What to do for sinus drip?

@dcypherzzz
You do not mentioned if you have been tested for allergies. A real cause for nasal/sinus drip.

Have you seen a ENT or just regular PCP?

I would consider (I did) having both food and environmental allergies testing. If you have them a lot can be done.

I was prescribed a sinus spray called atrovent. It dries up the sinuses and for me I do not have the sinus drainage down my throat.

Keep a diary of when you sinuses drip and what and where you are and what you are doing. That can help diagnose the issue. Consider seeing a ENT and allergist. I have seen both at Mayo.

Hi, @dcypherzzz - I actually take ipratroprium nasal spray (Atrovent) also, like @jc76, and it really helps any drip. I think I've taken it for at least 30 years. I no longer run around with a tissue in hand.

Here's some information on this medication, if you'd like:

- Ipratropium (nasal route) https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/ipratropium-nasal-route/description/drg-20064390

Have you noticed anything in your environment (e.g., scented candles, laundry soap, freshly cut onions, time mowing the grass) that makes your sinus drip and then cough especially onerous? What do you do to control the coughing when it starts?

Great information for the poster Lisa.

I go the recommendation for the Atrovent (I take the generic) from my PCP. Then discussed with my ENT specialist. It does help at least for me to dry up that constant drainage from sinuses and nose.

I was told that allergies can develop at any time. Things that did not bother you years ago can start up and irritate your sinuses and bronchial. I do know I developed a pretty harsh reaction to cinnamin several years ago and only found out that by writing down every time I got headaches, coughing, drainage. Cinamin of all things! Mowed grass also drive my sinuses crazy.

Please check with your provider first to make sure there is nothing else causing the sinus drip. Follow their directions. They may say allergy or deviated septum for the post nasal drip. Once all is checked out - possibly a prescription nasal inhaler or over the counter nasal inhaler would solve the case (Flonase). Allergies do happen at any time - and the way the environment is changing - this could have impacted you. Good luck.

GERD can cause post nasal drip. Research this.

@jc76 I finally stopped coughing! I had hepa filters, cool mist vaporizer, cortisone nasal sprays with Azalastine, Zyrtec, Benadryl at night. I gargled with salt water, wore masks outside... Whew! Id been coughing for 10 months. Then I told the doctor that a few months back he'd given me Arithromycin 500 delayed release and it started working right when I ran out. He re- prescribed 10 days worth and I'm now well. I still chew cinnamon gum for sinus drip, occasionally use mucinex. BUT NO COUGH!

@dcypherzzz - What great news! So, which of these different strategies you employed to stop the sinus drip and then coughing do you think was most effective?

@dcypherzzz
That is great!
Appears the problem was being caused by an infection. Is that right?

Would make sense as would definetely cause drainage, and irratation.

Makes me smile when we get posts like this showing someones struggles were resolved.

@lisalucier
I'm going to say the specific antibiotic. I think I had some kind of pertussis bug from 9 months ago that was hard to kill? I had whooping cough and I think nothing could kill it until I took erythromycin 500 delayed release for 10 days. I still have my allergies tho, with some post nasal drip, but no coughing. I'm actually considering moving to a area without farming!

@dcypherzzz I really need to get allergy testing. Yesterday after my cleaning company left, I seemed to have a reaction to some chemicals they used. I believe I'm getting more sensitive as I age.