My wife was recently feeling very ill for about a week. It was just the general “crud” (headache, achy, runny nose, cough, sneeze, etc). She finally broke down and decided to go to the doctor. I asked her what she thought was going to come from such a trip. Quite matter of factly she told me that she would at least get a Sinus Cocktail.
Well, around these parts (Memphis area) everyone has heard of a Sinus Cocktail. It’s a collection of shots that sometimes works miracles towards making someone who is having any sinus related issues feel almost human once again. Personally I had never heard of it before I moved here, but like I said, everyone around here has heard of it.
I am not a fan of antibiotics (actually I am, i just have strong feelings that they are overused) so I wanted to find out what was in this mythical “Sinus Cocktail”. Any antibiotics would be a big turnoff for me. The best guess I have is the following… I found it in the comments of someone’s blog and it sounded reasonable. I’ve got some doctor friends I’ll be checking with as well to confirm. But here it is… no antibiotics in this recipe… that makes me relatively happy.
Usual contents are 1/2 cc of each of the following:
- Brompheniramine (antihistamine)
- Dexamethasone 8 (dex 8 is a long acting steroid to reduce swelling of sinus membranes)
- Dexamethasone 4 (dex4 is a faster acting steroid)
- Diphenhydramine (benedryl. This might or might not be included, depends on the doctor and the patient)
[Added since original post: I did check with some of my doc buddies. The ingredients sound right on to them. It varies by doctor but basically some sort of steroid to reduce inflamation and some sort of decongestant to clear you out. Then maybe an anthistimine to calm and reactions the body might be having down. ]
I just wanted to share how I tried a sinsu cocktail for the very first time on 3.3.09. I was miserable…head stuffed, face hurting from the pressure, coughing, sneezing…just awful. I went to my PCP, and was asked if I wanted one. I said if you think it will work Doc…and they gave me the shot! I was told I would notice myself begin to clear up, and suddenly I could feel the pressure relaxing itself. Things began to dry up within hours. I would advise that a person not take one too close to bed time, which was my mistake because it kept me awake most of the night. However, I’m feeling 85% better the day following.
I wonder if it was the antihistimine that kept you up all night? They make some people bounce off the walls and others go right to sleep. My wife zonked after hers if I recall. Either way, it sounds like it was worth the trip if you felt that much better the next day.
I just had one a couple of hours ago, and while i can finally breathe through my nose, i feel WORSE. Could it be that there was benedryl in mine? I feel like I am about to pass out and my head is sooo woozy. I am having trouble typing this as we speak because i am so drowsy! Is that normal???
oh and I am also in the memphis area, which seems to be where everyone is from that has heard of these shots.
It doesn’t sound “abnormal”. Like I said, my wife went straight to sleep after hers. I wouldn’t be surprised if it made you drowsy and I wouldn’t be surprised if it did infact have some benedryl.
I had the sinus cocktail shot about 3-4 hours ago. And while I feel woozy, I do feel much better. I had so much sinus pressure, along with a massive headache ,that I literally broke down and cried in my doctor’s office. She immediately advised the nurse to give me a “sinus cocktail”. I’d never heard of it before today, but I gladly accepted it due to my level of discomfort. It made all the difference in the world!
Oh, by the way I’m also in the Memphis area.
Just got a Sinus Cocktail shot this afternoon. Feel better except still have dry hacky cough,but she did give me a good cough syrup, too. Also an anti-biotic (so glad Walmart sellsthem for $4.00.) Should feel great tomorrow. I’m in Cordova (Memphis).
Well, it is 1:15 A.M. and the second night in a row that I cannot sleep after having a sinus cocktail. I guess it affects everyone differently but I came online to see if it does have this effect. I do feel much better than I did before and had enough energy to clean, clean, clean. I have a feeling when it wears off I will be sleeping soundly like your wife for days! And I too am in the Memphis area! bottoms up!
