Medicines for Cough and Cold: Key Components, Classifications, and Warnings
Grabbing some medicine for your cough and cold? Keep this info handy to stay safe and get relief!
Here's the lowdown on over-the-counter (OTC) drugs for coughs and colds:
- You'll find a bunch of options for these treatments, some focusing on more than one symptom at a time.
- Being aware of what each ingredient does is essential to avoid making your symptoms worse. Plus, some medications can interact or have adverse effects, so it's vital to take safety precautions and read the instructions carefully.
Get to know your drugs
A recent study found that fewer than 40% of consumers understand the most common active ingredients in cough, cold, and flu remedies, and only about 43% ask their pharmacist for help.
A cold or seasonal flu can bring on a wide range of symptoms, so it's crucial to treat the right ones. For instance, a person with a runny nose and sore throat should avoid using medications that focus on controlling coughs, as coughing helps remove mucus from the throat.
To get the best treatment, understand the various active ingredients and which symptoms they target, then choose medications that treat only the symptoms you're experiencing.
Active ingredients
Here's a rundown on the main ingredients and what they do:
Analgesics: These help with pain relief. Think acetaminophen, plus the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium.
Decongestants: These target nasal and chest congestion. Examples include pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine.
Expectorants: These help loosen or thin the mucus in the chest, making it easier to cough it up. One example is guaifenesin. Drinking plenty of fluids can also help.
Antihistamines: Similar to those found in allergy medications, they can provide relief from symptoms like a runny nose and sneezing. They include chlorpheniramine maleate, diphenhydramine, and doxylamine succinate.
Cough suppressants: These block the cough reflex, making coughing less likely. An example is dextromethorphan. However, using cough suppressants when your cough is caused by smoking, emphysema, asthma, pneumonia, or chronic bronchitis is not recommended because coughing helps clean the lungs.
Combination medicines: These contain multiple ingredients, addressing more than one symptom.
Changes to cough and cold medications
In the U.S., all OTC cold products that aren't sold behind the pharmacy counter have recently been reformulated with phenylephrine. Behind-the-counter products still contain pseudoephedrine, which requires presenting a valid ID and having your purchase history reviewed online.
Examples of behind-the-counter products include Aleve Cold and Sinus, Motrin Cold and Sinus, Sudafed, and Sudafed 12 hour.
Remember: Different types of treatment are available, including syrups, powders, pills, capsules, and sprays, so choose one that fits your needs or talk to a pharmacist for help.
The bottom line
So there you have it! Stay informed, read the labels, and choose the best OTC remedy for your symptoms to avoid any surprises. Happy healing!
- While managing your cough and cold, it's crucial to understand the functions of each active ingredient, as few consumers comprehend these components.
- A cold or flu could trigger a variety of symptoms, so opt for medications that alleviate the specific symptoms you're experiencing.
- Analgesics like acetaminophen and NSAIDs provide pain relief, while decongestants like pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine combat nasal and chest congestion.
- Expectorants, such as guaifenesin, loosen mucus in the chest, making coughing up easier, and drinking adequate fluids offers additional relief.
- Antihistamines, similar to those in allergy medications, ease symptoms like a runny nose and sneezing, with examples including chlorpheniramine maleate, diphenhydramine, and doxylamine succinate.
- Cough suppressants like dextromethorphan minimize coughing, but they aren't recommended for those with smoking-related, emphysema, asthma, pneumonia, or chronic bronchitis, as coughing cleans the lungs.
- Combination medicines comprise multiple ingredients, addressing more than one symptom.
- Changes have been made to cough and cold medications in the U.S., with over-the-counter products now containing phenylephrine, whereas behind-the-counter products retain pseudoephedrine.
- Different forms of treatment are available for cold and flu relief, including syrups, powders, pills, capsules, and sprays, so selecting one tailored to your needs or consulting a pharmacist is essential.
- In the realm of health and wellness, staying informed, reading labels carefully, and selecting the best over-the-counter remedies for your symptoms can aid in a smoother recovery process, ensuring you stay on the right path toward fitness, exercise, skin care, eye health, hearing, and nutrition, as well as therapies and treatments for chronic medical conditions like chronic kidney disease, skin conditions, and respiratory conditions.
