Cold Medicine: What is the Right One to Use?

When we have a cold, many of us reach for whatever cough syrup or cold medicine we have in our medicine cabinet. We glance over the list of symptoms listed or assume all cold medicines are the same and can treat any common cold. Not so. Different cold medicines and cough syrups are formulated specifically to treat different cold symptoms, even different kinds of coughs. It's best for you to determine exactly what you want to accomplish with your cold medicine and choose accordingly.

Coughing when you have a cold does serve a natural purpose. A cough is your body's way of clearing secretions and mucus from your airways and expelling mucous fluid from your lungs. It is not always in your best interest to stop your body from coughing up the invading mucus when you have a cold. However, there are times when your body simply needs a rest from the coughing. You may be in a public place, at work or school, and continuous coughing is a distraction and public health hazard, or it may be that you just need to get some sleep so that you can fight off your cold.

Cold medicines that minimize the coughing reflex are called cough suppressants or antitussives. Cough suppressants target the area of the brain that triggers the cough reflex, telling the body not to cough. The two most common cough suppressants are dextromethorphan and diphenhydramine. Look for one of these two ingredients when shopping for a cough suppressing cold medicine.

Cough suppressants are most advisable to use for relief from a dry, irritating cough that is not resulting in mucus and phlegm being expelled from the lungs, or when you need to rest. A productive cough is best left to expel the mucus and phlegm to rid your body of it and heal your cold.

Expectorants help to loosen and thin mucus secretions in the lungs and airways caused by common colds. Expectorants make it easier to cough up congesting phlegm. An expectorant may also help relieve a dry, irritating cough by lubricating the airways and preventing further cold infection of your upper respiratory tract. Guaifenesin is the most common ingredient to look for in an over the counter cold medicine as an expectorant.

Cough suppressants and expectorants may be combined in a cold medicine to treat more than one cold symptom. The suppressant makes it so that you cough less frequently, and the expectorant makes coughing more comfortable and productive when you do cough.

Although you might be tempted to take a decongestant when you are struggling with a tight, congested chest cold, taking one will really do you no good. Decongestants (like phenylephrine) only work to relieve blocked sinuses or ears and runny noses. Chest congestion needs to be treated with the aforementioned expectorants.

Sinus or nasal congestion that is the result of an allergic reaction and not a cold should respond to an antihistamine, such as chlorpheniramine or diphenhydramine. Diphenhydramine is also an antitussive (cough suppressant), so it can help alleviate a cough resulting from post nasal drip as well.

Colds that are causing raspy throat pain can be treated with throat soothing medications, called demulcents. Honey and menthol are common ingredients in throat soothing treatments. Throat lozenges, hard candies and cough drops are all considered throat soothers. Some cough drops and throat lozenges contain cough suppressants and oral anesthetics to help reduce coughing and numb irritation.

Another common over the counter cold medicine that can help relieve cold symptoms and congestion is an external chest rub. Chest rubs are applied to the chest and give off warming vapors that numb throat irritation, suppressing coughs, and help clear nasal passages.

No matter what cold medicine you choose to treat your cold symptoms, never discount the effectiveness of old stand by's like tea, water, and honey. Water is an excellent expectorant on its own, hydrating the body and subsequently cold affected airways, thinning secretions. Warm fluids like brothy soups and teas are comforting, too, and adding honey helps to coat the throat, relieving irritation caused by a cold.

Many of us assume we know what to look for in a cold medicine, or assume all cough medicines are the same. Educating yourself as to which active ingredients will really treat the cold symptoms plaguing you for each unique cold experience will help you to get the relief you are looking for, and not waste time and money on a cold product that will not alleviate your specific cold problems.