Cold Medicine and Treatment: When? What? How?

Because there’s no cure for the common cold, the best cold treatment is to ease the symptoms you have for the duration of your cold. Cold symptoms may include congestion, stuffed or runny nose, fever, sore throat, sneezing, cough, and an achy body.

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs can help with multiple symptoms. It can be overwhelming to choose from all the different cold medications but look for a medication that treats your specific symptoms, try not to combine different medicines that treat the same issues.

Best Medicine for Colds

Nasal Decongestants

Nasal decongestants will help to unclog a congested nose caused by the common cold. Nasal decongestants work by narrowing the blood vessels in the lining of your nose so that the swollen tissue shrinks and decreases mucous production, that way you can breathe easier. This medication can also help to dry up postnasal drip.

Nasal decongestants are available as pills, nasal sprays, and syrups. It is not advisable to use wit with children 3 years and under.

Available over-the-counter nasal decongestants include:

  • Afrin, Dristan 12-Hour Nasal Spray
  • Neo-Synephrine
  • Sudafed, Triaminic Multi-Symptom Fever and Cold

Cough Suppressants

Irritating coughs caused by the common cold can be treated by cough suppressants. Coughs may cause headaches and sore throats that can keep you up at night. Though coughs are a nuisance, coughing actually protects the body by expelling unwanted mucus.

These drugs work by suppressing the impulse that causes you to cough. Cough suppressants can help provide short-term relief from coughing.

The most common OTC cold and flu liquid cough suppressants contain the active ingredient of dextromethorphan, including:

  • Triaminic Cold and Cough
  • Robitussin Cough and Chest Congestion DM
  • Vicks 44 Cough & Cold
  • Day Nurse Liquid

Expectorants

Expectorants help loosen and thin mucus so you can cough it up more easily to get rid of excessive mucus more quickly.

Guaifenesin is the active ingredient in OTC cough expectorants which can be found in:

Antihistamines

Antihistamines can help to relieve some symptoms of the common cold, though they are typically taken for people who suffer from allergies.

These can include:

  • Sneezing
  • Watery eyes
  • Coughing
  • Nasal discharge

OTC antihistamines include:

  • Dimetapp
  • Sudafed
  • Benadryl
  • Nyquil

Pain relievers

Pain relievers will help to reduce the different types of pain brought on by the common cold, such as:

  • Muscle aches
  • Headaches
  • Sore throat
  • Earaches

Pain relievers include:

  • Tylenol (Acetaminophen)
  • Advil and Motrin (Ibuprofen)
  • Aleve (Naproxen)

 Home Remedies for a Cold

Home remedies can also be used to treat cold symptoms alongside medication. There are many simple remedies that you probably already have in your kitchen and bathroom cupboards, such as:

  • Drink herbal tea
  • Use medicated throat lozenges
  • Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water
  • Use a humidifier to loosen up decongestion
  • Eat frozen foods such as ice or popsicles to alleviate sore throat pain

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