Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDecongestantsAnalgesicsRunny Nose and SneezingCough MedicationSore ThroatMulti-Symptom MedicationCold Medicine for ChildrenCold Medicine During PregnancyCan Supplements Help?When to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Decongestants
Analgesics
Runny Nose and Sneezing
Cough Medication
Sore Throat
Multi-Symptom Medication
Cold Medicine for Children
Cold Medicine During Pregnancy
Can Supplements Help?
When to See a Provider
There is no cure for the common cold, but medications can help ease symptoms so you can relax and recover. To find the best over-the-counter (OTC) cold medicine for you, you need to consider your symptoms and know which cold relievers target them.
Decongestants, for example, can help improve stuffiness; analgesics can reduce pain and fever; and other types of medications can help with problems like coughing and sneezing.
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Antibiotics are not good for colds
Stuffy Nose
Over-the-counter decongestants narrow the blood vessels in these tissues and decreaseinflammation. This helps air flow andmucusdrain.
Decongestants come as pills, tablets, liquids, andnasal sprays. Oral decongestants include:
Nasal sprays containoxymetazoline.They deliver relief directly to the nasal passages. OTC brands include:
Use cold medicines safe for high blood pressureDecongestants can raise your blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, make sure to choose cold medications that do not contain decongestants.
Use cold medicines safe for high blood pressure
Decongestants can raise your blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, make sure to choose cold medications that do not contain decongestants.
Fever
Common OTCfever reducersinclude:
These medications also are pain relievers. Aspirin and acetaminophen may work better forfevers and headaches. Ibuprofen and naproxen may be better for body aches.
Always check labels to see what the active ingredients are, especially if you are planning to take more than one medication at a time. Combining cold medications can cause you to take too much of one or more active ingredients, which can lead to dangerous side effects.
Warning About AcetaminophenTakingtoo much acetaminophencan cause potentially fatal liver damage. Don’t take more than 4,000 milligrams (mg) of acetaminophen per day. This drug is in dozens of OTC products. Read labels closely to make sure you don’t take more than one product containing this drug.
Warning About Acetaminophen
Takingtoo much acetaminophencan cause potentially fatal liver damage. Don’t take more than 4,000 milligrams (mg) of acetaminophen per day. This drug is in dozens of OTC products. Read labels closely to make sure you don’t take more than one product containing this drug.
Arunny nose, or nasal congestion, occurs when there is an excess of mucus in the sinus cavity. Drainage of the mucus causes your nose to run.This irritation of the nasal cavity can also lead to sneezing.
Decongestants can dry up nasal passages and provide some relief. The same decongestants mentioned to help clear a stuffy nose (above) can also alleviate a runny nose.
Common antihistamines include:
Antihistamines relieve congestion related to allergies. But their effect on the common cold is questionable.
A review of 18 high-quality trials found antihistamines may help relieve congestion during the first two days of a cold. They’re less effective on day three or later.
Some antihistamines have side effects, including:
Are Antihistamines Safe for You?Talk to your healthcare provider before taking antihistamines if you have:GlaucomaEnlarged prostateEpilepsyOveractive thyroidHeart diseaseHigh blood pressureDiabetes
Are Antihistamines Safe for You?
Talk to your healthcare provider before taking antihistamines if you have:GlaucomaEnlarged prostateEpilepsyOveractive thyroidHeart diseaseHigh blood pressureDiabetes
Talk to your healthcare provider before taking antihistamines if you have:
Cough
The best medicine for a cough depends on your symptoms and thetype of coughyou have.
The time of day also matters. If you need to quiet a cough so you can sleep, an antitussive medication is a good choice.
During the day, you cough to clear mucus from your throat and nasal passages. An expectorant loosens chest congestion and thins mucus so it can drain. It doesn’t stop a cough; it helps your cough remove mucus better.
If you experience a sore throat along with other cold symptoms, such as a cough, runny nose, or hoarseness, the likely cause is a virus.To relieve sore throat symptoms, experts suggest keeping the throat moist with lozenges, hard candies, or anything that stimulates saliva. Young children can use cold beverages or popsicles to avoid a choking hazard.
