Positions for administering sinus medications

These positions allow nasal medications to penetrate into the sinuses (highlighted in green in the right-hand column). To give the medications, first get into the head-down forward position, and put the medication into the right nostril. Stay in the position for the amount of time specified by your health care provider. This will treat the frontal and ethmoid sinuses. Then, roll onto your right side to treat the right maxillary sinus. After that, roll on your back to treat the sphenoid sinus. In this way, all the sinuses on the right side are treated with a single application of the nasal medication. Once you have finished with the right side, get into the head-down forward position and put the medication into the left nostril. This will treat the left frontal and ethmoid sinuses. Then, roll on your left side to treat the left maxillary sinus. Finally, roll on your back to treat the left sphenoid sinus. NOTE: Lying on your back is optional and should not be done if it causes the nasal medication to get into your inner ear.