Which are some decongestants that don’t cause anxiety?

This post answer questions about: Which are some decongestants that don’t cause anxiety? What is Anxiety? What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety? What are the causes of anxiety? What are the main triggers of anxiety? What are some ways to manage anxiety? What are the therapy options for anxiety?

Which are some decongestants that don’t cause anxiety?

From the wide range of decongestants, there are a few that do not trigger anxiety as a side effect in individuals. These decongestants can be used more freely without feeling low.

So decongestants that do not cause anxiety are:

• Pseudoephedrine
• Intranasal decongestants
• Intranasal corticosteroids

Pseudoephedrine

Is a nasal decongestant that is easily available in the pharmacy. The rules for buying this decongestant are such that the buyer needs to have valid ID proof, the buyer must keep a record of the amount of pseudoephedrine an individual purchases in two years, and there is a limited amount of pseudoephedrine that an individual can buy each month.

Pseudoephedrine chooses higher levels of efficacy than other known nasal decongestants. Like other decongestants, Pseudoephedrine must be taken in very little amounts and shouldn’t be used for more than three days at a stretch.

Though Pseudoephedrine does not cause anxiety it might have other side effects such as

• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Sense of restlessness
• Feeling of nervousness

If individuals experience any of these symptoms they must immediately consult a health care assistant. These must also be taken with the advice of the doctor if individuals have a history of diabetes or other cardiovascular diseases.

Intranasal decongestant

The intranasal spray is another type of decongestant that does not cause anxiety and is taken through the nose through a spray. Apart from this, it is also safer than oral decongestants in terms of the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Some side effects of intranasal decongestant are:

• Burning sensation
• Itchiness
• Dryness of the nose
• Overuse of nasal spray might lead to congestion or dependency on the medicine
• Sudden sneezing

Nasal sprays can be of different types such as:

Steroid nasal spray  

Steroid nasal spray is the first-line treatment for moderate to severe allergies. It helps efficiently to cure nasal congestion and is the fastest way to relieve a stuffy nose.

individuals must take prescribed amounts of this spray to reduce the risk of dependency.

Saline sprays

The use of saline sprays is the safest way to get rid of congestion or a puffy nose. It is also considered to be safer for individuals on a long-term use without much dependency.

It’s considered to be a decongestant with nearly any side effects.

Menthol nasal spray

These kinds of nasal sprays consist of menthol. It helps to reduce nasal congestion and inflammation. However, something unique about it is it acts explicitly on the menthol receptors of the nose.

It is believed that the outcomes of these nasal sprays are relatively lower than the others but it does its best to make individuals feel better.

Intranasal corticosteroids

These types of decongestants help to reduce the production of mucus in the nose and provide relief from congestion. They are available in the form of sprays and can be used directly in the nose.

Long term usage of intranasal corticosteroids might lead to side effects such as:

• Redness and swelling
• Itchiness
• Dryness
• Occasional nosebleeds
• Burning sensation in the nose
• Irritation to the throat
• Unpleasant taste in the tongue

What is Anxiety?

Problems and resulting stress are a part of every individual’s life, which are usually accompanied by some common emotions like confusion, feeling at the edge, a sense of helplessness, and recurrent negative thoughts which can collectively be seen as an individual experiencing what’s commonly called as Anxiety. 

Every human has their unique ways of dealing with these difficult situations and the following emotions, some try to adapt to the circumstances and find the best and most comfortable solution while others try to find an escape route for the same, in both cases the main aim is usually to get over the uncomfortable emotions of anxiety. 

What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety? 

Anxiety is characterized by a set of signs and symptoms such as:

 

• Sweating
• Difficulty in breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Sense of choking
• Complaints of chest pain
• Shaking or trembling
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or Lightheadedness
• Fear of losing control over oneself and their environment
• Fear of impending doom
• Hot or cold flashes
• Tingling or numbness
• Increased heart rate

These symptoms vary in severity from person to person. However, it is noted that many people experience anxiety attacks that are not significantly displayed.

