Should I take antihistamine or decongestant before flying?

Try taking a decongestant or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine before you get on the airplane, particularly if you are suffering from a head cold or swollen sinuses. If you have high blood pressure or heart problems, you should not take decongestants without approval of your healthcare provider.



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Take this medicine at least 30 minutes or, even better, 1 to 2 hours before you begin to travel.

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These drugs are usually taken shortly before a flight. They include: Anti-anxiety medication, such as diazepam (Valium) or alprazolam (Xanax). Motion sickness medication, such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine).

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With a doctor's approval, adults can take a decongestant. “If it's a short flight, take it [the decongestant] before leaving,” House says. If it's a long flight, eight hours or so, you might take it an hour or so before the scheduled landing.

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The most frequently used antihistamines to treat motion sickness include cyclizine, dimenhydrinate, meclizine, and promethazine (oral and suppository); nonsedating antihistamines appear to be less effective.

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Many pilots are unaware that there are wait times after each use of sedating antihistamines. For cetirizine (Zyrtec®) and levocetirizine (Xyzal®), you should not fly for 48 hours after taking the last dose. For diphenhydramine or doxylamine, you should not fly for 60 hours after taking the last dose.

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If you start to notice this pressure building, you can try some of these strategies:
  1. Take an antihistamine if needed before your flight. ...
  2. Yawn or swallow during takeoff.
  3. Try chewing a piece of gum or candy during takeoff, if yawning and swallowing don't work for you.


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1. About one hour before expected descent, take a decongestant (such as Sudafed- 12hr). 2. About 30 minutes before the flight use a nasal spray (such as Afrin or Neo-Synephrine).

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A second intervention is topical Afrin nasal spray. Afrin is sold over the counter and contains Oxymetazoline, a chemical which causes blood vessels to constrict and will ultimately reduce swelling to help keep your sinuses and Eustachian tubes open.

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Avoid eating heavy foods, especially spicy foods and foods that you wouldn't even normally eat. Eating something that could really upset your stomach, or give you something worse like food poisoning, isn't fun. It's best to eat healthy foods even if it's just 24 hours before your trip, this could help a lot!

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10 Tips for Plane Travel
  1. Drink more water. Hydration will help you handle anything air travel sends your way. ...
  2. Drink less alcohol. Alcohol presents a double threat to airplane wellness. ...
  3. Pack for hydration. ...
  4. Prepare your immune system. ...
  5. Flex your calves. ...
  6. Stretch everything else. ...
  7. Sleep near the window. ...
  8. Make your own legroom.


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What should you not forget before an airport?
  • Make a list. ...
  • Don't forget the first aid kit. ...
  • Limit your liquids. ...
  • Name tags are there to help. ...
  • Observe restrictions on baggage. ...
  • Save bag space for all your holiday purchases. ...
  • Skip the shoes. ...
  • Cosmetics – at a minimum!


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