Cough and Cold
For detailed information about the common cold and prevention click here.
You should call your doctor if you or your child has one or more of these conditions:
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symptoms that last more than 10 days
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symptoms that are severe or unusual
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if your child is younger than 3 months of age and has a fever or is lethargic
You should also call your doctor right away if you are at high risk for serious flu complications and get flu symptoms such as fever, chills, and muscle or body aches. People at high risk for flu complications include young children (younger than 5 years old), adults 65 years and older, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease.
Your doctor can determine if you or your child has a cold or the flu and can recommend therapy to help with symptoms.
Cough | Sinus Congestion | Sinus Pressure/Pain | Runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing | Fever and Body Aches | Combination Products and for those with high blood pressure
Cough
Productive Cough
1) Mucinex and Robitussin (expectorant only, no cough suppression) Helps thin secretions in the lungs; must drink plenty of water for best results
2) Mucinex DM and Robitussin DM (expectorant plus cough suppressant dextromethorphan)
3) Delsym (dextromethorphan)
4) Benadryl (antihistamine with cough suppressant activity) 25mg by mouth every 4 hours (Max 150mg per day)
5) Cough drops
NOTE: With productive coughing, not always best to suppress cough. Please check with health care provider for instruction.
Non-Productive Cough
1) Mucinex DM
2) Delsym
3) Benadryl
4) Cough drops
Sinus Congestion
1) Humidifier
2) Breathe-Right Strips
3) Saline Nasal Spray
4) Neti-Pot/Saline Cleanse
5) Afrin Nasal Spray (oxymetolazone) NOTE: Use must not exceed 3 days due to rebound congestion
6) Sudafed PE (phenylephrine) Oral decongestant
7) Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) Best oral decongestant (Note: must be purchased behind the counter at your local pharmacy and should not take if you have high blood pressure)
Sinus Pressure/Pain
1) All of the products listed under sinus congestion to relieve pressure and pain
2) Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for sinus pain
3) Acetaminophen (Tylenol) for sinus pain
Runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes
1) Diphenhydramine or chlorpheniramine (antihistamines with immediate relief)
2) Zyrtec, Claritin or Allegra (antihistamines with immediate and long-acting relief)
Shop Immediate Relief Antihistamines
Fever, Body Aches and Sore Throat
1) Tylenol (for fever and body aches)
2) Ibuprofen can alternate with Tylenol for fever and body aches (ask health care provider before ibuprofen use if you have high blood pressure or kidney problems)
3) Sore Throat Lozenges
4) Sore Throat Spray
5) Thermometer
Combination Products
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Daytime Products
1) DayQuil (acetaminophen for fever and body aches, dextromethorphan for cough suppression, phenylephrine for sinus congestion)
2) Mucinex Day (acetaminophen for fever and body aches, dextromethorphan for cough suppression, phenylephrine for sinus congestion PLUS guaifenesin for mucus thinning)
3) Tylenol Day (acetaminophen for fever and body aches, dextromethorphan for cough suppression, phenylephrine for sinus congestion PLUS guaifenesin for mucus thinning)
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Nighttime Products
1) NyQuil (acetaminophen for fever and body aches, dextromethorphan for cough suppression, doxylamine for runny nose, watery eyes, and sleep aid)
2) Tylenol Nighttime (acetaminophen for fever and body aches, dextromethorphan for cough suppression, doxylamine for runny nose, watery eyes, and sleep aid PLUS Phenylephrine for sinus congestion)
3) Mucinex Night (acetaminophen for fever and body aches, phenylephrine for sinus congestion and diphenhydramine for runny nose, watery eyes and sleep aid)
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Products for people with high blood pressure
1) Coricidin Cough and Cold: Phenylephrine for sinus congestion and chlorpheniramine for runny nose, watery eyes
2) Coricidin Chest Congestion and Cough: Dextromethorphan for cough suppression and guaifenesin for mucus thinning
3) Coricidin Maximum Strength Flu: Chlorpheniramine for runny nose, watery eyes; Dextromethorphan for cough suppression; acetaminophen for fever and body aches
Elderberry: Extracts may have some benefit in treatment of influenza and duration of cold symptoms and have antioxidant potential