Cold Medicine: How To Choose The Right One

When you have a cold, it can be hard to sort through the dizzying array of over-the-counter cold medications.

But many cold medications contain just a few types of drugs. The key is to check the list of ingredients and match the right drug to your symptoms.

"Assess what's bothering you the most, and then target the medication that's appropriate for the symptom," says William J. Hueston, MD, professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. "Make sure you understand what the medicine is for before you buy it."

Here's a guide to over-the-counter cold medications for adults (not kids!)

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NSAIDs

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What they are: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) fight inflammation and reduce fevers, so they are a good choice if you have a sore throat, headache, muscle aches, or fever. They include ibuprofen (Advil), aspirin, naproxen and (Aleve), among others. Many combination cold medications include an NSAID. Reasons to avoid: If you're already taking some form of NSAID for blood clots, rheumatoid arthritis, or another condition, you should talk to your doctor before taking NSAIDs for cold relief. NSAIDs can upset your stomach, so they're not the best choice if you have acid reflux or gastric ulcers, or are taking another medication that affects the stomach. NSAIDs also can be asthma triggers in between 10 to 20 percent of people with asthma. More From Health.com: Stop a Cold in Its Tracks 5 Ways to Tell if You Need an Antibiotic Do Natural Cold Remedies Really Work?

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What they are: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) fight inflammation and reduce fevers, so they are a good choice if you have a sore throat, headache, muscle aches, or fever.

They include ibuprofen (Advil), aspirin, naproxen and (Aleve), among others. Many combination cold medications include an NSAID.

Reasons to avoid: If you're already taking some form of NSAID for blood clots, rheumatoid arthritis, or another condition, you should talk to your doctor before taking NSAIDs for cold relief.

NSAIDs can upset your stomach, so they're not the best choice if you have acid reflux or gastric ulcers, or are taking another medication that affects the stomach. NSAIDs also can be asthma triggers in between 10 to 20 percent of people with asthma.

More From Health.com:
Stop a Cold in Its Tracks
5 Ways to Tell if You Need an Antibiotic
Do Natural Cold Remedies Really Work?

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Comments

[Fileto Fish]

06:41 AM on 03/09/2011

I’ve tried all sorts of coughing syrups, believe me, but none of them helps. Even though Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa www.geocities.jp/ninjiom_hong_kong/index_e.htm does not eliminates the cough I like to stick to this chinese syrup I’ve been taking since I was a kid: Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa. My grandfather is chinese, so I guess my mom got the advice from him. I was really surprised when I found that chinese market selling it here in Belgium. It does have a refreshing, soothing, sweetening effect…as long as it lasts…then back to coughing mode.

[robinhood1]

09:35 PM on 01/22/2011

If you have an air vent over or near desk at work, try to get it closed off. You don't want dirty recycled air blowing at you all day.

[MizzouSteve]

01:13 PM on 01/22/2011

My strong advice to parents... When in doubt (about anything, not just medication), CALL YOUR DOCTOR. If you have a doctor's office that isn't responsive to those types of calls, find a new pediatrician.

In my office, my nurses have always known what I prefer, and when they don't, they ask.

There are a lot of dangers around certain medications out there for the young ones, particularly things like: (1) tylenol (acetaminophen) dosage, and making CERTAIN it is the right one (2) cold medication, especially in children under 2, and DEFINITELY in children under 6 months (3) what to do about fever, and what does fever mean?

Just a few suggestions. When in doubt, ask or find out - I do it every day! :)

[MNmommy]

11:21 AM on 01/22/2011

Mucinex and Ibuprofen, the occasional use of Claritin.

[sabelmouse]

08:13 AM on 01/22/2011

i have never volentarily taken anything to reduce a fever or given it to my childre.
fever is one of the best ways for a body to fight infection.
in fact some german doctors came up with the hypothesis that the increase of fuse of ever supressing drugs might be connected to anincrease in complications in diseases such as measles.
my children are probably among very few who have never had any antibioics or fever supressants in their childhoods.
or cough syrup or teething aids.

[sabelmouse]

10:27 AM on 01/22/2011

hat should be '' increase of use of fever supressing drugs''

[sabelmouse]

10:28 AM on 01/22/2011

damn that keyboard. '' that''

[farmilyman]

04:34 AM on 01/22/2011

There's a dizzying array of products with the same ingrediants that are all pretty much useless.

[NobodySince1980]

05:36 PM on 01/21/2011

Really? We now need to be told to pick a medicine that says it treats the symptoms we have? Picking out a cold medicine has become rocket science instead of just perhaps, a lot of choices, many of which can treat a person's specific symptoms?

