Best OTC Cold medicine??

[luvgoing2disney]

Today I have come down with a cold. I don't have fever so it's not serious enough to go to a doctor or even a drive up doctor facility. Just a headache, sniffiles, sneezes, sinus drainage and some hoarseness. What the best OTC meds to buy?

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

If congested, Mucinex D (the kind that's behind the counter and you have to show a license to buy) and a case of water.

If you have (or get) a cough, Delsym liquid cough medicine (no other ingredients so you can take it with the Mucinex).

I like things with single or small # of active ingredients so you can tailor to and treat your actual symptoms and not a blanket of them. It helps to be able to take things when you need them and not be restricted by dosage or other active ingredients.

 

[bcla]

If congested, Mucinex D (the kind that's behind the counter and you have to show a license to buy) and a case of water.

If you have (or get) a cough, Delsym liquid cough medicine (no other ingredients so you can take it with the Mucinex).

I like things with single or small # of active ingredients so you can tailor to and treat your actual symptoms and not a blanket of them. It helps to be able to take things when you need them and not be restricted by dosage or other active ingredients.

I prefer not to take multi-symptom meds if I can help it, although cough medication almost always comes with an expectorant. I'm also frugal and a lot of these medications have been generic for decades. I have a cough suppressant and expectorant. It's 30 tablets for maybe $3, which is cheaper than Robitussin DM or even generic cough syrups. It's only mildly effective though for coughs. That OTC dosage has been around for decades, but I've heard a truly effective dose might possibly be 3-4 times for the cough suppressant. I actually have some codeine from my last cold, but that's reserved if it's really bad.

I almost always take separate decongestants. Phenyephrine does nothing for me, so I need pseudoephedrine from behind the counter. I'll either get the 12-hour type or the 4-hour type (2 tablets). The last time I got that was 24-packs for less than $1.50 a pack at Costco Pharmacy. Other than that, nasal sprays work pretty well, but only for short periods.

If you ache - ibuprofen if you can tolerate it. I actually take two and then back off. I've been to a hospital where I was administered triple the OTC dose. They don't consider it a huge concern if you're taking that kind of dosage on a regular basis. However, those who have overused ibuprofen have suffered kidney damage.

 

[minnie mum]

Any good Barbados rum with which to make your hot rum toddy. It won't do a thing for your cold but after a couple you just won't care.

 

[tvguy]

Any good Barbados rum with which to make your hot rum toddy. It won't do a thing for your cold but after a couple you just won't care.

Sadly, I'm with you. Other than a shot of Whiskey before bed to help me sleep, I normally don't take anything. I was given a 5th 35 years ago and that is all I use it for. If I take nothing, I will be sick for a week to 10 days. If I take almost any other OTC medicine I end up with the cold being slightly less severe, but lasting 2 weeks, and then turning into a sinus infection. I have never been to the Doctor for a cold. Waste of the $125 co-pay for him to tell me to do what I already know to do.

 

[minkydog]

I prefer not to take multi-symptom meds if I can help it, although cough medication almost always comes with an expectorant. I'm also frugal and a lot of these medications have been generic for decades. I have a cough suppressant and expectorant. It's 30 tablets for maybe $3, which is cheaper than Robitussin DM or even generic cough syrups. It's only mildly effective though for coughs. That OTC dosage has been around for decades, but I've heard a truly effective dose might possibly be 3-4 times for the cough suppressant. I actually have some codeine from my last cold, but that's reserved if it's really bad.

I almost always take separate decongestants. Phenyephrine does nothing for me, so I need pseudoephedrine from behind the counter. I'll either get the 12-hour type or the 4-hour type (2 tablets). The last time I got that was 24-packs for less than $1.50 a pack at Costco Pharmacy. Other than that, nasal sprays work pretty well, but only for short periods.

If you ache - ibuprofen if you can tolerate it. I actually take two and then back off. I've been to a hospital where I was administered triple the OTC dose. They don't consider it a huge concern if you're taking that kind of dosage on a regular basis. However, those who have overused ibuprofen have suffered kidney damage.

I am also not a fan of multi-symptom cold meds. My suggestion is to take pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and the pain reliever of your choice. That way you can control exactly which medications you ingest and when. Oh, and phenylephrine is a weak substitute for pseudoephedrine, IMO. That stuff is just about useless.

 

[minkydog]

Sadly, I'm with you. Other than a shot of Whiskey before bed to help me sleep, I normally don't take anything. I was given a 5th 35 years ago and that is all I use it for.

DH swears by Fireball whiskey. He takes a ton of prescription meds, so he doesn't like to take even more OTC meds. A shot of Fireball burns calms his cough and opens his sinuses, or so he says.

 

[Missy1961]

I don't take any. They really only mask the symptoms of a cold. You're better off drinking plenty of fluids (water, oj, no caffeine) and taking some kind of pain relief.

 

[Julylady]

Another fan of behind the counter Sudafed with Tylenol if I'm running a fever.

