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Can Benadryl Be Taken For Postnasal Drainage?

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Posted on Fri, 18 Dec 2015
Question: Thank you. I'm travelling & a colleague is having coughing fits & says his sinuses are unloading, which triggers the coughing. hE IS 69 & i AM 67. WE ARE BOTH OVERWEIGHT (he morbidly so: 340 lbs @ 5'7"; I'm 270lbs @ 5'11").
We both use: take typical meds for cardiac arrythmia including: Cardizem (180mgs 1/day), Cumadin 5mgs/1x/day, spironolactone (25 mgs bid), ; CPAP for sleep apnea;

t CVS, we bought off-the-shelf 24 hour Fexofenadine Hydro-chloride (generic Allegra), 180 mgs each. He says the benedryl makes him too drowsy. There was no non-drowsey on the shelves for we went w. generic Allegra LABELLED non-drowsy It's been 12 hours NOT 24 . . . his coughing came back late afternoon (8 hours) & now after dinner (12 hours).

I have severe allergies, which in the Fall are worse & have the same cough symptoms -- I take Benadryl (#2479/25mgs) plus a 12 hour Muccinex.

QUESTION #1: Can he take 1 or 2 Benadryl to quiet things down?
" #2: i HAVE CVS Sinus Relief: 2 pills/dose contain: Acetaminophine 325mgs + Guafensin (200mgs) + Phenylephrine HCl (5 mgs), Pill ID 44 615). The packaging has 2 bills sealed together. The dose directions do not clarify if 1 or 2 are needed. I often find I need only 1 at a time . . . on bad days 2 dat a time.
#3. IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE YOU SUGGEST ?

XXXXXXX XXXX

doctor
Answered by Dr. Robert Galamaga (20 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Conside

Detailed Answer:
hello and thanks for sending the question.

It sounds like your colleague has a significant degree of postnasal drainage which is contributing to his coughing. The allegro should help but it sounds like the therapeutic effect seems to XXXXXXX after the first 12 hours or so. He could take some Benadryl which might provide relatively immediate relief in terms of decreasing the amount of secretions.

something else that might be quite helpful would be for him to use one of the over-the-counter Cortizone nasal sprays such as Flonase or Nasonex. When used regularly D's can lead to a significant and meaningful improvement of symptoms. It generally takes 24 to 48 hours or more for these particular medications to get to their therapeutic effect.

Again for more immediate relief of symptoms 25 mg of Benadryl might be reasonable.would also recommend good hydration and low-carb, low dairy diet which might help to minimize secretions.

thanks again for sending your question.

Sincerely,

Dr. Galamaga
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Answered by
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Dr. Robert Galamaga

Oncologist

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 2635 Questions

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Can Benadryl Be Taken For Postnasal Drainage?

Brief Answer: Conside Detailed Answer: hello and thanks for sending the question. It sounds like your colleague has a significant degree of postnasal drainage which is contributing to his coughing. The allegro should help but it sounds like the therapeutic effect seems to XXXXXXX after the first 12 hours or so. He could take some Benadryl which might provide relatively immediate relief in terms of decreasing the amount of secretions. something else that might be quite helpful would be for him to use one of the over-the-counter Cortizone nasal sprays such as Flonase or Nasonex. When used regularly D's can lead to a significant and meaningful improvement of symptoms. It generally takes 24 to 48 hours or more for these particular medications to get to their therapeutic effect. Again for more immediate relief of symptoms 25 mg of Benadryl might be reasonable.would also recommend good hydration and low-carb, low dairy diet which might help to minimize secretions. thanks again for sending your question. Sincerely, Dr. Galamaga