[mssreader]

04:54 PM on 01/21/2011

For me I take vit C at the first hint of a cold. It's the cure all for everything for me. I haven't had a cold since the 80s but I do sometimes get hint of one coming on which really is seldom like once every few years usually when I'm out of sorts anyway. I use super strength ascorbic powder and usually just mix in water. I do use vit C everyday in a capsule or powder in smoothies.

[sfdcubfan]

03:21 PM on 01/21/2011

Every once in a while (like every few years), I get the viral equivalent of strep throat, where one tonsil swells up and gets a bunch of white crap on it, and it's difficult to swallow food. I think about going for a throat culture, knowing that I will most likely refuse antibiotics regardless of what the doctor comes up with.

So I head over to the health food store, Whole Foods, Vitamin Shoppe, etc. and grab a small bottle of Elderberry Extract. It's a tincture, and in an alcohol base (sorry to the rehabbers out there). Once I get it, I put a dropperful of the tincture into a glass, add water (or a packet of Emergen-C depending on how I feel), and I down the concoction every 2-3 hours.

Without fail, the white crap is gone from the swollen tonsil within a day or so, and sometimes it moves over to the other tonsil, whereby I repeat the same activity until it goes away. At the same time, I'm loading up on probiotics (either Natren's Healthy Trinity or Garden of Life Ultra Primal Defense).

I think Elderberry Extract, combined with Grape Seed Extract, can work wonders for viruses. I haven't tried it for a cold, but that's because I haven't had one in a long time.

Hope my story helps anyone looking for a chemical-free way...

[mrman]

02:35 PM on 01/21/2011

I had a cough since late October. Took everything. MUCINEX saved me. It's expensive compared to all the others...but it WORKS. I'm prone to Bronchitis and that post nasal drip thing so I plan to keep it in the medicine cabinet. just saying...

[sfdcubfan]

03:23 PM on 01/21/2011

Don't forget the probiotics! If you are good with dairy, start chugging Lifeway Kefir. The good bugs will help keep the other issues at bay - you know, the ones waiting to pounce if you keep getting sick.

[MizzouSteve]

01:16 PM on 01/22/2011

Cough since October? You probably need to see your doctor. It could be many things, like asthma (which is SO underdiagnosed/treated) or other respiratory condition (allergies, mold, infection, etc). I don't know your age/smoking history, but other conditions could also apply (I treat the little ones).

Coughs should not last that long, and while I'm happy Mucinex has helped, I would seek professional advice about what is the cause of the cough, and not just treat the symptoms.

[Doug-Life]

02:14 PM on 01/21/2011

Go for the stuff behind the pharmacy counter - the stuff you have to sign your life away for. Anything that says "Warning: May Cause Stomach Bleeding" - you know it's good!

[DatLibrulCat]

01:40 PM on 01/21/2011

The right answer is, "Don't." If it promises to help or take away cough, congestion or runny nose, it's probably lying. Acetaminophen & ibuprofen are not cold medicines. They are acceptable. Colds do not involve the production of histamine so antihistamines are worthless for colds. It's like saying you should take Benadryl before eating hot peppers because the peppers make your nose run. Zinc, echinacea & VitC are all also a joke as well as anything a homeopath throws at you. There are lots of causes for symptoms that appear similar. For true viral upper respiratory infections, the best remedy is time, coupled with good hand hygiene, covering cough, fluids, rest and if needed, ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

[aspiecelia]

01:15 PM on 01/21/2011

The best cold medicine is eating healthy and exercising so that when your body is exposed to a virus it can fight it off quickly and with decreased symtoms. Teas are the best thing when you have a virus. To relieve the symtoms a very mild pain killer may help. The sore throat is just from the stuff running down your throat from your sinuses, so someithing to dry that up if it is severe would relieve the symptoms, but most cold medicines have a lot of extra things you don't need. Vitamin D3 helps prevent viral infections.

[jmichaelmunger]

02:34 PM on 01/21/2011

Exactly. COnsuming more chemicals will only cause more of this cr@p in the future.

Fresh food, made at home will make one invincible.

[sfdcubfan]

03:26 PM on 01/21/2011

Honey works really well too - helps knock off bacteria in the throat....

[jl4141]

12:55 PM on 01/21/2011

Acetaminophen should be renamed Placebo, because they have about the same effect.

[jmichaelmunger]

02:35 PM on 01/21/2011

I'm with ya'.

Advil and plain ol' aspirin works better for me.

[Callah]

12:34 PM on 01/21/2011

Dextromethorphan can kill you if you have an allergic reaction to it. It is a dangerous substance that three of my local Pharmacists really WISH was still an RX medication and not IN MOST every cold medicine on the shelf . If you have shellfish allergies this medication can go really bad on you quickly.