What are the causes of anxiety?

Anxiety often results from accumulated stress or overwhelming feelings. Some common causes of anxiety include.

• Increased and challenging situations and demands in day-to-day life.
• Major changes in family dynamics such as marriage, divorce, death of a loved one.
• Strain interpersonal relationships
• Intrapersonal conflicts
• Ineffective coping mechanisms
• Comorbid conditions both physical and mental
• Chronic health conditions
• Genetic factors
• Changes in the brain region
• Overdose of caffeine
• Prolonged use of medications
• Significant traumatic experiences in the past or recent times
• Comorbid mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder or any other phobias.

What are the main triggers of anxiety?

Even though anxiety is seen among many individuals, certain triggers make some people more vulnerable to anxiety than others. Some contributing triggers of anxiety are:

Health diagnosis

An individual is more vulnerable to experiencing anxiety in the presence of chronic or serious health diagnoses such as cancer or diabetes.

Triggers associated with health diagnosis tend to have a strong impact on an individual because of the strong negative thoughts and emotions that are associated with it.

Medications

It is believed that many over-the-counter medications may contribute to the symptoms of anxiety in some individuals. This is certainly because of the ingredients in this medication that makes an individual feel uneasy.

Use of caffeine

Even though it is said that the use of caffeine helps to activate an individual’s system, studies show that over-usage of caffeine might lead to adverse effects such as anxiety or even depression.

Apart from the overuse withdrawal from caffeine may also lead to anxiety. hence it is suggested that individuals take conscious amounts of caffeine per day.

Skipping meals

Apart from environmental factors ones eating habits might also contribute to an individual’s anxiety directly or indirectly. When an individual fails to maintain their food timings it might lead to fluctuations in their blood sugar levels.

These fluctuations might make an individual feel jittery which in turn triggers anxiety.

Hence maintaining a proper schedule and diet is important for various reasons not just for energy but also for maintaining one’s mood.

Negative thinking

An individual’s behavior and emotions are certainly controlled by one’s thoughts. When an individual is upset and dwells on negative thoughts it further leads to discomforting emotions and detrimental thoughts causing a vicious cycle.

These negative thoughts are then projected to various areas of an individual’s life creating an overall sense of lack of control over oneself and the environment which triggers anxiety.

Financial concerns

Many individuals experience anxiety due to their financial standing. Learning to manage financial triggers requires seeking professional help such as from a financial advisor.

Stress

Daily stressors as simple as traffic jams to major ones such as strained relationships might contribute to one’s intensity and frequency of anxiety and anxiety attacks.

However long term or chronic stress leads to long term anxiety and a build-up of negative taught processes and emotions that impact an individual’s mental health

 

Conflict

individuals might also experience anxiety as a result of interpersonal or intrapersonal conflicts.

The inability to resolve these conflicts might lead to the buildup of negative thoughts, emotions that overwhelm an individual and trigger anxiety.

Personal triggers

Personal triggers can be as minor as a smell, place, or even a song that reminds an individual of negative and discomforting experiences. Personal triggers can remind an individual of an unconscious or conscious dramatic event in an individual’s life that triggers their anxiety.

If you can identify and understand your triggers, you can work to avoid them and learn to cope with them. You can learn specific coping strategies to handle the triggers when they happen.

What are some ways to manage anxiety?

Identify and acknowledge the triggers

The most significant strategy that can be used to control one’s anxiety is by identifying and acknowledging those triggers.

Being able to recognize what makes an individual anxious makes them better equipped to take action.

Relaxation techniques

 

Even though anxiety can be bought under an individual’s control it cannot be predicted. In such situations, it is necessary that an individual actively carries out relaxation techniques.

These might include meditation, yoga, and deep breathing which helps to reduce the intensity of anxiety within a short period.

Socialization

 

A key to reducing the frequency and intensity of anxiety attacks could be spending time with close family and friends.

