What should you know about diphenhydramine for sinus pressure?

Facial pain and pressure may accompany sinusitis, chronic sinusitis or migraine. Sinus symptoms can include congestion, reduced smell, thick nasal discharge and tenderness, while migraine may cause throbbing pain, nausea or sensitivity to light. Diphenhydramine blocks histamine and may reduce sneezing or an itchy, watery nose when allergy is involved; it does not reliably open blocked sinus passages or treat migraine. Read more about Sinusitis and Facial Pain and Pressure.

Follow the product label and avoid alcohol, driving and other sedating medicines if you feel drowsy. Ask a pharmacist before use if you have glaucoma, breathing problems, difficulty passing urine, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or take regular medicines. Rest, fluids and saline nasal care may be useful for some people. Do not use several combination cold products together without checking their ingredients.

Get urgent help for swelling around an eye, vision changes, a stiff neck, confusion, weakness, a sudden severe headache, or difficulty breathing. Arrange medical advice for severe or one-sided facial pain, persistent fever, worsening symptoms after initial improvement, or pressure that keeps returning. A clinician can distinguish sinus disease from migraine and choose treatment for the actual cause.

Ask whether your symptoms fit sinusitis, chronic sinusitis, migraine or allergy; whether diphenhydramine is likely to help; and which non-sedating or targeted option may be safer for you.