Thin postnasal drip secretions caused by allergies may be treated with antihistamines. Second-generation antihistamines such as Zyrtec and Claritin may offer better relief than older-type antihistamines such as promethazine (older antihistamines tend to thicken post-nasal secretions).
Postnasal drip caused by allergies can be managed with OTC antihistamines and decongestants. Note that older antihistamines like Benadryl and Chlor-Trimeton can actually thicken mucus; instead, try Claritin, Alavert, Allegra, Zyrtec, Xyzal or Clarinex.
Fexofenadine (brand Allegra) and loratadine (brand Claritin) are good second-generation antihistamines that are non-sedating and could be good for mild to moderate postnasal drip symptoms.
Antihistamines reduce or block the chemicals that cause allergy symptoms. They can reduce swelling and congestion in the nasal passages and improve postnasal drip.
How long can post-nasal drip last? Efforts to treat post-nasal drip should be taken early on. However, symptoms of severe post-nasal drip may linger for weeks or months. If early treatments fail or symptoms increase after 10 days, you may need to visit your doctor.
Antihistamines and decongestants may dry out the mucous membranes in your nose and sinuses and slow the movement of the cilia (the tiny hairs that line the nose, sinuses, and the air passages inside the lungs and that remove irritants). This can make mucus thicker, adding to drainage problems.
Some older, sedating antihistamines may dry and thicken post-nasal secretions more; newer non-drowsy antihistamines do not have this effect.
All ZYRTEC® medicines start working at hour 1 on the first day you take it.
“Zyrtec is found to be more potent, or stronger, in laboratory studies, compared with Claritin,” says Dr. Kung. “It also reaches a higher concentration in the skin, which can be more helpful for skin-related allergies. However, Zyrtec has a greater chance of making you sleepy while taking it.”
The most common causes of post-nasal drip are: viral infections in your nose and throat (such as a cold) hay fever — inflammation of the inside lining of your nose, also called 'allergic rhinitis' sinusitis —inflammation of the hollow spaces in the bones of your face (sinuses)
Zyrtec-D® is a combination of cetirizine and pseudoephedrine. This medication is both an antihistamine and a decongestant. It treats or prevents symptoms of allergies. It reduces congestion, sneezing, runny nose and itching in your nose or throat.
ZYRTEC® medications are not indicated for sore throats. However, ZYRTEC® does provide 24-hour relief from other symptoms of allergies, such as a runny nose, sneezing, itchy, watery eyes and itching of the nose or throat.
Cetirizine helps dry up your nasal secretions, so it might help ease this type of cough. However, it's unlikely to help other types of coughs. If you have a cough, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether cetirizine could help. They can also recommend other treatments for cough.
They then mistakenly take antihistamines, which end up drying out the nose and making thick mucus worse. "That's why it's important to make the right diagnosis," says Ellis, who also warns against self-medicating with decongestants like Sudafed, which are also drying and will further thicken your mucus.
The older antihistamines like brompheniramine and chlorpheniramine have another effect: They inhibit the activity of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, decreasing the secretion of mucus and widening airways.
Possible causes of excess mucus can be food allergies, an acid reflux from the stomach, or an infection. The consistency of mucus in the throat also varies depending on what is going on in your body. Common causes of too much mucus in the throat include a cold or flu, acute bronchitis, sinusitis or pneumonia.
Additionally, chronic and severe post-nasal drip may indicate the need to treat a more serious underlying sinus issue. If your post-nasal drip lasts more than 10 days or is accompanied by fever, foul-smelling drainage, or bloody mucus, contact your ENT as soon as possible, as these may be signs of a serious infection.
Postnasal drip makes you feel like you constantly want to clear your throat. It also can trigger a cough, which often gets worse at night. In fact, postnasal drip is one of the most common causes of a cough that just won't go away. Too much mucus may also make you feel hoarse and give you a sore, scratchy throat.
Many people find that postnasal drip is worse at night and can prevent them sleeping. There are various factors that could be to blame for this. One significant problem is that lying down in bed changes your elevation, draining mucus into the upper respiratory airway.
Along with extra mucus draining from the nose into the back of your throat, other signs of postnasal drip include: Hoarseness. Persistent cough, often worse at night. A need to constantly clear your throat.