Safe Decongestants?

[skyman99]

Firstly "Hi everyone :)".

This is my first post so a bit of an intro...

I'm in my early 40's and I have had Prostatitis for about 9 months now, usual thing - they think it was bacteria but it didn't go away so now looking like recurrent (chronic) etc with all the usual nastiness ( and boy is it nasty ).

My problem is that I have read that decongestants cause the prostate problems but I also, for my sins, have a sinus problem that requires decongestants from time to time - mainly Vick Sinex which works best for me - is there a safe decongestant (prefer a spray) that I can use?

[carld]

I would stay away from decongestants. You can try a corticosteroid.

Read the posts section on antihistamines and decongestants etc...

[skyman99]

Have read all the info but I would still need a decongestant as I have a sinus problem - are there any natural decongestants etc?

[londoner]

I think carld is right. Can you use a netty pot? I think they are very good for sinus problems.

[webslave]

Use a steroid spray and salt washouts or salt snizzles.

salt snizzles

general recipe for a cup of cool water:
half teaspoon non-iodized salt
pinch bicarb
cool water (not warm)
¼ tsp peroxide

Starter Mix:

First Day
1 liter(quart) Water (cool water is best; never use HOT water)
1 Heaping Tsp. Pickling Salt
1 Heaping Tsp. Baking Soda
1 Level Tsp. Hydrogen Peroxide

Second Day
1 liter(quart) Water
2 Heaping Tsp. Pickling Salt
1 Heaping Tsp. Baking Soda
1 Level Tsp. Hydrogen Peroxide

Third Day
1 liter(quart) Water
3 Heaping Tsp. Pickling Salt
1 Heaping Tsp. Baking Soda
1 Level Tsp. Hydrogen Peroxide

Patient will use approximately 1 liter/Qt. per day.

Repeat instructions for 3rd day until clear, then cut back to 2 times daily.

Be sure to start out with a very weak dilution so there is no sinus pain.

I find that cool to cold water works best in the sinuses. This helps diminish the swelling. Warm, or in particular hot, water causes an increase in the swelling of the soft tissue and can dramatically exaggerate the symptoms, causing exquisite pain simply from the installation of the warm water. When you first start experiencing sinus congestion, you should begin this procedure in the morning and again in the evening, running 500ml through the affected side of your nose. If you reach the point where this isn't helping you any, you might try up to four times each day. I have never had to do this more than twice a day for more than two days at which point I am able to reduce it to once per day.

This is not a terribly pleasant solution, but it is one that invariably works. Try it!

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For a comfortable saline solution mix 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon of non-iodized salt into one cup of warm water. Note that the mucus membranes are sensitive, and the ideal solution is close to one's own blood by temperature, salinity, and pH. When measuring by volume using a measuring spoon, the correct amount of salt is influenced by the coarseness of the salt. The proper amount of fine common table salt is 1/4 teaspooon per cup water; while a very coarse salt (kosher or sea) may require 1/2 teaspoon per cup. Many otolaryngologists suggest adding a small amount of baking soda to balance the pH and decrease the chance of "burning" the nasal mucosa. Special salts are available for use in nasal irrigation that come with directions for proper measurement. A study also found better results using salt from the Dead Sea over simple saline solution for treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis.

What type of salt should be used for saline preparation? Persons with nasal problems may be sensitive to iodine in regular household salt which contains iodine and anti-caking chemicals. Sea salt is to be avoided because it contains many products that persons may be sensitive to. Kosher salt or Pickling salt is iodine and anti-caking products free and has the least possibility of sensitivity and is therefore recommended.

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Recipe for making Unbalanced (Hypertonic) Nasal Spray

1. Carefully clean a 500ml glass jar. Rinse well.
2. Fill the clean jar with tap water or bottled water. You do not need to boil the water.
3. Add ~1.5 heaping teaspoons of pickling or canning salt. Do not use table salt, if possible, as this contains additives you don't want in your nose. You can usually find pickling salt at the grocery store. (my comment: is this just to avoid iodine?)
4. Add 1 flat teaspoon (0.5 heaped spoons) of baking soda (pure bicarbonate).
5. Stir or shake before each use.
6. Store at room temperature.
7. After a week, pour out any mixture that is left and make a new batch. (my comment: lasts months)

Note: If the mixture seems too strong, use the same amount of baking soda but less salt; For children, start with the smaller amount of salt. Gradually increase salt towards recommended amount, to whatever your child will tolerate.

[kevin]

skyman:

Do you get problems with Vicks Sinex? It has a different pharmacological action from the Sudafed class of decongestants (ephedrine), which are usually the source of trouble for CPPS/IC patients.

To get technical, Vicks Sinex stimulates alpha2 receptors only, while Sudafed stimulates alpha1 receptors as well, which is thought to aggravate CPPS. The alpha blockers people use for urological conditions (e.g. Flomax, Uroxatral) are all alpha1 blockers.

For those who are interested, here's a PubMed database where you can find listings of every single drug in a certain category (e.g. alpha blockers, alpha agonists, SSRIs, etc.).

[carld]

You gotta love Mark, He doesn't mess around with this stuff does he Now that's a recipe...

[carld]

Nasacort is a corticosteroid and I use it. It has not caused any problems for me. Ask your doctor...

[skyman99]

skyman:

Do you get problems with Vicks Sinex?

None that I can notice, it was just after reading the sticky on here about decongestants that named Vicks Sinex that I thought it may be best to avoid it but it has never directly been a problem.

[kenn101]

You can use inhaled decongestants as they seem to work at site and not bother the prostate. It is best to only use them in a pinch as Nasacort or other inhaled corticosteroid seem to work with sinus problem as long as they are not too severe and the home remedies Mark mention seam to work ok again if the problem is not too severe and are a lot cheaper. I only speak from my personal experience and I have used the bad decongestants and cathatered myself afteras I could make water.