Illustration of a checklist with a tick and a speech bubble, representing an NHS Pharmacy First consultation

Sinusitis: do you need antibiotics? How a pharmacist can help

ByZain Rajabali

Sinusitis often turns up just as a cold should be clearing: your face aches around your cheeks and eyes, your nose is blocked, and bending over feels like your head’s full of pressure. It’s miserable, and it can drag on. The good news is that most sinus infections clear up by themselves, and a pharmacist can help you through it without a GP appointment.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. If you’re unsure what’s causing your symptoms, speak to a pharmacist.

The short answer

  • Sinusitis usually clears up on its own within 4 weeks, according to the NHS. Medicines can help if it’s taking a long time to go away.
  • Antibiotics are rarely needed. The NHS says sinusitis is usually caused by a virus, not bacteria.
  • A pharmacist can give the same treatments as a GP for sinusitis, for anyone aged 12 or over, through NHS Pharmacy First.
  • See a GP if you don’t improve after 7 days of treatment, or after 3 weeks of treating it yourself.

Is it sinusitis?

Sinusitis is swelling of the sinuses, the small spaces behind your cheekbones and forehead. It’s common after a cold or flu. The NHS lists the main symptoms as:

  • pain, swelling and tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead
  • a blocked or runny nose
  • a reduced sense of smell
  • green or yellow mucus from your nose
  • a high temperature

You might also have a headache, toothache, bad breath, a cough, or a feeling of pressure in your ears.

Do you need antibiotics for sinusitis?

Usually not. Antibiotics only work against bacteria, and the NHS says sinusitis is usually caused by a virus. That’s why, in its words, you may rarely need antibiotics, and that isn’t common.

Green or yellow mucus on its own isn’t a sign you need them. It’s one of the normal symptoms of sinusitis.

How to treat sinusitis yourself

The NHS says you can usually treat mild sinusitis yourself by:

  • getting plenty of rest and drinking plenty of fluids
  • taking paracetamol or ibuprofen (don’t give aspirin to children under 16)
  • avoiding things that trigger your allergies
  • not smoking
  • cleaning your nose with a salt water solution

Salt water nose rinse (NHS method): boil about 570ml (1 pint) of water and let it cool. Mix in 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda. Wash your hands, then over a sink, sniff a little from your cupped palm into one nostril at a time, breathing through your mouth and letting it drain back out. Repeat up to 3 times a day, making a fresh solution each time.

What a pharmacist can do

Sinusitis is one of the seven conditions covered by NHS Pharmacy First, for anyone aged 12 or over. At MediPill, you can walk in or book. The pharmacist will ask about your symptoms, how long you’ve had them, your medical history and any medicines you take, and then:

  1. Give you advice on easing it at home, which is enough for most people.
  2. Supply treatment if you need it. The NHS says this may include a steroid nasal spray or drops to reduce the swelling, antihistamines if an allergy is behind it, or, rarely, antibiotics.
  3. Refer you to a GP or NHS 111 if your symptoms need a doctor.

Cost: the consultation is free on the NHS. If you’re given a medicine, the standard NHS prescription charge applies, unless you get free prescriptions. Children under 16 always do, as do people aged 60 or over and 16 to 18 year olds in full-time education.

When to see a GP or call 111

The NHS says to see a GP if you, or a child, have sinusitis symptoms and:

  • you don’t get better after 7 days of treatment from a pharmacy or GP
  • you don’t get better after 3 weeks of treating symptoms yourself
  • you keep getting sinusitis
  • your child is aged 11 or younger

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111 if:

  • you’re very unwell
  • painkillers don’t help or your symptoms get worse
  • you have a weakened immune system, for example because you’re having chemotherapy

Call 111 if you need advice for a child under 5.

Common questions

How long does sinusitis last? The NHS says it usually clears up on its own within 4 weeks. If it hasn’t improved after 3 weeks of treating it yourself, see a GP.

Can a pharmacist give antibiotics for a sinus infection? Yes, if you need them, for anyone aged 12 or over through Pharmacy First. But the NHS is clear that antibiotics are rarely needed for sinusitis.

My 10-year-old has sinusitis symptoms. Can you help? We can give advice, but Pharmacy First treatment for sinusitis is for ages 12 and over. The NHS advises seeing a GP for children aged 11 or younger.

Can I be seen at the weekend? Yes. Botley is open Saturdays 9 to 2, and Summertown and Deddington 9 to 12. Headington is closed at weekends.

Pharmacy First at MediPill

All four of our branches offer NHS Pharmacy First. Walk in, or book a slot so you’re seen without waiting:

More on the service is on our NHS Pharmacy First page. Questions first? Get in touch and a pharmacist will come back to you.

More Pharmacy First guides

Sources

  1. Sinusitis (sinus infection) – NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sinusitis-sinus-infection/ (accessed 23 September 2026)
  2. How pharmacies can help – NHS. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/pharmacies/how-pharmacies-can-help/ (accessed 23 September 2026)
  3. Free NHS prescriptions – NHS Business Services Authority. https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-prescription-costs/free-nhs-prescriptions (accessed 23 September 2026)

Written by Zain Rajabali, Superintendent Pharmacist – GPhC #2219769
Medically reviewed by Zain Rajabali, Superintendent Pharmacist, Independent Prescriber – GPhC #2219769
Last reviewed: 23 September 2026 · Next review due: September 2027

This article is general health information and is not a substitute for a consultation. It does not diagnose your symptoms. Whether treatment is appropriate, and which, is decided at an individual assessment with a pharmacist, in line with NHS Pharmacy First criteria.

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