Which class of drugs is primarily used to treat nasal congestion?

Decongestants are the class of drugs specifically designed to relieve nasal congestion. They work by constricting the blood vessels in the nasal passages, leading to reduced swelling and congestion in the nasal cavity. This reduction in swelling allows for easier breathing through the nose during conditions such as colds, allergies, or sinus infections.

While expectorants help loosen mucus and phlegm in the respiratory tract to make it easier to cough up and expel, they do not directly address nasal congestion. Antihistamines are primarily used to relieve allergy symptoms, including runny noses and sneezing, but they do not provide the same degree of relief for congestion as decongestants. Antipyretics are medications used to reduce fever and do not target nasal congestion at all. Thus, decongestants are specifically formulated for alleviating the symptoms associated with nasal congestion, making them the appropriate choice for this question.