How to Choose OTC Cold, Flu, Sinus and Allergy Medicine

Do you ever go to the store or pharmacy for an over-the-counter medicine for cold, flu, allergy or sinus and feel totally confused? So many medicines, so many brands, so many combinations. Decongestants, antihistamines, expectorants, cough medicine, cold medicine: where do you begin to find the OTC remedy that is going to help your particular illness?

It is important to remember when using over-the-counter medicines for colds, flu, allergy or sinus congestion, that it's really a matter of treating individual symptoms. If you've ruled out bacterial infections or a pretty sure that what you've got is some sort virus, then an antibiotic would be useless. Let's take a look at cold and flu symptoms one at a time. I will list the medicine that addresses that symptom. I will then list ingredients in cold remedies that treat the symptom.

Wet, mucus cough: The medicine you choose should have cough suppressant listed.

-Dextromethorphan is the most reliable cough suppressant. It helps calm the wet cough so you can breathe easier and rest.

Barking or Hollow Cough (aka 'croup'): The medicine you choose should have expectorant listed. An expectorant helps to loosen chest congestion and makes coughs more productive. In times past, people used paregoric or syrup of ipecac to 'bring up' the mucus and phlegm.

-Guiafenesin is better alternative and is typically the expectorant listed on a cold medicine. Note: Do not use any product that contains both an expectorant and cough suppressant. The two defeat each other's purpose.

Nasal congestion: Look for medicines that contain a decongestant.

-Pseudoephedrine: most effective, but must be purchased from the pharmacist.

-Phenylephrine- Phenylketonuriacs should be careful with phenylephrine.

Tickly cough, runny nose, itchy and watery eyes: Allergy and hay fever symptoms. Choose a product with an antihistamine or histamine blocker listed.

(Non-drowsy antihistamine) Loratadine (Claritin)

(Cause drowsiness) diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, doxylamine, brompheniramine (Benadryl)

-Body Aches: analgesic

-Ibuprophen (has anti-inflammatory properties)

-Sodium Naproxen (has anti-inflammatory properties)

-Aspirin (do not give to children; has been linked to incidence of Reyes Syndrome in children under 16)

-Acetaminophen (works as a mild sedative for some people)

I haven't advised specific brands of cold, sinus, allergy or flu remedies. It is essential to look for ingredients and choose by symptoms. Remember to look for expiration dates on medicines and use only as directed.