Positions for administering sinus medications

These positions allow medications put into the nostrils to move up into the sinuses (highlighted in green in the righthand column). To start, get into the head down forward position (top panel) and put the medication into the right nostril. Stay in this position for the amount of time specified by your health care provider. This will treat the right frontal and ethmoid sinuses. Next, slowly roll onto your right side to treat the right maxillary sinus and remain in this position for the same amount of time. Once the right side is completed, sit up and allow the remaining nasal solution to drain from the nose. The entire procedure should then be repeated on the left side (not illustrated), starting in the head down forward position, then rolling onto your left side.