Patients who have infrequent, mild bouts of asthma attacks may use over-the-counter (OTC) medications to treat their asthma symptoms. OTC asthma medicines are limited to epinephrine and ephedrine. These OTC drugs are best used with the guidance of a physician, as there may be side effects and the drugs may not be very effective.

Bronchitis is inflammation of the airways in the lung. Acute bronchitis is is short in duration (10 to 20 days) in comparison with chronic bronchitis, which lasts for months to years. Causes of acute bronchitis include viruses and bacteria, which means it can be contagious. Acute bronchitis caused by environmental factors such as pollution or cigarette smoke is not contagious. Common symptoms for acute bronchitis include

• nasal congestion,
• cough,
• headache,
• sore throat,
• muscle aches, and
• fatigue.

Acute bronchitis in children also my include runny nose, fever, and chest pain. Treatment for acute bronchitis are OTC pain relievers, cough suppressants (although not recommended in children), and rest. Infrequently antibiotics may be prescribed to treat acute bronchitis.

Chronic bronchitis is a cough that occurs daily with production of sputum that lasts for at least three months, two years in a row. Causes of chronic bronchitis include cigarette smoking, inhaled irritants, and underlying disease processes (such as asthma, or congestive heart failure). Symptoms include

• cough,
• shortness of breath, and
• wheezing.

Treatments include bronchodilators and steroids. Complications of chronic bronchitis include COPD and emphysema.

Chronic cough is a cough that does not go away and is generally a symptom of another disorder such as

• asthma,
• allergic rhinitis,
• sinus infection,
• cigarette smoking,
• GERD,
• postnasal drip,
• bronchitis,
• pneumonia,
• medications, and
• less frequently tumors or other lung disease. Treatment of chronic cough is dependent upon the cause.

Chronic cough treatment is based on the cause, but may be soothed natural and home remedies.

Chronic rhinitis and post-nasal drip symptoms include:

• An itchy, runny nose
•  Sneezing
• Itchy ears, eyes, and throat

Seasonal allergic rhinitis (also called hay fever) usually is caused by pollen in the air. Perennial allergic rhinitis is a type of chronic rhinitis and is a year–round problem, often caused by indoor allergens, such as dust, animal dander, and pollens that may exist at the time. Treatment of chronic rhinitis and post nasal drip are dependent upon the type of rhinitis condition.

Before treating a cold, the flu, or allergies with over-the-counter (OTC) medications, it's important to know what's causing the symptoms, which symptoms one wishes to relieve, and the active ingredients in the OTC product. Taking products that only contain the medications needed for relieving your symptoms prevents ingestion of unnecessary medications and reduces the chances of side effects.

The common cold (viral upper respiratory tract infection) is a contagious illness that may be caused by various viruses. Symptoms include a stuffy nose, headache, cough, sore throat, and maybe a fever. Antibiotics have no effect upon the common cold, and there is no evidence that zinc and vitamin C are effective treatments.

Drug interactions occur frequently. Get facts about the types of drug interactions, what substances or other things that may interact with drugs such as OTC drug and prescription drugs, vitamins, food(s) (grapefruit), and laboratory tests. Find out how to protect yourself from potential drug interactions.

Important information about your drugs should be reviewed prior to taking any prescription drug. Side effects, drug interactions, warnings and precauctions, dosage, what the drug is used for, what to do if you miss a dose, how the drug is to be stored, and generic vs. brand names.

Coughing is a reflex that helps a person clear their airways of irritants. There are many causes of an excessive or severe cough including:

• Irritants like
  • cigarette and secondhand smoke
  • pollution
  • air fresheners
• Medications like beta blockers and ACE inhibitors
• Medical conditions like
  • the common cold
  • GERD
  • lung cancer
  • heart disease

Natural and home remedies that help cure and soothe a cough are:

Natural and home remedies to help cure and soothe a cough are:

• Stay hydrated
• Gargle saltwater
• Use cough drops or lozenges
• Use herbs and supplements like ginger, mint, licorice, and slippery elm
• Don't smoke

Over-the-counter products (OTC)to cure and soothe a cough include

• cough suppressants and expectorants, and
• anti-reflux drugs.

Prescription drugs that help cure a cough include

• narcotic medications,
• antibiotics,
• inhaled steroids, and
• anti-reflux drugs like proton pump inhibitors or PPIs, for example,
  • omeprazole (Prilosec),
  • rabeprazole (Aciphex), and
  • pantoprazole (Protonix).

Hydromorphone hydrochloride, oral (Dilaudid, Dilaudid-5, Dilaudid-HP Injection, Exalgo) is an opioid narcotic pain reliever prescribed to manage acute and moderate to severe chronic pain. Common side effects are:

• Constipation
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Itching

Drug interactions, dosage, and pregnancy and breastfeeding safety information should be reviewed prior to administering this medication.

Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs caused by fungi, bacteria, or viruses. Symptoms and signs include cough, fever, shortness of breath, and chills. Antibiotics treat pneumonia, and the choice of the antibiotic depends upon the cause of the infection.

Sinus infection (sinusitis) is caused by allergies, infection, and chemicals or other irritants of sinuses. Signs and symptoms are headache, fever, and facial tenderness, pressure, or pain. Treatments of sinus infections are generally with antibiotics and at times, home remedies.

An upper respiratory infection is a contagious infection of the structures of the upper respiratory tract, which includes the sinuses, nasal passages, pharynx, and larynx. Common causes of an upper respiratory infection include bacteria and viruses such as rhinoviruses, group A streptococci, influenza, respiratory syncytial, whooping cough, diphtheria, and Epstein-Barre. Examples of symptoms of upper respiratory infection include:

• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Fever
• Nasal congestion

Treatment of upper respiratory infections are based upon the cause. Generally, viral infections are treated symptomatically with over-the-counter (OTC) medication and home remedies.

Mucus is a normal substance produced by lining tissues in the body. Excess mucus or mucus that is yellow, green, brown, or bloody may indicate a problem. Mucus production may increase when allergies, a cold, flu, cough, or sore throat are present. Antihistamines and cold and flu medications may help alleviate excess mucus. A neti pot may be used to decrease nasal congestion and clear mucus.