Post-nasal Drip: Another Ailment to Deal With

[Scott]

@mark-koziol,

 

I was diagnosed with IPF two years ago but have had shortness of breath for probably five years.  I have also had PND, it seems, forever.  The primary symptom is at night trying to sleep.  I go to bed with clear sinuses.  After several hours of sleep, I awake and after several minutes, my sinus membranes expand making it difficult to breath through my nose.  There is little mucus.  It makes getting O2 via a nose cannula difficult.  I have tried various allergy meds in the past and nothing has really helped.  Some years ago I starting using Afrin.  Unknowingly I developed rebound congestion and was using it all the time.  BIG PROBLEM.  Finally was redirected to Flonase and Alegra D.  Fixed it quickly.

As it turns out, to stop this problem of nighttime stuffiness, I was told to use Flonase every night, religiously.  I have been doing this for six months and have had very little problem with PND.

Footnote.  I just read that sleeping on your abdomen can be an additional cause.  Unfortunately, this is the only way I can sleep comfortably.  So, Flonase seems to be my solution.

 

[Mark Koziol]

Hello Scott, sorry for the late reply. I’m glad the Flonase helps. Sometimes when the pollen is bad I also use Flonase to stop the water faucet I call my nose. I was always told to sleep on my left side to alleviate the drip. I do shift back and forth from side to side but I never sleep on my stomach or back. With this disease it seems like there is one thing after another. Take care, mark.

[Mark Koziol]

Hello Scott, sorry for the late reply. I’m glad the Flonase helps. Sometimes when the pollen is bad I also use Flonase to stop the water faucet I call my nose. I was always told to sleep on my left side to alleviate the drip. I do shift back and forth from side to side but I never sleep on my stomach or back. With this disease it seems like there is one thing after another. Take care, mark.

[Allan Byron]

I also have regular post Masai drip in the morning and I use Flonase, and

mose clips which help.

I may also try Claritin it it gets worse.

Allan Byron

[Rod Fulmer]

I have a lot of drainage that has made dealing with IPF and oxygen therapy vey difficult. About a year ago, after trying all OTC meds known to man,  my pulmonologist prescribed Ipratropium Bromide nasal spray. 2 sprays each nostril 3 times a day. I understand it has an antihistamine. By the 2nd dose of day, I am normally dry for remainder of day. BUT, I go through 6-8 Kleenex the next morning, along with spraying saline water until clog breaks up and I can get clear for my 1st dose of Ipratropium. I am on 12 lpm so I have a lot of clogging. Not able to use water bottle inline due to it reducing oxygen flow. Good luck to all of you.

[Mark Koziol]

Hello Rod, thank you for sharing. The post-nasal drip symptom is much like a nagging cough that will never go away. I have the same problem with the kleenex; the boxes are strategically placed throughout the house and my wife buys the cylindrical kleenex containers to place in the cup holders of our vehicles. Take care, Mark.

[John Fraze]

I have found that the ipratropium helps a lot.

[PFCareGiver]

My mom has PF and constant clear runny nose. I’m trying to understand WHY? What is the cause. She is concerned the dripping goes into her lungs.

[Jerry Genesio]

I was diagnosed with IPF 2 years ago but have had shortness of breath for at least 5 or more years. I’ve also had PND for years which I believe to be primarily an allergy to a silver willow tree outside my front door. I first noticed the allergy very shortly after buying and moving into a single-family home in a retirement community. I had all the carpets replaced with hardwood but that didn’t help. However, last year while working on the front steps under the silver willow when it was in bloom I had a major attack of sneezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and PDN. It was then that I realized the silver willow is the culprit. It’s such a beautiful tree I can’t bring myself to cut it down, but I avoid going anywhere near it in the spring. The PDN is constant and I have been prescribed Ipratrppium Bromide 0.06% nasal spray BID which is very effective. I do believe, however, it can aggravate the difficulty in swallowing which is a symptom of IPF.