The kind of emotional and practical support provided by these social and personal groups help the person feel connected and aid in distracting one’s mind from negative and recurring thoughts that lead to anxiety.

Apart from friends and families, individuals can also consider speaking to groups of people that are experiencing similar problems.

Set realistic goals

When an individual is feeling overwhelmed, setting goals and targets keeping in mind priorities can help resolve overwhelming feelings of fear or panic.

Setting goals provides structure and routine to an individual’s life reducing space for uncertainty which can be a major trigger for anxiety in many cases.

Take up new challenges

Apart from doing activities that an individual is usually fond of and has expertise in, trying new and challenging activities that put an individual outside their comfort zone in a healthy manner may help reduce the stress and anger temporarily.

Signing up for new activities also provides a path to meeting people with similar stories and concerns.

Lifestyle changes

An individual’s lifestyle plays a major role in their experience of anxiety. An unhealthy and busy lifestyle usually leads to unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, lack of adequate sleep.

A combination of a well-set diet, exercise, and sleep can help to regulate an individual’s mood and equip them with a favorable coping mechanism.

These coping mechanisms in turn help to get control over once anxiety concerns in a more adaptable manner.

lack of proper diet, sleep, and exercise can make an individual sluggish, dependent, moody and vulnerable to anxiety attacks.

Making journal entries

Last but not least having a journal to write down how a person is feeling and thinking when they are anxious helps them to reflect upon their thoughts and feelings.

Putting down one’s thoughts and feelings onto a paper helps to provide a sense of temporary relief.

In the case of journal entry, a person does not even have to fear being judged by another person regarding their thoughts and feelings.

What are the therapy options for anxiety?

Cognitive-behavioural therapy

Cognitive-behavioural therapy helps an individual to control their anxiety by using strategies like relaxation and breathing. It works on the principles of replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.

Exposure therapy

Exposure therapy is a kind of therapy in which an individual is exposed to a particular stimulus that they usually fear or are anxious about in a graded order.

As and when the individual gets comfortable with the situation or stimulus introduced or exposed to them with each session, individuals get more comfortable with a real-life situation that might have otherwise been a source for triggering anxiety.

Group therapy

 

It is based on the principle that when an individual interacts with other people who are suffering from the same fears they might not feel left alone or isolated. Group therapy usually involves a group of individuals who are experiencing similar symptoms and problems.

Medication

Anxiety can also be treated with the help of medication prescribed by a health care professional.

Though medication alone cannot help in reducing persistent anxiety it can help in restoring a sense of control and bring temporary relief. 

Online therapy  

In cases where reaching out physically to a professional is impossible or discomforting an individual can opt to seek help through the online medium. 

In this, the therapy sessions are carried out one-to-one over a video or audio call. Some individuals also prefer interacting with the therapist through text as well due to various reasons. One of the most common is the fear of being judged by the therapist or some personal hesitation. 

Online therapy can help individuals to regulate some aspects of their anxiety that aids individuals in carrying out a stress-free life over time

Conclusion

Having nose congestion can be unpleasant for an individual. Many decongestants do have side effects among which anxiety is one. However, when consulting a doctor they can rightly point out those decongestants that do not cause anxiety as a side effect when taken correctly as prescribed by them.

Frequently asked questions

Do decongestants cause anxiety?

Some decongestants do cause anxiety. Anxiety can be looked at as one of the side effects of using a nasal decongestant. however, there are a few decongestants that do not cause anxiety in individuals like saline nasal spray or pseudoephedrine.

Which is the safest decongestant that does not cause anxiety?

Every decongestant has some side effects however many studies on decongestants show that saline nasal drops do not show major side effects and help to reduce congestion as well.

What can you do when decongestants don’t work?

There may be many cases in which decongestants do not work. In such cases, individuals can try out other remedies such as inhaling steam can help reduce nasal congestion.

Citation

3 Decongestant That Doesn’t Cause Anxiety And Makes Breathing Easy

https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/anxiety-triggers

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10634350/