned if it don't work! Then once their open, all y'all gotta do is keep them open.

I hope it works as well for you as it does me.

Good luck!

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There is something rather alluring about feeling the nasal passages open up....

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Hehe, yeah there is!

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As a long-time sinus-pressure-suffer, I concur. I adore that sensation of them popping and expanding open. It's almost euphoric--I am not exaggerating.

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Have you tried any of the sprays (Afrin...)

from http://www.drugs.com/mtm/afrin.html
Afrin

Generic Name: oxymetazoline nasal (ox ee me TAZ oh leen)
Brand Names: Afrin, Afrin Nasal Sinus, Allerest 12 Hour Nasal Spray, Duramist Plus, Duration, Four-Way Nasal Spray, Genasal, Neo-Synephrine 12 Hour, Nostrilla, NRS Nasal, NTZ Long Acting Nasal, Oxyfrin, Oxymeta-12, Sinarest Nasal, Sinex Long-Acting, Twice-A-Day

What is the most important information I should know about oxymetazoline nasal?

Do not use oxymetazoline nasal for longer than 3 to 5 days. Longer use could cause damage to your nasal tissue and lead to chronic congestion. If your symptoms do not improve, see your doctor.

What is oxymetazoline nasal?
Oxymetazoline is a decongestant. It works by constricting (shrinking) blood vessels (veins and arteries) in your body. The nasal formulation acts directly on the blood vessels in your nasal tissues. Constriction of the blood vessels in your nose and sinuses leads to drainage of these areas and a decrease in congestion.

Oxymetazoline nasal is used to treat congestion associated with allergies, hay fever, sinus irritation, and the common cold.

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Thank you for the information! I will look into that.

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Afrin is awesome and scarily effective for me. You just don't want to use it for too long.

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Interesting.

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I'll chime in on the Afrin, and the original seems to work best. Yes, the popping ;)

Occasionally I'll follow that up (after the "opening") with Xylitol nasal wash (Xlear brand) to keep from totally drying out. Amen on the "don't overdo" with the Afrin, as it will make everything that secretes mucous in your entire body dry up if you do.

Doc prescribed "Palgic" for me when the PSE (Allegra) made me hyper. Good anti-allergy results and no palpitations/hyperness. YMMV.

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