Cold and Cough Medications: Ask A Pharmacist
Summer is ending and that means cooler weather and, you guessed it! Frequent colds and coughing. While there is no cure for the common cold, there are many remedies that can help alleviate symptoms. If you do catch a cold, you will likely be sick for 7 to 14 days. While the common cold is pesky and can come at the most inconvenient times, there are many ways you can help treat symptoms.
Did you know? The common cold is a viral infection.
So what do I take for my cold and cough?
- Symptoms with normal cold: severe fatigue, mild fever, sneezing, nasalcongestion, sore throat, and mild/productive cough.Topical decongestant – adrenergic agonist, which cause vasoconstriction leading tonarrowing of the blood vessels in the nose are to reduce swelling and congestion.Example: Afrin (Oxymetazoline)Systemic decongestant – is a sympathomimetic drug which causes vasoconstrictionshrinking nasal mucous membranes to reduce nasal and sinus congestion.Example: Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine)Antitussive- help with the dry cough which can be experience with cold.Dextromethorphan activates the sigma opioid receptors on the cough center in thecentral nervous system and blocks the cough reflex, thereby being suppressed.Example: Delsym or Robitussin (Dextromethorphan)Expectorant – generally used to reduce the viscosity and volume of sputum produced.These work by loosening the mucus in the airways and provide relief to the wet coughand chest congestion.Example: Mucinex (Guaifenesin)Analgesic – these can be used to manage the generalized headache pain and mildfever. In case of fever, the antipyretics acetaminophen can be more beneficial thanibuprofen. Acetaminophen can reduce inflammation as it inhibits the synthesis ofprostaglandin which is the substance responsible for the inflammation. It works better asan antipyretic since it can act on the region of the brain which regulates temperatureExample: Tylenol (Acetaminophen)Combination productExample: Cold and Flu Multi-Symptom Relief/Cold and Flu Nighttime ReliefDayquil – Acetaminophen 325 mg, Dextromethorphan HBr 10 mg, and PhenylephrineHCL 5mg(Helpful as pain reliever/fever reducer, cough suppressant and nasal decongestant)NyQuil - Acetaminophen 325 mg, Dextromethorphan HBr 10 mg, and PhenylephrineHCL 5mg(Helpful as pain reliever/fever reducer, cough suppressant and nasal decongestant)Do not self-treat if and reach out to doctor if:- You are an advanced age;- You are treating an infant younger than 3 months;- Cold and cough persistent to worsen;- Symptoms last more than 10 days.
A few easy things you can do to try to lessen cold symptoms include:
- Staying hydrated (water, juice, clear broths, and uncaffeinated tea can help with congestion and prevent dehydration). Try to avoid caffeine, alcohol, and caffeinated beverages such as soda.- Get enough sleep! While you may be tempted to still go about your usual activities, the only way to get better is by resting.- Saltwater gargle: Dissolve 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8oz of warm water and use as needed. This can temporarily relive a scratchy, irritated throat. We do not recommend this for young children as they are unlikely to gargle properly and may swallow the salt water.Remember to wash your hands, dress appropriately for cooler weather, wear a mask if you are sick, and test for COVID-19 if you are unsure if you have been exposed. In case you forgot, we test for COVID-19 (results same day, next day, and 3 to 5 business days). Book your appointment here.
