How to Choose the Right Cold Medicine for Your Symptoms

With so many cold medicines available, each with different ingredients and promises, it’s important to know what to look for—and to know when to see a doctor.

This guide will help you identify which cold medicine is right for your specific symptoms so you can find relief faster.

Different Cold Medicines and Their Functions

There are different types of cold medicines to treat different symptoms, so it’s important to know what to treat your symptoms with so you can start feeling better.

For starters, decongestants such as pseudoephedrine, or phenylephrine are great for stuffy noses and sinus pressure, while
antihistamines like diphenhydramine and loratadine can help stop a runny nose and sneezing, although you can experience drowsiness.

Then there’s cough suppressants to help those dry, persistent coughs—however, this may not be the best choice if you have a mucus-filled cough. If that is the case, you might opt for an expectorant like guaifenesin to help loosen mucus.

If you have a headache, body aches and/or a fever, you might reach for common over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

If you’re unsure of how to address all your symptoms, a pharmacist at Rutland Medical Pharmacy can help!

Safety Tips for Using Cold Medicine

You should also read the label of any medication carefully and ask your pharmacist questions about anything you’re unsure of.

Many medications, including over-the-counter ones, have side effects that you may want to be aware of, like drowsiness.

Your age or pre-existing health conditions are also a factor in choosing the right cold medicine, and you should consult your healthcare provider and pharmacist if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, and other conditions.

A pharmacist can help you make sure that your medications won’t interact poorly with cold medicines.

When to Seek Medical Advice

If your cold or flu isn’t improving, or your symptoms get more severe, you should see a doctor.

You should also see a doctor right away if you are having trouble breathing, have developed a new rash or have developed a new or high fever. You can call this free hotline (8-1-1) if you need help assessing your symptoms.

How to Prevent a Cold in the First Place

The best treatment is prevention. Stay healthy this season by taking a few protective measures that most of us are already aware of!

Washing your hands regularly, eating well, getting enough sleep and exercise are great ways to avoid getting a bad cold or flu. You should also avoid touching your face, and avoid being around sick people this cold and flu season as best you can. Likewise, if you are sick you should be limiting your interaction with other people to decrease the spread.

By understanding your symptoms, choosing the right active ingredients, and following safety guidelines, you can find relief more effectively.

If you have any questions about cold medicine or how to combine it with other medications, the pharmacists at Rutland Medical Pharmacy are here to help! Click here to contact us today.