The drowsiness was probably caused by Benadryl in the shot. The insomnia the other reader experienced was most likely not a result of an antihistamine. Some physicians add a small dose of Atropine Sulfate (often given to patients with very low heart rates in order to speed it up) to the “cocktail” which helps to dry up your sinuses by decreasing mucosal secretions and decrease the size of the small sinuses. This drug will absolutely cause inability to sleep.
Oh what a wonderful thing! I have been home all weekend sick as a dog! The constant weather change has made my sinuses hit overdrive! I took the shot at 4p.m. and it is 8:23 and I feel SOOOOO much better! I am convinces over the counter drugs are a hoax & Im tired of trying all of them!
Oh, I am in the MEMPHIS area too!
Took the shot, fell asleep for 2 hours afterward. Don’t notice much change yet, but I hope too! I have heard great things about this yummy cocktail… 5 hours from Memphis!!!
Wow, I’m from the Memphis area. I had heard of thesinus cocktail butneverhad it until today!!! I know it is almost two in the morning and I can’t sleep but I can breathe again. I feel great and how nice itis to have some energy back!!!!
Works wonders…however, be aware of the side effects. i wasn’t and after recieving 2 sinus cocktail shots 1 in November 2009 and 1 last month in June, I now have a large indentation at the site of the injection. It seems to be getting worse and is now the size of a golf ball. Has anyone else experienced this type of reaction. The doctor told me today that it is possible.
The sinus cocktail shot includes dexamethasone(a steroid)to relieve inflammation/swelling. unfortunately steroids can cause insomnia. Steroids may also cause tissue to “shrink” and become very pale. (About a month after I had a nerve tumor in my foot injected with steroid, my husband called it my skeleton foot!) I have not had the sinus cocktail shot but have heard it can work wonders. My husband just came back from clinic where he got one–hope it helps. As an RN I have seen the effects of steroids too close to bedtime 🙂
It’s now 3:12 am and I am wide awake. I had the sinus cocktail shot today about noon for sinus crud/pressure, but nothing would come out, and I also had an awful sore throat so bad I could barely swallow which that included swollen glands.
I too am from the Memphis area.
I’ve had this sinus cocktail shot several times and have always thought it was the wonder drug after the first one. Now, some 12 hours later, my sinus pressure/tenderness are gone and I can now swallow without any pain, which I thought was pretty amazing.
But as I said, I’m wide awake and decided to get online to see if this shot can cause insomnia. Based on my reading here, I guess it does. I just never experienced it previously.
I have had sinus drainage all weekend too that developed into a horribly painful sore throat for the past couple of days that keeps me up all night. I had a sinus cocktail at 4pm today and now at 10:30 pm my sore throat is only a little sore! I think that is truly a miracle & I am so happy I won’t be in so much pain tonight! Hopefully I will be able to sleep. But sleep or not, relieving that pain was more than worth it. Oh, I’m from the Memphis area too!
I had the sinus cocktail shot this morning and I can’t possibly fall asleep. My eyes seem to flicker when I close my eyes to lay down and I feel pumped to go go go. I hope the effects wear off soon. Any ideas on how long this lasts?
It’s 3:51 AM, I’ve been up since 2:00. I got the “cocktail” at 10 ish this AM and I am WIDE awake! Took some NyQuil at 2:30 sure hope is works soon! Also in Memphis. Starting to see a pattern…
Had the cocktail at 10 am yesterday. Woke up at 1:15 am this morning and not a second of sleep since then. Took trazodone and Benadril at 2:30 but still could not sleep. Boy, am I tired, but not stuffy! Definite pattern here – I’m in Memphis.
Yeah, it definitely affects different folks differently. I’m curious though, and this question goes out to everyone… knowing what you do now would you have it again? Most people I’ve talked to about it say ‘absolutely’, but what do you all think?
Another Memphian up at 3am after having the sinus cocktail shot this morning at 10am, I mean yesterday morning! I feel great, but know tomorrow is going to be a long day with no sleep:(
i feel great lots of energy
I just googled to see if there were any repercussions.