You can also try throat sprays or over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce throat pain. These products may contain:
In some cases, a sore throat results from a bacterial infection so an accurate diagnosis is important.AStreptococcusis a type of bacteria that causesstrep throat. While most sore throats get better on their own, strep throat requires antibiotics.
See your healthcare provider if you experience symptoms that do not improve within a few days. You should also visit your provider if you experience:
Multi-Symptom Treatments
Multi-symptom formulas typically include a combination of:
These treat many different cold and flu symptoms in one dose. But they should be used with caution.
Always read the ingredients list. Make sure the product only includes drugs that treat symptoms you have.
What medicine gets rid of a cold fast?Multi-symptom cold medicines can help to quickly relieve a cold for several hours, but they won’t get rid of the cold. There is some evidence that the mineral zinc can help to shorten the duration of a cold.Zinc is the main ingredient in Zicam, a homeopathic medication marketed to end colds faster.
What medicine gets rid of a cold fast?
Multi-symptom cold medicines can help to quickly relieve a cold for several hours, but they won’t get rid of the cold. There is some evidence that the mineral zinc can help to shorten the duration of a cold.Zinc is the main ingredient in Zicam, a homeopathic medication marketed to end colds faster.
Don’t take other medications or you could risk anaccidental overdoseor drug interactions. For example, if a medicine contains acetaminophen, don’t also take Tylenol, Midol, or Excedrin, because they also contain acetaminophen.
If you are already taking prescription medication, call your provider and ask if it is okay to also use an OTC medication for your cold.
Never give cold medicine to a child younger than 4. It will not help them and could result in dangerous side effects.
OTC cold medicine isn’t recommended for children under 4 years of age. And kids between 4 and 6 should only take cold medicine under a healthcare provider’s supervision.
Home treatmentsmay help your child find symptom relief. Try natural remedies such as lemon and honey (do not give honey to children under the age of 1 year), nasal saline irrigation,or ointments containing camphor, menthol, or eucalyptus oils.
Certain antihistamines may relieve cold symptoms and are considered safe to use during pregnancy.These include:
Other antihistamines (cetirizine and loratadine) and corticosteroid nasal sprays may also be safe, but you should check with your healthcare provider before taking any of these OTC cold medicines. You should also avoid taking cold medicines that contain pseudoephedrine during the first three months of pregnancy.
For pain associated with a cold, acetaminophen is considered safe during pregnancy. However, the medication should be used in moderation and only when needed.
During pregnancy, always check with your healthcare provider to get personalized advice about the best safe over-the-counter cold medicines.
Certain supplements are widely promoted to help prevent colds and alleviate symptoms. Evidence supporting the effectiveness of these products varies substantially.These are some of the products that you are likely to see on store shelves.
Interactions With Home RemediesSome people turn to natural treatments orhome remedies for cold and flu symptoms. But certain supplements can interact with OTC medications. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist before using a supplement plus an OTC cold or flu product.
Interactions With Home Remedies
Some people turn to natural treatments orhome remedies for cold and flu symptoms. But certain supplements can interact with OTC medications. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist before using a supplement plus an OTC cold or flu product.
Keep in mind that even the best cold medicine will not cure the cold itself; cold medicinesonly relieve your symptomswhile your immune system fights the virus.
When to Call Your Healthcare Provider
Always take the proper dose of a medication, which should be listed on the medication’s label. If you feel that you need a stronger dose than what is listed, or you need to take the medication more frequently, call your healthcare provider.
Most cold symptoms go away within about a week. If your symptoms get worse or do not get better within 10 days, call your provider. Your provider may wish to test you for sinus infection, allergies, or another illness.
Should you experience any of the following symptoms, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away:
Summary
Knowing what cold and flu medicines do helps you choose the best medication for your symptoms. Decongestants help clear stuffed-up nasal passages. Analgesics treat pain and fever.
