The Healthy Times 
 September 1998

SO MANY PILLS, SO LITTLE TIME...A GUIDE TO COLD/FLU RELIEF

Researchers estimate that Americans suffer approximately one billion colds each year with the average person experiencing 2-4 colds per year. Unfortunately, to date, there is no cure for the common cold or flu. There is, however, a multi-million dollar industry out there with over 2,000 products designed to ease the symptoms. So, with all those choices (and all that money), how do you know which products to use? To start, identify the symptoms you are experiencing before heading to the drug store. Typical cold symptoms may include the following: sore throat, sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, nasal congestion, stuffy ears, sinus pressure around the eyes and forehead, headache, mild fever (<100.5), body aches, fatigue, and a dry cough or a cough producing phlegm. These symptoms usually last 7-14 days.

Cold/flu remedies come in two basic forms - single drug products and multi-drug products. Single drug products contain only one medication which usually helps to relieve one, maybe two, symptoms. Multi-drug products, on the other hand, contain a variety of medications so one dose will help alleviate several symptoms at once. Although multi-drug products such as Nyquil, Comtrex, Dimetapp, etc. are convenient in terms of taking one item in the hopes of hitting all the symptoms, it can also mean taking medication you don't really need (and getting some unpleasant side effects as well!!). For example, if you have a stuffy nose and take the popular multi-symptom preparation, Comtrex, you will not only be treating the stuffy nose you do have, but also the aches/pains, fever, cough, runny nose and sneezing you don't have, plus experience drowsiness unnecessarily!

Confused yet? After identifying your symptoms, the next step is to read the product labels so you can match the medicine with your complaints. Also keep in mind that all medications have a generic name as well as a trade name. For instance, Advil and Motrin are trade names for the generic name Ibuprophen; all three of these drugs are exactly the same. Generally speaking, generic brands are cheaper than trade brands.

1. Decongestants (Pseudofed)- helps decrease nasal and ear stuffiness.  Common side effect is jitteriness, insomnia.

2. Nasal Sprays (Neosynepherine, Afrin)- helps decrease nasal stuffiness, fewer side effects and works faster than oral decongestants, but if used more than 3-4 days can cause "rebound congestion".

3. Antihistamines (Benadryl, Chlortrimaton)- helps reduce sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes.  Common side effect is drowsiness.

4. Antitussives (Dextromethorphan )- helps to suppress a dry cough.

5. Expectorants (Guaifenesin)- helps to loosen and thin mucous with a productive cough.

6. Antipyretics (Tylenol, Advil)- reduces fever.

7. Pain Relievers (Tylenol, Advil)- helps decrease body aches and pain.
   

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