I went as a last resort, having battled everything from sore throat to burning lungs and ears, to hacking cough, to a streaming nose – all accompanied by headache – for close to a week. I hate antibiotics and steroids, but you never know what you’ll do in desperation, so I agreed to the sinus cocktail. I don’t know about not being able to sleep, since last night was no different than any other of the past several sleepless nights; I do know I started feeling like a raisin. I could almost feel my sinus cavities going from one extreme to dry creek beds – sometimes it hurt, they were getting so tight. Today my eyes burn, from dryness, I assume. So, bottom line: I’m glad to be feeling better…
and yes, I have the Memphis conneciton
I too had a sinus cocktail injection today at roughly noon, I am usually sound asleep by 10 at the Very latest but tonight I can’t fall asleep!!! I feel so tired but unable to fall asleep!!! I live 60 miles north of Memphis! I’ve had this shot several times before but never with this insomnia!! Typically,I fall asleep and sleep great and feel 100% better when I awake but this one has affected me just the opposite! I was really sleepy around 3 pm but was unable to lie so I wonder if that Is why I can’t sleep now??? Would it have made a difference had I gone to sleep earlier???? Any answers??? Any suggestions cuz I have to be at work by 6 am:(!!!!! Either way, this is a miracle drug as far as I am concerned!
i had the sinus cocktail shot about 2 weeks ago. I AGREE it does affect everyone differently. minutes after i recieved my shot i was dizzy. luckliky, the doctors office was around the corner from my home,cause as sson as i made it in was were i felled asleep for four hours which was the couch.. my symptoms are now back..i will be returning for another one…by the way in east memphis as well…
typo im…ps. im late to this shot info i see..
I received the cocktail shot around 5pm today, I went home and instantly fell asleep. I later woke up around 9 o’clock and have not been able to sleep since! I am also having some type of side effect from the shot or the medicine… My lower arms are stiff and feel almost numb? It is weirding me out a bit… Just wondered if this stiffness is normal or not?
Another Memphian here! I had the shot 12 hours ago and came home, pulled weeds, planted flowers, trimmed hedges, raked, cooked dinner, cleaned house like crazy…..all while taking care of two pre-schoolers! Wonder drug!!! I am always up this late so I cannot say for sure if it is from the steroids. If your doctor doesn’t mention it ask for one and they will almost always oblidge! Tell them if Benadryl is a problem for you and they can probably leave it out.
I have been using the cocktail shot as a treatment for a chronic sinus infection for over a year now. However it works almost immediately. But be aware that this is only a temporary relief agent. It by no means heals or illiminates the problem. I have been on four different types of antibiotics. First was augmentin, amoxicillin, levequin, and now cefuroxime. This is all been over a year treatment. I had a MRI of the sinus cavities and it showed full blockage in the spenoid and maxillary sinuses. I am on my last resort and that is an appointment with an ENT at Vanderbilt University. I think my body has become accustomed to the pain and discomfort of my sinus infections that I only really notice it when my symptoms become very bad and unbearable. I also meant to add that I use Omnaris nasal spray and a daily dose of clarinex. SO the message I hope to reveal is only use the cocktail as a relief mechanism. It does provide a substantial amount of temporary relief.
First off i would probably not be commenting if the shot didn’t give me insomnia. I’ve had it before and don’t recall it being this bad. Had the shot at 530pm and its now 4am, slept about an hour early on. With that said, i would.have the shot again in a heartbeat. I’ve been sick for 3wks. Did a round of antibiotics and got quite a bit better. For the first time my ears clogged with this cold, two weeks now. I felt miserable, cranky, & exhausted. Im not getting any sleep, but i feel like i could run to the moon and back. I feel great, why didnt i get one sooner!?!
I caught a cold last week that developed into a terrible sinus problem. Couldn’t breathe through my nose, terrible congestion and pressure and a little fever. Never had a sinus cocktail before but have heard about them for years. Went to the Dr. today and got one and I’m so glad I did! It worked like a miracle. I’m in Memphis too.