Cough suppressants treat coughs. They also quiet a cough so you can sleep. Expectorants loosen up phlegm in your lungs and help it drain. They’re good during the day for wet coughs.
With multi-symptom treatments, look for one with ingredients that match your symptoms. Read all labels you take to avoid doubling up on a drug.
24 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine.Treating acute sinusitis.National Library of Medicine.Pseudoephedrine.Food and Drug Administration.FDA clarifies results of recent advisory committee meeting on oral phenylephrine.Food and Drug Administration.FDA Proposes ending use of oral phenylephrine as OTC monograph nasal decongestant active ingredient after extensive review.National Library of Medicine.Oxymetazoline nasal spray.National Library of Medicine.Acetaminophen.Mount Sinai.Stuffy or Runny Nose - Adult Information.National Library of Medicine.Antihistamines for allergies.De Sutter AI, Saraswat A, van Driel ML.Antihistamines for the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(11):CD009345. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009345.pub2National Library of Medicine.Dextromethorphan.National Library of Medicine.Guaifenesin.Sore Throat Basics.Centers for Disease Control.Soothing a Sore Throat.NIH News in Health.Wang MX, Win SS, Pang J.Zinc supplementation reduces common cold duration among healthy adults: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials with micronutrient supplementation.Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2020;103(1):86-99. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.19-0718Mount Sinai.Common cold - how to treat at home.American Academy of Pediatrics: HealthyChildren.org.Coughs and colds: Medicines or home remedies?.DeGeorge KC, Ring DJ, Dalrymple SN.Treatment of the common cold.afp. 2019;100(5):281-289National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Reye’s syndrome information page.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What medicine can I take for allergies while I’m pregnant?American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.ACOG Response to Consensus Statement on Paracetamol Use During PregnancyNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.5 Tips: Natural Products for the Flu and Colds: What Does the Science Say?National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.The Common Cold and Complementary Health Approaches.Karsch-Völk M, Barrett B, Kiefer D, Bauer R, Ardjomand-Woelkart K, Linde K.Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group, ed.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014;2014(7).Wang MX, Win SS, Pang J.Zinc supplementation reduces common cold duration among healthy adults: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials with micronutrients supplementation.The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2020;103(1):86-99.
24 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine.Treating acute sinusitis.National Library of Medicine.Pseudoephedrine.Food and Drug Administration.FDA clarifies results of recent advisory committee meeting on oral phenylephrine.Food and Drug Administration.FDA Proposes ending use of oral phenylephrine as OTC monograph nasal decongestant active ingredient after extensive review.National Library of Medicine.Oxymetazoline nasal spray.National Library of Medicine.Acetaminophen.Mount Sinai.Stuffy or Runny Nose - Adult Information.National Library of Medicine.Antihistamines for allergies.De Sutter AI, Saraswat A, van Driel ML.Antihistamines for the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(11):CD009345. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009345.pub2National Library of Medicine.Dextromethorphan.National Library of Medicine.Guaifenesin.Sore Throat Basics.Centers for Disease Control.Soothing a Sore Throat.NIH News in Health.Wang MX, Win SS, Pang J.Zinc supplementation reduces common cold duration among healthy adults: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials with micronutrient supplementation.Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2020;103(1):86-99. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.19-0718Mount Sinai.Common cold - how to treat at home.American Academy of Pediatrics: HealthyChildren.org.Coughs and colds: Medicines or home remedies?.DeGeorge KC, Ring DJ, Dalrymple SN.Treatment of the common cold.afp. 2019;100(5):281-289National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Reye’s syndrome information page.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What medicine can I take for allergies while I’m pregnant?American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.ACOG Response to Consensus Statement on Paracetamol Use During PregnancyNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.5 Tips: Natural Products for the Flu and Colds: What Does the Science Say?National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.The Common Cold and Complementary Health Approaches.Karsch-Völk M, Barrett B, Kiefer D, Bauer R, Ardjomand-Woelkart K, Linde K.Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group, ed.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014;2014(7).Wang MX, Win SS, Pang J.Zinc supplementation reduces common cold duration among healthy adults: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials with micronutrients supplementation.The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2020;103(1):86-99.