Question: Is there a post nasal drip cure? Can you get antibiotics for it? Aside from sinus infections, what are the other causes for it?
Answer:
The short answer is yes, post nasal drip is curable once one finds the cause. Post nasal drip is one of the more common symptoms people complain about to their Ear Nose and Throat doctor. Much of the time doctors consider this a diagnosis. It is not a diagnosis, but a symptom with many causes. The actual post nasal drip cure starts with understanding the sinuses and the causes of post nasal drip.
We make mucous in the nose and sinus cavities, about a quart a day. It serves as a lubricant, think motor oil, that traps particles in the nose- dust, virus, contaminants, bacteria- and is swept back by cilia into the back of the nose and then down the throat into the stomach. The stomach acid then destroys or inactivates these contaminants. The mucous is usually a thin lubricating layer.
However, sometimes we make the wrong consistency of mucous- think thick old motor oil- and there are multiple causes that should be able to be diagnosed by your ENT or sinus doctor.
One of the more common causes of post nasal drip is gastric reflux. If acid comes up as high as the nose or throat, the membranes make extra mucous, trying to delicate nasal lining tissues from the acid. Patients often feel the need to clear the throat with this.
A sinus infection can cause post nasal drip. In this case the examiner can see pus coming out of the sinus openings, being swept down the throat.
Allergies can cause post nasal drip by making “the wrong kind of mucous”. Typically with allergic nasal conditions one may make excess watery- or at other times overly thick- mucous that one feels in the throat.
Mucous can become thick from drying and cause a post nasal drip. This can occur with dry air- such as heated air in cold weather or often from drying medication such as a diuretic (water pill).
Any individual can have one or more of these problems simultaneously. Appropriate treatment, when aimed at the cause or causes, should be able to help alleviate your post nasal drip.
Robert Pincus MD
NY Sinus Center
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, post nasal drip can be cured once the underlying cause is identified and treated. It is a symptom rather than a diagnosis itself, so addressing the specific reason for mucous overproduction or thickening leads to relief.
Antibiotics are only appropriate if the post nasal drip is caused by a bacterial sinus infection. In cases without infection, such as allergies or gastric reflux, antibiotics are not effective.
Other common causes include gastric reflux, allergies, dry air, and certain medications like diuretics. These factors can alter mucous consistency or production, leading to post nasal drip.
Gastric reflux irritates the nasal and throat linings with acid, prompting them to produce excess mucous as a protective response. This leads to the sensation of mucus dripping down the throat.
Normally, mucous is thin and lubricates the nasal passages, but factors like allergies or dry air can make it thick and sticky. Thick mucous is more likely to accumulate and cause the sensation of post nasal drip.
Yes, dry air can dry out mucous in the nose and sinuses, causing it to thicken and lead to post nasal drip. This is common in environments with heated air during cold weather.
Yes, a person can experience several contributing factors at once, such as allergies combined with dry air exposure or gastric reflux. Identifying and treating all underlying causes is important for relief.