 

[Albort]

During the mist of my last cold, my doctor told me to get Allegra. I was starting to run a cold once, started to take allegra, with orange juice and vitamin C, didnt end up getting sick after all. *Knock on wood*

 

[Happy Snowman]

Ny-Quil...seems to be the only thing that helps me if I have a cold. I generally have more than one symptom if I have a cold so I don't mind the multi-symptom products.

 

[Happy Snowman]

I don't take any. They really only mask the symptoms of a cold. You're better off drinking plenty of fluids (water, oj, no caffeine) and taking some kind of pain relief.

That is pretty much the point of taking them, so you feel better. There is no cure for the cold so you treat it symptomatically.

 

[Kellydelly]

When I have cold symptoms that are mild enough that I still need to work and be around people I use Alka Seltzer Plus cold medicine (plop plop fizz fizz kind). I get the orange flavor. It works to stop my nose from running 90% of the time, which is what I need if I want to be at work and not appear to be sick . I also drink tons of oj and eat a lot of chicken noodle soup and rest when able. I hope you feel better fast! This med works well for sore throat and headache too.

 

[Gigi22]

Depends on the type of cold. We are limited to Coricidin because it is the only brand available locally that doesn't raise BP levels. That said, I am a true believer in the benefits of steaming the sinuses and a good hot toddy with lemon and honey followed by a buffered aspirin. I have a "dry" Vicks humidifier with Vicks-laced humidifier pads that seems to help. Another excellent find are the Breathe Right nasal strips which actually do allow you to breathe.

 

[scrapquitler]

Today I have come down with a cold. I don't have fever so it's not serious enough to go to a doctor or even a drive up doctor facility. Just a headache, sniffiles, sneezes, sinus drainage and some hoarseness. What the best OTC meds to buy?

In my house, we mostly use NyQuil at night, and DayQuil during the day. Also Vicks vapor rub, Halls cough drops and a hot toddy (tea, lemon, honey, and a shot of whiskey). I never do mucinex because it gives me bad stomach pains and nausea every time.

 

[Christine]

There can be some benefit to taking "cold" medications that go beyond symptom reduction.

Many people get complications from a cold due to thickening mucous and swollen sinuses. Sometimes if things don't "flow", a secondary sinus infection sets in.

So besides making you feel a bit better, pseudoephedrine is good at reducing the swelling of sinus membranes as well as thinning mucous a bit, so get some drainage. Mucinex (guafenisen) in higher doses also thins the mucous and allows it to drain.

Won't make your cold go away any faster but can help you feel not so blocked up and MAYBE prevent a sinus infection.

 

[Dancind]

I'm planning to try elderberry syrup or lozenges next time. Been hearing good things about it.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I swear by either ADVIL pseudoefphreine, or the CVS brand.
Seems to be exactly the same product.
These are OTC, but you do have to sign for them at the counter.

If drainage and soreness/burning in the throat is a problem, then lozenges can really help.
The ones with Pectin coat the throat and can help.
And with Cold-EZE, while I don't swear by it, I think the Zinc can help keep the offending virus under control.
Neither of these are the Mentol-Vapor type of lozenge.

 

[bcla]

I just wanted to clarify my earlier comment. I meant that ibuprofen is generally OK in a high **occasional** dose, but that overusing it on a regular basis can lead to kidney damage.

I remember visiting my cousin, whose husband is a doctor. I had some pain reliever that just went OTC (ketoprofen) and was sold in OTC strength. When he saw the dosage on the label, he said that he would routinely prescribe four (or more) times the dosage and that it was no big deal for short term use. The big issue is when these medications are taken for chronic pain and patients overuse them. Ketoprofen is no longer available OTC, but that seemed to be due to poor sales more than anything else.

Also - I'm a big believer in generic meds. I see what the active ingredients are and buy those. I've seen guafanesin syrup sold for under $1 a 4 oz bottle. I'll use that to increase the amount of expectorant if I'm only taking 5 ml of codeine cough syrup. Cough suppresant is harder to find without an expectorant, which generally doesn't give me too much side effects anyways. I don't always have body aches, so I'll lay off the pain reliever if I don't need it. I also take separate antihistamines - almost always generics. Although the label may not say it, there's nothing particularly wrong about using diphenhydramine or chlorphenarmine for runny nose or sneezing due to a cold, even though the label might say it's only for allergy symptoms. I also take a generic version of Allegra and split the 180 mg tablets, as instructed by a pharmacist. I can't take the full tablet as I get the shakes, but roughly half gives me no issues. I'd rather take the 60 mg dosage if I could find it cheap, but I've never seen it sold in bulk - only in 12 packs and/o

 

[luvgoing2disney]

I take medication for high blood pressure, so the pharmacist recommended Mucinex Sinus-Max and DW had some cough medicine at home that said was ok. Started taking the Mucinex last night ( it has day and night caplets in the package) and that stuff has worked wonders! Of course, even with meds the cold has to run it's course, but I am miles ahead from where I was yesterday!