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Library of Medicine.Treating acute sinusitis.National Library of Medicine.Pseudoephedrine.Food and Drug Administration.FDA clarifies results of recent advisory committee meeting on oral phenylephrine.Food and Drug Administration.FDA Proposes ending use of oral phenylephrine as OTC monograph nasal decongestant active ingredient after extensive review.National Library of Medicine.Oxymetazoline nasal spray.National Library of Medicine.Acetaminophen.Mount Sinai.Stuffy or Runny Nose - Adult Information.National Library of Medicine.Antihistamines for allergies.De Sutter AI, Saraswat A, van Driel ML.Antihistamines for the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(11):CD009345. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009345.pub2National Library of Medicine.Dextromethorphan.National Library of Medicine.Guaifenesin.Sore Throat Basics.Centers for Disease Control.Soothing a Sore Throat.NIH News in Health.Wang MX, Win SS, Pang J.Zinc supplementation reduces common cold duration among healthy adults: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials with micronutrient supplementation.Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2020;103(1):86-99. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.19-0718Mount Sinai.Common cold - how to treat at home.American Academy of Pediatrics: HealthyChildren.org.Coughs and colds: Medicines or home remedies?.DeGeorge KC, Ring DJ, Dalrymple SN.Treatment of the common cold.afp. 2019;100(5):281-289National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Reye’s syndrome information page.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What medicine can I take for allergies while I’m pregnant?American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.ACOG Response to Consensus Statement on Paracetamol Use During PregnancyNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.5 Tips: Natural Products for the Flu and Colds: What Does the Science Say?National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.The Common Cold and Complementary Health Approaches.Karsch-Völk M, Barrett B, Kiefer D, Bauer R, Ardjomand-Woelkart K, Linde K.Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group, ed.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014;2014(7).Wang MX, Win SS, Pang J.Zinc supplementation reduces common cold duration among healthy adults: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials with micronutrients supplementation.The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2020;103(1):86-99.
National Library of Medicine.Treating acute sinusitis.
National Library of Medicine.Pseudoephedrine.
Food and Drug Administration.FDA clarifies results of recent advisory committee meeting on oral phenylephrine.
Food and Drug Administration.FDA Proposes ending use of oral phenylephrine as OTC monograph nasal decongestant active ingredient after extensive review.
National Library of Medicine.Oxymetazoline nasal spray.
National Library of Medicine.Acetaminophen.
Mount Sinai.Stuffy or Runny Nose - Adult Information.
National Library of Medicine.Antihistamines for allergies.
De Sutter AI, Saraswat A, van Driel ML.Antihistamines for the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(11):CD009345. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009345.pub2
National Library of Medicine.Dextromethorphan.
National Library of Medicine.Guaifenesin.
Sore Throat Basics.Centers for Disease Control.
Soothing a Sore Throat.NIH News in Health.
Wang MX, Win SS, Pang J.Zinc supplementation reduces common cold duration among healthy adults: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials with micronutrient supplementation.Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2020;103(1):86-99. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.19-0718
Mount Sinai.Common cold - how to treat at home.
American Academy of Pediatrics: HealthyChildren.org.Coughs and colds: Medicines or home remedies?.
DeGeorge KC, Ring DJ, Dalrymple SN.Treatment of the common cold.afp. 2019;100(5):281-289
National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Reye’s syndrome information page.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What medicine can I take for allergies while I’m pregnant?
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.ACOG Response to Consensus Statement on Paracetamol Use During Pregnancy
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.5 Tips: Natural Products for the Flu and Colds: What Does the Science Say?
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.The Common Cold and Complementary Health Approaches.
Karsch-Völk M, Barrett B, Kiefer D, Bauer R, Ardjomand-Woelkart K, Linde K.Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group, ed.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014;2014(7).
Wang MX, Win SS, Pang J.Zinc supplementation reduces common cold duration among healthy adults: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials with micronutrients supplementation.The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2020;103(1):86-99.
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