What is the best medicine for an airplane sinus headache?

October 29, 2007 12:43 PM

What is the best medicine for an airplane sinus headache?

I am flying to Japan in a couple days and am fearing the sinus headache of death that plagued me on prior lengthy flights to Europe. It is a pain on the bridge of my nose between my eyes, and it hurts the more I breathe in through my nose. It's not a congestion pain (able to breathe just fine), more of a pressure pain from the altitude and stale fake-ass air pumped through the plane. I know that hydration is key, but are there any suggestions for over-the-counter medicines to combat this pain? Is there any preparation I can do before takeoff to prevent it? Thanks!

posted by afx114 to health & fitness (10 comments total)

If it's not too late to get a prescription, Nasonex works great for this. Call your doc and see if they'll phone it into your pharmacy for you. If it is too late, I recommend something that knocks you out, helps your headache, and opens your sinuses, like tylenol cold plus a nasal decongestant spray one hour before landing. Avoiding dairy helps some people with sinus problems, but I don't think two days ahead will make much difference.
posted by Eringatang at 12:56 PM on October 29, 2007

It sounds less like "pressure pain" and more like an over-drying of your sinuses. Like you said, drink lots of water, and avoid alcohol and coffee before and during the flight. Also, any nasal spray will probably help, prescription or not.
posted by Grither at 1:04 PM on October 29, 2007

Habitually, I take a prophylactic Dristan on the jetway. If I don't I get an annoying drippy nose during descent later.

And water, yes. Lots of water.
posted by rokusan at 1:12 PM on October 29, 2007

Not exactly over the counter, but usually available without a prescription, Sudafed works wonders on this. I'd suggest combining this with a long hot shower before your flight, eating something hot and spicy beforehand (wasabi is tops for this), and chewing gum while the cabin pressure is changing.

I have gotten the sinus pain you describe from congestion. Sinus congestion can occur without breathing being affected. The congestion prevents the pressure from equalizing, thus, the pain.
posted by yohko at 2:01 PM on October 29, 2007

... and hydration is key, but the benefit will be greater if you are well hydrated for the day or two before the flight.
posted by yohko at 2:03 PM on October 29, 2007

Caveat: I've read that nasal decongestants are illegal in Japan without a prescription -- which of course you wouldn't have, since they're over-the-counter pretty much everywhere else in the world. Please don't take my warning as gospel, since I can't seem to find a link to back it up, but I thought I should bring it up anyway.
posted by macdara at 3:29 PM on October 29, 2007

Macdara: Pseudoephedrine is banned in Japan, but other nasal decongestants are fine. I saw an incredibly weird Contac advertisement playing on loop on the Yamanote line while I was in Tokyo earlier this month.
posted by deadmessenger at 5:14 PM on October 29, 2007

Pseudoephedrine being banned in Japan won't be a problem for the flight to Japan though. Bring only enough for the flight.

In the US, you can get a prescription for higher dosages of pseudoephedrine, or at least that used to be the case. It might be possible to get a prescription for drugs that usually don't need them if they have a doctor they see regularly.
posted by yohko at 8:52 PM on October 29, 2007

Get some Earplanes too.
posted by brujita at 11:04 PM on October 29, 2007

Yohko: You have to be able to get home, too. If you're likely to have a problem on the flight there, you're equally likely to have a problem on the flight back, and that's where the Japanese ban on pseudoephedrine can bite you in the ass. I took my chances and brought enough with me for both legs of the trip - there's no real penalty for bringing in personal-use quantities, they'll just take it from you if they find it.

Last year, Mrs. Deadmessenger suffered an eardrum pressure injury on a flight from Paris to Atlanta due to in-flight sinus congestion. The doctor's recommendation was for her to take a dose of pseudoephedrine an hour before takeoff and landing, plus nasal spray (I think she has Nasonex - it smells like roses) every 3 hours in flight. Oh, and Xanax, now that she's scared shitless of it happening again.
posted by deadmessenger at 8:27 AM on October 30, 2007