Has anyone had shortness of breath after the shot? Like 8 hours after
Hello my fellow Memphians. Yes, I got my shot around 1PM and feel great. I have had them several times before and they did not seem to work quite as fast as this once, but it did not keep me up all night. It is 3:45AM and I am wide awake. However, this shot made me feel great very quickly. Started with horrible sore throat and then it became an infection a few days later (knew by the color from clear to greenish when I blew my nose. I feel like I drank a tracker trailer filled with Red Bull. Unfortunately I am now out of town, otherwise, I would be half way through putting an addition to my house! This must be what crack is like…LOL
May need that tracker trailer of Red Bull to get through work tomorrow. 🙁
Jan: I had a shortness of breath before I went to the doctor. I walked up a flight of stairs several times and I felt like I was 100 years old. So, it probably is the infection making you short of breath, not the shot?
Memphis girl here,
Shot at 10 am , can breathe , feel great, actually feel like a new person. Just wish I could sleep. The cocktail shot has never kept me up before but wow, sure have gotten a bunch of stuff done.
Hello All,
I too am from Memphis & have had a sinus infection that just won’t go away. I went to the minor med in November & got a zpac & sinus cocktail. It worked great until December. I went back to the doctor & got 2 weeks of antibiotics & another sinus cocktail. Now I’ve got another one. Does anyone know how often you can get one of these sinus cocktails?
Ah, just reading all the comments – had one yesterday (several over the past years) and it is draining well – I do know two things – A Dr. several years ago said to “Drink Plenty of Water” that helps the mucus come out and keeps your hydration level up. I’ve never had the insomnia several people reporte – but I wouldn’t use Caffeine with this – probably not a good mix.
I had a sinus cocktail shot about 8:50 yesterday morning. By 10/11:00 I was having extreme hot flashes and sweating very hard. I finally went to sleep in the late afternoon and I woke up feeling better. I went to sleep fine last night and woke up refreshed the next morning. However, this morning my face got red and blotchy and feels like a sunburn. I live close-ish to Memphis. My cough is worse.
Boy, I wish I’d read this yesterday. Battling congestion for almost 4 weeks so went to the Dr. and she gave me the sinus cocktail and antibiotics about 5:30PM (and yes, I’m from Memphis) did not sleep a wink all night. After 6 melatonin, that didn’t do a thing, guess I’ll be dropping this evening having not slept in 24 hrs. Yikes. I feel better but wish I would have known about the sleeplessness!
The insomnia comes from the dexamethasone, which is a steroid. It opens up the inflammation in your sinus cavities and gives you some energy. Each person is effected differently, but it gives some people quite a lot of energy.
ok-4/10/13- Yes I’m around MEMHIS, TN.- 50 miles North of it- I’ve had Bad Sinus problems for 4 days now and a history of Sinus Infections. This started with a cleaning the yard day. I become very congested and had a sore throat. The next 2 days, I had Bad Sinus pressure and Pain, extreme stuffy nose, and dizziness (Vertigo). Guess I have inner ear problems bc my ears have a crackling sound when I blow my nose. By the way, If we could sell snot, we would be MILLIONAIRES! Gross, but TRUE !!!! Today I went to the Doc. I was right on! I had a Sinus Infection, an Inner Ear infection, and yes Vertigo associated with the inner ear. Doc gave me a Sinus Coctail Shot and a round of Amoxcillin. I’m feeling a little better. Still headachy, but breathing better. The shot has never affected me as far as being hyper or more tired. I need to get over this, bc sometimes it will bring on a more severe Migraine headache on top of everything else. Top of the Morning to all you Sinus Sufferers! Get Well !
I had a sinus cocktail about noon today. I do feel better but just took a 10 mg valium (For storm phobia–also a Memphian) and don’t know if that was a good idea. Hope it doesn’t have an adverse reaction.
Had a sinus cocktail shot this morning…I’m from Memphis too! Also got cough medicine with codeine so hopefully I’ll sleep tonight! I think it’s actually drying u
My nose already….
