With winter weather coming, many people who suffer from sinus congestion are seeking remedies for sinus flare-ups, which are often aggravated by indoor environments, cold and flu season, and allergies. However, familiar over-the-counter (OTC) medicines may not be offered in the near future due to the recent news that a panel of U.S. health experts found that many widely used products containing phenylephrine are ineffective.

According to a Yale School of Medicine news article: “A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee unanimously concluded that phenylephrine, an ingredient found in popular nasal decongestants sold under such brand names as Sudafed and Dayquil, works no better than a placebo in treating cold and allergy symptoms.” There are numerous factors that contribute to phenylephrine being ineffective including its low bioavailability, meaning a significant portion of the ingested dose is metabolized and excreted before it can exert its decongestant effects. This can result in lower efficacy while still having safety risks and side effects. Individual variability plays a role too: People can respond differently to decongestants, and some may find phenylephrine effective, while others do not. Factors like the severity of congestion and individual metabolism play a role in the perception of effectiveness. “We’ve known for years that what works well for one individual may not work as effectively for another, but here is proof from a panel of health experts that decongestants containing phenylephrine simply don’t work at relieving congestion for anyone,” says Dr. Howard Levine, MD, FACS, FARS, Director of Cleveland Nasal Sinus and Sleep Center. “That’s when it is time to seriously consider other options, such as a bioelectronic sinus device.” A bioelectronic sinus device is a medical device designed to help alleviate symptoms of sinus and nasal inflammation through gentle microcurrent stimulation of the nasal passages. These typically small, handheld devices use a technology known as neuromodulation or neurostimulation to influence nerve activity in the sinus region. This stimulation affects the trigeminal and sympathetic nerves, which reduces symptoms of inflammation and provides relief from congestion, pain, and pressure. These results are exactly what Tivic Health’s bioelectronic sinus device, ClearUP, are providing to users. This safe, proven, and effective device is a chemical-free, FDA-approved solution. Consider these statistics for treating sinus pain, sinus pressure, sinus headaches, and congestion based on clinical trials of Tivic ClearUP:

• 100% drug-free and non-addictive
• 82% of users prefer Tivic ClearUP to other treatments
• 74% experienced pain relief in one use
• 88% saw a meaningful improvement in congestion symptoms

Another benefit of a bioelectronic sinus device like ClearUP is that it can be used anytime and anywhere, with no need to resupply medications and pills or worry that you won’t have something at hand when you need it. “It’s very exciting to have this whole new form of treatment using extremely safe neuromodulation as a way to address the needs of the patient,” says Dr. Alan Goldsobel, Board Certified Allergist and Adjunct Clinical Professor, Stanford University Medical School, in describing Tivic ClearUP. The patented ClearUP bioelectronic device works with the body's natural pathways to reduce symptoms of inflammation and can be used 2-4 times daily to achieve maximum relief. It’s easy to use as well: Simply glide ClearUP slowly along your cheek, nose, and under the eyebrow to locate treatment points. Wait for the vibration, then continue to the next treatment point. With the medical community itself raising doubts about the effectiveness of OTC nasal decongestants, there is no better time to try a bioelectronic sinus device such as Tivic ClearUP.

References: Phenylephrine, a Common Decongestant, Is Ineffective, Say FDA Advisors. It’s Not Alone (Yale School of Medicine) Tivic ClearUP (Tivic Health)