How Do Decongestants Work?

It makes you feel stuffy. It can be hard to breathe through your nose. Decongestants work by narrowing the blood vessels in your nose. Swollen tissue inside the nose shrinks, and air can pass through more easily.

Do decongestants dry you out?

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.

Is it bad to take a decongestant?

Taking a decongestant can temporarily ease congestion, but it can also create a slight increase in your blood pressure. If you already have high blood pressure, especially if it's not controlled, this may be a concern. Decongestants also can interfere with the effectiveness of certain blood pressure medications.