[Les Viegas]

I don’t know if this would work in each of your specific cases, but a daily dose of 12.5mg – 25mg tablet of Benadryl (OTC) has eliminated my post nasal drip for a 12-15 hour period and provided a restful 8 hr sleep every night for the past 8 years post-transplant. It was recommended to me by Cleveland Clinic and is non-addictive. You may want to try it out – you have nothing to lose.
Les

[John Fraze]

My cardiologist has forbidden me to take Benadryl. I have a fib

[John Oman]

I too have an intermittently running faucet for a nose and a chronic problem with bronchial phlegm/mucus that has me frequently coughing and clearing my throat. “I” believe this is due to damage done by a decades long bacterial infection that “I” believe was also an underlying cause off my IPF. If and when it becomes available, I’m hopeful that N115 / sodium pyruvate nasal spray will be helpful.

[Brenda]

Brenda Colvin. I too have a problem with post nasal drip. Diagnosed two years ago but on no medication as of yet.I go through tissues like crazy. Have tried Claritin and Allegra. They don’t work very well. Will try Flonase. Have a morning cough sometimes with lots of phlegm. So appreciate reading everyone’s comments. We know we are not in this alone.

[John Fraze]

Remember the formula for water is H2O.

[John Kane]

Two years ago, when we were trying to figure out what Washington with me, I took myself to an Allergist. All the testing came out negative but she prescribed Azelastine for my sinus/ runny nose issue. This works very well for me, better than the Flonase I was using. IMHO anyway…

[mike fryman]

I was dx about 1 1/2 yr ago  on O2 24/7 and take ofev and cellcept.  Claritan does help but i still have runny nose at times.  I do use Ayr ointment in nostrils at night which i think helps me get some sleep.  And my lord sleeping is an issue.  I have IPF i guess sound sleep is one of the losses.  Does any one who is on my meds think they have a psychic effect, i know i have increased short term memory, i am 70 but i also think they have a significant mental effect.  Just wondering.  This is my first post, feels good.  I am trying to get the VA to service connect my IPF from my middle east military time.  Does anyone have any experience with that.  Not sure how that will go but fill free to give me some feedback.  DAV rep stated that i smoked for about 9 years as teenager and before being drafted and that may exclude me.  Anyway i hope not.  Havn’t smoked in almost 50 years.  Thanks for reading,     Mike

[mattress]

Hello Mike. Did you ever get service connected for your IPF?

[Christie Patient]

Hi Mike @mikefrymn, I don’t personally have experience with the VA connecting service to IPF but I know there is at least one member who has confirmed agent orange exposure linked to IPF so I know it’s possible to get them to do it. If I can remember who that was, I will try to connect you. I can’t imagine that smoking would disqualify you from coverage. So many service members do it unfortunately I would be absurd for the VA to use that as a reason. Especially since you haven’t smoked in 50 years.

[jackm]

a few weeks i thought I had caught a cold and my coughing got worse after a few days my runny nose improved but my cough grew worse and has lasted until now making me exhausted, frustrated and feeling generally lousy

My great pulmonologist this last Friday heard me coughing and then trying to speak and immediately said sounds like Postnasal Drip- he told me 2 doses per day of Flonase and a nighttime dose of Zyrtec

which I started Saturday – when he called me to check in on me Monday, I was thrilled to report a coughing improvement of % and hopefully better as I proceed – who knew? Thanks doc and worth a try stay well and happy 🙂

[alam]

I have the same problem ,Ipratropium and Flonase helps. I also take Zyrtec on and off

[Sally]

I have constant nasal congestion and mucous phlegm – coughing and nose blowing. As someone else said, I have a box of Kleenex on every surface in my house. I am on Breo, Allegra and have been on Flonase/fluticasone and also use Azelastine when necessary. I went to the ENT for constant stuffiness (pulmo thought I had polyps but scan said no) and she said I had chronic rhinitis caused from oxygen . I have been on it 24/7 for over 3 years. She said to take Afrin with the Flonase morning and night and it won’t cause the rebound if you do it that way. It has been better since I have done that. It did nothing for the coughing up phlegm or blowing my nose with heavy mucous . I have resigned myself to the fact that it is just another symptom of IPF. I’m happy for most of you that don’t have the problem. It is so tiring.

[William R.]

Hello Mark,

I was diagnosed with IPF in 2022. I’m 77 and don’t believe I ever had an allergy. About a year ago my nose started running a virtually clear liquid like a dripping faucet? I’m at the beginning phase of IPF and refuse to use Ofev or Esbriet because I bike, walk and still workout (even though it takes me 3 hours to do what a guy my age probably does in an hour due to recovery after each exercise for shortness of breath).

