Cold, Flu, Allergy Treatments

Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

• Introduction to cold, flu, and allergy treatments
• Headaches, body aches, fever, and flu-like symptoms
• Nasal congestion, sneezing, and runny nose
• Cough
• Sore throat and other symptoms

Making Sense of OTC Cold and Cough Medications Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Medical Editor: Barbara K. Hecht, PhD Unsure about the hundreds of cold and flu preparations on the drugstore shelves? You're not alone. Deciding among the OTC (over-the-counter) remedies for cold, flu, or allergy symptoms can be intimidating, and a basic understanding of the types of drugs included in these medications can help you make an informed choice. Decongestants Decongestants are the drugs of choice for a stuffy, congested nose. Decongestants act by narrowing the blood vessels in the nose, leading to decreased blood flow in the nasal tissues and reduced leakage of fluid from the nose. Decongestants can either be taken orally or applied locally (topically) in the form of nasal sprays or drops. Pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine are decongestants that can be taken orally. Phenylephrine and oxymetolazone are examples of topical decongestants. While topical decongestants are effective after a few minutes, oral preparations (tablets) can take about 30 minutes to work. Decongestants act as stimulants that can increase heart rate, raise the blood pressure, exacerbate palpitations, and lead to feelings of nervousness or feeling "hyper." It's important to note that decongestants do not relieve a runny or itchy nose. Wondering which OTC medications to take for the flu, cold, or allergies? Read on... » Top Searched Cold, Flu, and Allergy Terms: cold symptoms, remedies, sore throat, echinacea, cough, prevention, runny nose, sinusitis, headache, flu symptoms, allergy, influenza, stomach flu, cold flu season, difference between cold and flu, flu shot

Introduction to cold, flu, and allergy treatments

Every year, millions of people use over-the-counter (OTC) products to relieve nasal stuffiness and congestion, sneezing, runny noses, sore throat, and cough. The common causes of these symptoms include the viruses that cause the common cold, influenza virus, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), and sinus infections (sinusitis). Viral infections can also cause headache, body aches, fatigue, and sometimes fever. Hay fever symptoms can also include itchy eyes, nose, and throat, and watery eyes.

To benefit from OTC products for cold, flu, and allergy, it is important to understand (1) the condition causing the symptoms, (2) the predominant symptom(s) one wishes to relieve, and (3) the active ingredient(s) in the product. Some OTC products contain a single active ingredient medication to relieve one symptom. Many others contain a combination of two, three, and even four active ingredient medications to treat several symptoms at once. Selecting the right product can be difficult at times.

Here we have categorized products for cold/flu/allergy according to the predominant symptoms they relieve:

• Headaches, body aches, fever, and "flu-like" symptoms



• Nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing



• Cough



• Sore throat

Since cold and flu sufferers usually experience several symptoms, products containing medication combinations provide convenience. Therefore, you may need to take only one product as compared with two to four products. You also may need to stock fewer items in the medicine cabinet. Nevertheless, it is preferable to take products that contain only those medications you need for relieving the symptoms that are present. This prevents the ingestion of unnecessary medications and reduces the chances of side effects. It is also easier to adjust the dose of a single ingredient medicine to maximize relief of a predominant symptom and minimize side effects.

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

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