Cold Medicine for Adults: Treatment Facts

Added On : 10th January 2013

When you're sick and miserable with a cold, you might grab the first box of cold medicine that you see on the drugstore shelf. But experts say that we should be savvier when choosing a cold medicine.

"Cold medicine" is a big category. None will cure a cold or treat the underlying virus. Instead, different cold medicines target different symptoms -- and have different pros and cons. You have to make sure you're getting the cold medicine you need and not the medicines you don't.

Here's a rundown of popular cold medicines, from decongestants to cough medicine to pain relievers. Remember, always check the drug label for complete instructions on how to take it and possible side effects.

Cold Medicine for a Stuffy Nose

When you're stuffed up, an over-the-counter decongestant could help clear you up, says Norman Edelman, MD, chief medical officer at the American Lung Association. It can reduce the swelling in your nasal passages, allowing you to breathe through your nose a little easier. There are two types.

• Oral decongestants include over-the-counter pills and syrups like phenylephrine (Contac Cold and Flu, Dristan, Sinutab, and Sudafed Congestion PE) and pseudoephedrine (Sudafed Congestion). Like any medicine, these cold medicines can have side effects. They can include nervousness, dizziness, or trouble sleeping. People with high blood pressure, heart disease, thyroid problems, diabetes, or an enlarged prostate should check with a doctor before using them. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should also check with their doctor before taking any medication. And no one should take a decongestant for more than a week at a time without checking with their doctor. OTC drugs with pseudoephedrine have been used in the illegal production of methamphetamine. As a result, cold medicines with pseudoephedrine must now be sold behind the pharmacy counter.
• Nasal spray decongestants apply the medicine directly to the membranes in your nasal passages. Examples include oxymetazoline (Afrin, Dristan, and Sinex) and phenylephrine (4-Way and Neo-Synephrine.) Nasal decongestants have side effects and risks similar to those of oral decongestants. They can also cause burning, stinging, and dryness in the nose. Nasal spray decongestants should not be used for more than three days at a time. Why? If you use them for too long and then stop, these cold medicines can actually make your congestion worse. It's called a rebound effect.

Cold Medicine for a Runny Nose

What if you're not really stuffed up, but sneezing and runny-nosed? Antihistamines, such as chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl), help a runny nose.

"When you have a drippy, leaky nose, antihistamines are good for drying out the nasal passages," Edelman tells WebMD. These cold medicines work by blocking the effects of histamine. This is a chemical that leads to a running nose and sneezing.

But these medicines have one main drawback. They can make you make you sleepy, so avoid alcohol when taking them and be careful when driving.

Cold Medicine for Cough

There are two common types of cough medicine.

• Cough suppressants, as the name implies, are supposed to help stop coughing. The active ingredient is usually dextromethorphan, which is in products like Delsym, Mucinex DM, and Robitussin Cough.  Side effects can include dizziness, drowsiness, nervousness, nausea, and stomach pain. Talk to your doctor before using a product with dextromethorphan if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or have a long-term cough associated with smoking, asthma, or emphysema.
• Cough expectorants work differently. They decrease chest congestion by thinning the mucus and making it easier to cough up. The only expectorant in the U.S. is guaifenesin, found in products like Mucinex DM and Robitussin DM. Side effects can include headache, nausea, and vomiting. Again, check with your doctor before taking guaifenesin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or have a long-term cough associated with smoking, asthma, or emphysema. Many cough medicine brands combine suppressants and expectorants.

Want a natural alternative to cough medicine? Honey can help soothe a nagging cough. Do not give honey to babies younger than 1 because of the risk of infant botulism.

Cold Medicine for Fever and Aches in Adults

Many pain relief drugs will also help bring down a fever. They include acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, and ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin IB).

A fever is your body's response against viruses and bacteria, many of which can't survive in higher temperatures. While some experts suggest letting a fever run its course, there is no scientific evidence that fever helps you recover from an infection, such as the common cold.

In general, many experts say that if a fever is making you uncomfortable, taking medicine to lower it is OK. If you have any of the symptoms listed below, call your doctor:

• You have a fever that is 103 degrees or higher
• You have a fever that gets worse or lasts longer than three days
• Any new symptoms appear

Combination Cold Medicine for Multiple Symptoms

Many cold medicines sold these days are combination drugs. They might pack a decongestant, an antihistamine, a cough suppressant, an expectorant, and a painkiller into one convenient pill. But Edelman advises you think carefully when choosing the one-pill-for-many-symptoms approach.

"When you buy one of those combination medications, you're getting medicines you don't necessarily need," Edelman tells WebMD. If you're stuffed up without a cough or fever, why take the extra medicines to treat those symptoms you don't have -- and risk any unnecessary side effects?

If you do opt for a multi-symptom relief cold medicine, choose the medicine that matches the symptoms you have.

Alternatives to Cold Medicine

Some people like to use complementary medicine for colds. These include vitamin C, echinacea, or zinc. However, the evidence that any of these supplements help is mixed at best, Edelman says. Before trying one, check with your doctor. You need to make sure that it's safe for you and won't interact with any other medicines you take.

Some traditional remedies might help relieve common cold discomfort, too.

• For a sore throat, try gargling with salt water.
• Warm fluids -- like hot tea or chicken soup -- can help soothe the throat and break up mucus in the airways.
• Moistening the air with a humidifier or vaporizer -- or using a saline spray directly in the nose -- can help keep nasal passages moist.

Remember, nothing -- no prescription drug, over-the-counter cold medicine, or supplement -- can cure a cold or attack the virus itself. When you're next sick, the best advice is to make yourself comfortable, treat any bothersome symptoms, and wait for your body to fight off the virus.

 

R. Morgan Griffin - WebMD