Decongestants are a type of medication that is used to help decrease the amount of congestion that an individual may be experiencing in their nasal passageways due to certain allergens that they may have come in contact with. The type of relief that is provided to the allergy sufferer who takes this drug is a narrowing that is caused in the blood vessels of the nasal passages so that they are able to breathe much easier than when these vessels are enlarged. Decongestants also help to reduce the amount of blood that flows to the nasal passages, which also makes breathing much easier to achieve. To name just a few of the commonly used nasal spray decongestants that are used to relieve congested nasal passages would include Afrin Nasal Spray (oxymetazoline), 4-Way Fast-Acting Nasal Spray (naphazoline), and Sudafed (pseudoephedrine). To ensure that you are selecting the right medicines that will work the best for your symptoms, it is best to consult with your family physician. They can also supply you with information concerning harmful side effects or drug reactions that can occur with these types of medications.