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Suggest Treatment For Severe Sinus Infection
Question: I have very bad sinus infection. Yellow mucus. And I have had to take antibiotics in past. Too sick to get out today but have levofloxacin that was prescribed last year when I had this condition which relapsed several times. Think this was drug that finally knocked it out. Should I begin course of it now? Email is XXXX
Brief Answer:
Check label on medication bottle.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I am sorry you are feeling poorly.
In the US, all medications have an expiration date on them, so check the bottle to see when it expires. If it is past that date, I don't think it would be a good idea to use the old prescription. Most medications, when past their expiration date, can start to deteriorate and would be less effective or ineffective. Some, like old acetaminophen (Tylenol), can be harmful to take.
I see that you took Mucinex and that is a good idea. To help it work well, drink a lot of water. Guaifenesin, the drug in Mucinex, works by drawing water into the mucus to thin it.
Some sinus sufferers also get benefit from saline irrigation 1 -2 times/day. You can buy a nettipot and saline packets at the drug store. Nettipot irrigation flushes mucus and germs from the sinuses, and decreases swelling of the mucus membranes.
If you have very characteristic symptoms of a sinus infection (yellow mucus throughout the day, not just in the morning after getting up; sinus pain and pressure; low grade fever; and symptoms have been going on for a couple of weeks without improvement) - then some doctors are willing to phone in a prescription. So you might want to call your doctor's office.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Check label on medication bottle.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I am sorry you are feeling poorly.
In the US, all medications have an expiration date on them, so check the bottle to see when it expires. If it is past that date, I don't think it would be a good idea to use the old prescription. Most medications, when past their expiration date, can start to deteriorate and would be less effective or ineffective. Some, like old acetaminophen (Tylenol), can be harmful to take.
I see that you took Mucinex and that is a good idea. To help it work well, drink a lot of water. Guaifenesin, the drug in Mucinex, works by drawing water into the mucus to thin it.
Some sinus sufferers also get benefit from saline irrigation 1 -2 times/day. You can buy a nettipot and saline packets at the drug store. Nettipot irrigation flushes mucus and germs from the sinuses, and decreases swelling of the mucus membranes.
If you have very characteristic symptoms of a sinus infection (yellow mucus throughout the day, not just in the morning after getting up; sinus pain and pressure; low grade fever; and symptoms have been going on for a couple of weeks without improvement) - then some doctors are willing to phone in a prescription. So you might want to call your doctor's office.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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