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Get sinusitis treatment online from a UK pharmacy. Complete a short consultation, with no GP appointment needed, and a GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber will recommend the right next step for how long you’ve had symptoms. That may be a steroid nasal spray, an antibiotic if a bacterial infection is likely, or simply self-care.
Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses, usually after a cold. It causes a blocked nose, facial pain or pressure and a reduced sense of smell. Most cases are caused by a virus and clear within two to three weeks.
Treatment depends mainly on how long you’ve had symptoms. For the first 10 days, self-care is usually all you need. If symptoms have lasted around 10 days or more without improving, a steroid nasal spray is often the next step. Antibiotics are kept for the smaller number of people with a likely bacterial infection. For a full explanation of symptoms and causes, see our sinusitis guide.
Sinusitis symptoms usually develop after a cold and tend to peak within the first few days. Acute cases typically settle within two to three weeks. The most common symptoms include:
Congestion, or thick discoloured mucus. The colour doesn’t tell you whether you need an antibiotic.
Bacterial or viral?Pain or tenderness around the cheeks, eyes or forehead, often worse when bending forward.
Sinus headache or migraine?A dulled sense of smell or taste, sometimes with a headache, toothache or a cough from mucus running down the throat.
Post-nasal dripUK guidance (NICE NG79) matches treatment to how long symptoms have lasted and how unwell you are. This is how our prescribers decide.
Most sinusitis is viral and settles on its own. Use saline rinses and paracetamol or ibuprofen, and rest. A decongestant spray can help for up to 5 days. Antibiotics won’t help at this stage.
How to relieve sinus pressureA 14-day course of a steroid spray reduces the swelling that stops the sinuses draining. NICE names mometasone. This is an off-label use, which your prescriber will explain.
Mometasone nasal sprayUsed if you are very unwell, at high risk of complications, or getting worse after 10 days. Phenoxymethylpenicillin is the first choice (currently in short supply). Doxycycline or clarithromycin are used if you are allergic to penicillin.
Do you need antibiotics?Long-lasting or repeated sinusitis needs a GP assessment, and sometimes a referral to an ear, nose and throat specialist.
Sinusitis that won’t go awayWe supply steroid nasal sprays and antibiotics for sinusitis after an online consultation. All are prescription-only, so a GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber reviews your answers and recommends the option that fits your symptoms, or tells you if none is needed. The price you see includes the consultation. Our guides to the best nasal spray for sinusitis and steroid spray vs antibiotics explain the differences.
| Treatment | Type | Best for | From (price) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steroid nasal spray (mometasone, beclometasone) | Anti-inflammatory (corticosteroid) | Symptoms lasting 10 days or more without improving | From £12.99 |
| Doxycycline or clarithromycin | Antibiotic | Likely bacterial infection, if you are allergic to penicillin | From £12.99 |
| Phenoxymethylpenicillin (penicillin V) | Antibiotic | Likely bacterial infection, if you can take penicillin | Temporarily unavailable |
Not sure which treatment is right for you?
Online treatment isn’t suitable if you have any of the following. Get help straight away.
Our doctor-reviewed guides help you choose the right treatment and know what to expect.
Our full guide to sinusitis, from the 10-day rule to warning signs.
Read guideWhen antibiotics help, and why most people don’t need them.
Read guideWhich treatment fits which situation.
Read guideOur service is for adults aged 18 and over with sinus symptoms that haven’t settled. It’s not for emergencies.
Online treatment can be a good fit if you have had symptoms for around 10 days or more without improvement, or if you are unwell enough that a prescriber may consider an antibiotic. You will be asked about your symptoms, how long you’ve had them, your medical history, allergies and every medicine you take. Some medicines, such as simvastatin with clarithromycin, can’t be taken together, so this matters. If online treatment isn’t right for you, the prescriber will tell you where to get the right care, and you won’t be charged for a treatment you don’t receive.
In England, people aged 12 and over can often get sinusitis advice and treatment free from a community pharmacy through the NHS Pharmacy First service, or from their GP. Choosing a private online consultation means no appointment, and treatment sent to your door. Our guide to private vs NHS prescriptions for sinusitis compares the two honestly.
Steroid nasal sprays and phenoxymethylpenicillin are used for sinusitis off-label, following NICE guidance, and your prescriber will explain this. Doxycycline and clarithromycin are licensed for sinusitis. Every order is dispensed by our GPhC-registered pharmacy. If you get a side effect, you can report it through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
Answers to common questions about getting sinusitis treatment online.
Yes. Complete a short online consultation and a GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber reviews your answers. If treatment is appropriate, it is dispensed by our UK pharmacy and sent in plain packaging. There’s no need for a GP appointment, and completing a consultation doesn’t guarantee a prescription.
Usually not. Most sinusitis is caused by a virus and clears within two to three weeks, and antibiotics don’t help viral infections. If symptoms have lasted 10 days or more without improving, a steroid nasal spray is often more useful. Antibiotics are kept for people who are very unwell, at high risk of complications, or getting worse.
If symptoms have lasted around 10 days or more without improving, NICE recommends considering a 14-day course of a high-dose steroid nasal spray such as mometasone. It reduces the swelling that stops the sinuses draining. If symptoms last 12 weeks or more, or keep coming back, see a GP.
Steroid nasal sprays and antibiotics start from £12.99, and the price includes your online consultation. You see the price of each treatment before you pay, and you are only charged if a treatment is prescribed.
Orders approved by a prescriber before 3pm, Monday to Friday, are dispatched the same day by Royal Mail Tracked 24, 48 or Special Delivery (Guaranteed by 1pm Next Day) depending on your choice, it is posted in plain packaging. Tracked 24 and 48 are not guaranteed timeline delivery option.
Often, yes. In England, people aged 12 and over can get sinusitis advice and treatment from a community pharmacy through the NHS Pharmacy First service, or from their GP. Our online service is an alternative if you’d rather not wait for an appointment.
It is if you use a UK-registered pharmacy that assesses you before prescribing. Access Doctor is a GPhC-registered pharmacy (number 9011198), and every prescription is issued by a GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber. Avoid any website that sells prescription medicines without a consultation.
Helpful reads related to this treatment area.
Complete a short online consultation and a GPhC-registered pharmacist prescriber will review your answers. Where appropriate, treatment is dispensed and delivered discreetly across the UK — with next-day delivery available. New, severe, or persistent symptoms should always be assessed by a GP in person.