I have had the sinus cocktail shot, and it makes you feel tremendously better the next day. You may have a day after that in which you feel like crap again, but it really does help and I recommend it. It does keep me awake for a day or two, but that’s because of all of the steroids in it. It affects everyone differently. It just depends on how you respond to steroids. ALLERGIES SUCK!
haha I am ALSO from Memphis, several years ago I suffered pneumonia caused by a sinus infection, then chronic coughing for months and bronchitis. I coughed so long and so hard that about 6 weeks after my initial illness I fractured a rib.
Finally a doctor said my lungs wouldn’t get better until my sinuses did, he gave me a sinus cocktail shot. Within 48 hours my cough completely went away. It did seem like a miracle!
I’m now in Sweden and it turns out my sinuses, allergies and cough are all MUCH worse here. None of the doctors have ever heard of ‘post nasal drip’ or chronic sinus drainage and act like I’m stupid. I have fractured 5 ribs, at least 2 multiple times.
Also in Sweden, benadryl isn’t available even with prescription, neither is pseudoephedrine decongestant or dextromethorphan for cough.
There’s no ClaritinD here, you got one OTC cough suppressant that’s crap, a couple of morphine based cough medicines they don’t want to give you, and for a decongest you got flonase or phenylpropanolamine by prescription.
Medical care and medicines here are AWFUL. An ENT doctor told me he never heard of chronic sinus drainage or drip, and his ‘report’ basically said ‘no idea, maybe it’s her tooth’. He also referred to me as the ‘obese american woman’ in his report – it was awesome! I had been awake for 3 days when I saw him, coughing and choking, had 2 fractured ribs and he wouldn’t even give me any cough medicine
Everybody please say a little prayer for me, because I can’t live like this forever.
I miss Memphis. We all hate the humidity and we all know about Memphis allergies, but there’s no humidity here and my allergies are worse. PLUS my skin is like, I don’t know, tree bark or something now. (Also never hear the sound of rain, thunder or a good wind)
I’m even allergic to things here I am NOT allergic to back home. The mosquitoes here are 10 times the size, leave welts the size of an egg, itch for WEEKS, leave scars and apparently Americans smell better – because they will fly all around other people to come bite me – I get bitten even after it’s snowing outside!
In summer you got around 4 hours of dark, but in winter only around 5 hours of daylight. It’s difficult.
I’m from memphis. Had the shot after work its now almost 2am and I am still wide awake. Had the sinus cocktail shot before and never had this side effect. I would absolutely do it again though feel tons better. I just would have had some nyquil ariund 8 pm if I had known
Just a note:
This is a fairly southern concoction and certainly works to build the body back up and provide energy/relief. I am from Oxford, MS – have had this shot on and off for years. Most providers use an antihistamine and either one or both dex steroids (Decadron).
In some cases where a bacterial infection is suspected or there is a risk due to the lowered immune system function of the steroids or risk of coming in close contact, they will, in many cases, give an additional shot of Rocephin.
The Rocephin shot is many times administered in 250-500mg / in cases where someone has a tolerance or a history of good interaction they can give up to a 1g dose IM. This is the normal dose I commonly receive.
Additionally, the antihistamine provides a couple different advantages and also why it is given in the cocktail:
The shot could cause a small reaction like high blood pressure (red face/neck) intense hot flashes, etc. the antihistamine allows the body to shut down some of it’s natural defense against the medicine, along with helping with sinus pressure.
I have never had a bad reaction to the shots other than it can cause some anxiety, inability to sleep, and the red hot face/neck with headache.
Best of luck!
Also just a note: never visit another doctor or take a sinus cocktail shot more than once every 3-months. It can cause suppression of the immune system and other issues.
-Kevin
I had a sinus cocktail today and I have the WORST pain in my knees I’ve ever had. The pain seemed to migrate down from the injection site to my knees and its beginning to be unbearable. Anybody ever experienced this?
Been coughing for 2 weeks and took 4 kinds of meds, had a sinus cocktail shot today at 1pm, doc said it shld start working tonite so I’m waiting and hoping for the best! Have done this before and it did help which was why I did so today, but like I say eager to see if this coughing will stop. Will repost! 🙂