According to the MayoClinic.com, sinus pressure is the result of inflamed sinus cavities that swell, placing pressure on the surrounding areas such as the eyes, ears and forehead. Sinus pressure causes a throbbing, dull headache that is usually worse in the morning when you wake up and progressively improves throughout the day, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The best over-the-counter, or OTC, medications to treat sinus pressure are pain relievers, antihistamines and decongestants, according to UMMC.
Pain Relievers
According to PennState Milton S. Hershey Medical Center College of Medicine, OTC pain relievers such as acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen can be used to relieve sinus pressure pain. Pain from sinus pressure is felt behind the eyes, in the ears, in the upper teeth and throughout the head. Sinus headaches can make a person feel drowsy and lethargic. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, are more effective for sinus headaches because they relieve pain and act as an anti-inflammatory to help reduce the inflammation in the sinus cavity, according to Drugs.com. NSAIDs are contraindicated in people with asthma, heart disease, stomach issues or high blood pressure and in women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, according to Drugs.com.
Antihistamines
If the sinus pressure is the result of allergies or excessive mucus, antihistamines are an effective measure to treat sinus pressure, according to MayoClinic.com. Antihistamines alleviate common allergy symptoms such as sneezing, nasal discharge and sinus congestion by maintaining proper levels of histamine in the bloodstream, according to FamilyDoctor.org. Older types of OTC antihistamines can cause severe drowsiness and should be taken with caution, while newer antihistamines do not cause drowsiness in healthy adults, according to FamilyDoctor.org. Newer antihistamines come in 24-hour, single pill doses, while older antihistamines are only available in single doses every four to six hours. Do not take antihistamines without a doctor's consent.
Decongestants
Decongestants relieve sinus pressure because they shrink the swollen sinus cavity back to its normal size, causing a reduction in the pressure placed on the surrounding areas, explains UMMC. OTC decongestants are available in pill or nasal spray form. UMMC notes that decongestants should be taken under a doctor's supervision, as they can cause a rise in blood pressure. Repetitive use of nasal decongestant sprays can cause nasal congestion to worsen and should be used for no longer than three days, unless otherwise instructed by a doctor, according to UMMC.
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