With constantly changing Over-the-Counter Cough and Cold Products, choosing the right product is very difficult and downright confusing for the average consumer. And the last thing you feel like doing when you are sick, is standing in the cough and cold aisle, aching, sniffling, coughing and trying not to get snot on everything while trying to figure it all out.
Even as a pharmacist, it can be confusing. Twenty years ago, if we told you to get Benadryl, there was only 1 product named Benadryl. Today, there are 38 (no joke) products with Benadryl in the name. Drug companies also frequently change ingredients of a product and DO NOT change the name of the product or labeling other than listing the new ingredients. Therefore, pharmacists frequently need to come out and actually look at the ingredients (just like I'll show you below) in order to figure out which product you need.
So, here's the scoop. Below is a Chart with brief descriptions of how to spot the right ingredients to treat your symptoms. Just print and cut out the following chart, either circle or place a check mark by your symptoms and take it with you to the store. Match your symptoms with ingredients and Score! you've got the right product.
* There are also options not mentioned, for instance, saline sinus rinses and sprays for a stuffy nose, and cough drops for sore throats and cough. However, the focus of this blog is specifically on oral tablets/capsules and liquids:
Symptom |
What You Need |
Name of Ingredient(choose one) |
What it Does |
|
Cough |
Cough Suppressant |
Dextromethorphan |
Suppresses the urge to cough |
|
Sore Throat, Muscle Aches, Swollen & Painful Sinuses |
Pain Reliever Anti-Inflammatory |
Acetaminophen Ibuprofen |
Decreases Pain Decreases Pain and Swelling |
|
Stuffy Nose |
Decongestant |
Phenylephrine (OTC) Psuedoephedrine (You must get this from pharmacy & you'll need your driver's license) |
Constricts swollen blood vessels therefore leaving more room in the sinuses to breath and for pflegm to drain. |
|
Runny Nose |
Antihistamine |
Diphenhydramine, Doxylamine, Chlorpheniramine, Brompheniramine, Clemastine (expect drowsiness) Cetirizine, Loratadine, Fexofenadine (minimal to no drowsiness) |
Dries up secretions, including runny noses. |
|
Pflegm In other words... Lots of Snot! |
Expectorant |
Guaifenesin |
Breaks down pflegm to make it more runny so it can come out easier. |
* You will not find, or should not find, products with both antihistamines & expectorants in them. One dries the secretions & the other makes them runny. You can't do both at the same time. You'll need to choose which is more important! If your chest is so tight you can't breath or are worried about infection setting in in the lungs, you will want to opt for the expectorant. If your nose is so runny, you have to stuff wads of kleenex up both nostrils to keep it from running all over your pillow, you will probably want to opt for the antihistamine.
* Decongestants are stimulants. They can keep you up at night. But if you're not sleeping because you can't breathe, you may want to use a decongestant to help you breath. You may not sleep as well as usual, but will probably sleep better than without it.
These are the kind of questions you have to ask yourself in order to make a choice.
Of course, if you still have no idea, just ask your pharmacist!
CAUTION! You must still read the warnings and precautions on all medications. If you are pregnant, check with your doctor. If you have certain medical conditions or are taking certain medications, you must make sure you can take the product. Read the package carefully. If you are not sure, ask the pharmacist. That's what we're there for! To help YOU!
I hope you learned something. Hopefully, you won't need to use any of this information and you'll stay healthy all winter.
To a Healthy Winter!
Terrie Stonebraker, RPh
