Cough/Cold

 As a pharmacist for 10+ years, one of the most common question I encounter is, “What is the best medicine to take for the cold and flu?” 

I would then follow up with, "What's your age and how long has it been? Do you have any other medical conditions?" If it's been more than 7 days and the symptoms are getting worse, then it's recommended to see the doctor.  Children under 6 years of age,  stay tuned for future posts. 

-Get plenty of rest

-Drink plenty of fluids

-Use a humidifier to relieve congestion by adding moisture to the air. 

-Take over-the-counter (OTC) medications: OTC medications, such as pain relievers, decongestants, and cough suppressants, can help relieve symptoms. However, it's important to read labels carefully and only take medication as directed.

Here are the common ingredients to look for in cough/cold medicine

1) Headache, Fever -Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

2) Muscle Aches— Ibuprofen (Advil)

I often recommend alternating the two drugs every 4-6 hours to maintain consistent pain relief and fever control.

3) Sneezing, itching, and runny nose- antihistamines (similar to allergy     medicines)  loratadine/ Claritin, cetirizine/ Zyrtec, and fexofenadine/ Allegra for daytime,     diphenhydramine /Benadryl for nighttime relief

4) Nasal Congestion — Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), phenylephrine, or  nasal spray Oxymetazoline (Afrin)

 It's recommended to take Sudafed/phenylephrine in the morning to avoid sleep disturbance. 

Do not use this nasal spray for more than 3 days 

Note: Sudafed should not be used in certain conditions like uncontrolled high blood pressure, use Coricidin instead or use nasal decongestant like oxymetazoline/Afrin is indicated. 

4)  Coughing —Guaifenesin and/or  dextromethorphan DM (Mucinex, Mucinex DM,  and generics)

Guaifenesin-If a cough is productive, this can thin the mucus and help clear the lung.

DM- is the best option for dry cough. 

For most healthy adults, it's easy to go with options like Dayquil and Nyquil.

Combo cold medicine typically contains multiple active ingredients. While these products can be convenient, it's important to be cautious when taking them. 

 

One reason is that taking multiple medications can increase the risk of overdosing on a particular ingredient. For example, taking a combo cold medicine that contains acetaminophen for pain relief, and also taking a separate acetaminophen product for a headache, can result in taking too much of this medication and potentially cause liver damage. 

Another reason is that not everyone needs all the active ingredients in a combo cold medicine. For instance, taking a decongestant when you don't have congestion can result in side effects such as jitteriness, nervousness, or insomnia.