Met with my Pulmonologist in April 2024 for my semi-annual checkup. He didn’t think it was related to my IPF.

He recommended trying Fluticasone Propionate Nasal Spray USP, 50mcg. I used once a day, and 6 months later it stopped???

Wishing you the best

God bless!

[chuckgalloway]

I was diagnosed with IPF in 2018 and I have the same runny nose. Tried Claritin and didn’t do much. Tried Claritin D and it cleared up but it also made urination difficult to the point of not being able to go at all. Stopped the Claritin D and finally was able to urinate. Tried Flonase and it helps some but still will run with any provocation like eating or facing a strong breeze. Still get mucus build up in my throat over night leading to coughing. Will petition the pulmonologist next visit for something else.

[J L LaBrack]

My pulmonologist recommended Claritin or Flonase to alleviate the symptoms of PND. Haven’t tried Flonase due to complexity, but have found Claritin (generic: loratadine, 10 mg.) to help with PND and eustachian tube blockage that often occurs at the same time. Hope this helps!

[bob47]

My husband was prescribed Ipratropium Bromide Nasal Spray. It is amazing how well it works. In addition, it was recommended that he take a Protonic thirty minutes before eating and this has helped. Sometimes it hard to figure out which is causing the cough, the acid reflux or post nasal drip. Protonic and Ipratropium Bromide Nasal Spray have been two amazing drugs at controlling the cough.

[Carolyn Ianelli]

This is my first time posting but I have been diagnosed with IPF for a couple of years which is progressing quite quickly. I have been on oxygen for about 4 months which has been a nightmare because of my post nasal drip which has progressively gotten worse. Every Dr I have seen, I’ve told them about this problem, so I have been prescribed numerous sprays and pills and nothing seemed to work! Finally I went to see an ENT. He said I had rhinitis and he could preform a procedure called ClariFix Cryotheropy that would help. He explained it would deaden the nerves in my nose that causes the nose to produce mucus. I had the procedure done last Monday. It has already improved my condition. He said it would gradually improve over a month to it’s full effect.

[Polly Kanto]

I’ve had PF for almost 3 years. As my oxygen level gradually increased from 2 L to 6, I noticed an awful lot of PND, constantly having to take out my cannula and blow my nose. My pulmonologist started me with a palliative care nurse, and she said the problem is your nose is responding to having a foreign object in it, the cannula tubes, and is trying to respond to that. It’s as if there is an irritant in your nose and it is trying to flush it out. She did not recommend anything, but from what I’m reading on all these post, Flonase seems to be the way to go.

[Charlene Marshall]

Hi Polly,

Thank you for sharing this information, I am sure other patients will find it beneficial. I also have a post-nasal drip since my diagnosis and I hate it! I feel like it forces me to cough even more than I might just from symptoms of IPF, and it’s particularly bad when I’ve been sick like I have been in the last month. It feels like the post-nasal drip is the longest part to go away. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and contributing your experiences to our forum community, it is appreciated.

Char

[conni]

Ibraproprium bromide has been the best solution for the constant nasal drip and drain. Two squirts at night good for the night and most of next day.

[Sandyman]

I have also used ATROVENT which is the same as ipratropium. It has worked well for helping with post nasal drip.

[hi-c]

I have been diagnosed with IPF since 2017, been on and off oxygen, been listed and delisted. I was on OFEV for about 6 1/2 years, recently switched to Pirfenidone. I have had post nasal the entire time. Saw an Allergist, no allergies, so I have been on Fluticasone and also recently started Azelastine Hydrochloride Nasal Sprays. Two squirts each nostril in the morning. Space them out between pills. This helps me, I know everyone can be different. These were prescribed by Pulmonary Dr. and Allergy Dr. after they consulted. It helps me. Just remember if you tasted it, you wasted it….

[Peg]

Someone in the other group I correspond with just recommended a natural solution – Mullein drops or capsules. I never heard of it so checked it out and it seems to work for a lot of people to clear the mucus out of your throat and chest so that would stop the nasal drip issue. The drops just get put in water to drink, so it is easy to use. I checked out the various items on Amazon and found one that was organic, USA made and only 3 ingredients so I ordered it to try. Will let you know how I make out using it. There’s info online too.

Peg