Which Medicine Will Help Your Cold or Flu?
ANALGESICS
| MEDICATIONS: Acetaminophen |
SYMPTOMS | ||||||||
| Fever | Aches Pains |
Congestion | Sinus Pressure |
Runny Nose |
Watery Eyes |
Cough | Sore Throat |
||
| Tylenol® | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Children's Tylenol® | X | X | X | X | |||||
| COMMENTS: Acetaminophen is not associated with gastrointestinal distress. It is the first choice among analgesics for the cold and flu. | |||||||||
| Aspirin | SYMPTOMS | ||||||||
| Fever | Aches Pains |
Congestion | Sinus Pressure |
Runny Nose |
Watery Eyes |
Cough | Sore Throat |
||
| Ascriptin® | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Bayer® | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Anacin® | X | X | X | X | |||||
| COMMENTS: Aspirin should not be used in children with flu or cold symptoms because it has been associated with the development of Reye Syndrome. | |||||||||
| Ibuprofen | SYMPTOMS | ||||||||
| Fever | Aches Pains |
Congestion | Sinus Pressure |
Runny Nose |
Watery Eyes |
Cough | Sore Throat |
||
| Motrin IB® | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Advil® | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Children's Motrin® | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Children's Advil® | X | X | X | X | |||||
| COMMENTS: Ibuprofen may worsen asthma and ulcer symptoms. See your doctor before taking it. | |||||||||
DECONGESTANTS
| MEDICATIONS: Pseudoephedrine |
SYMPTOMS | ||||||||
| Fever | Aches Pains |
Congestion | Sinus Pressure |
Runny Nose |
Watery Eyes |
Cough | Sore Throat |
||
| Sudafed® | X | X | |||||||
| COMMENTS: Oral dosage. | |||||||||
| MEDICATIONS: | SYMPTOMS | ||||||||
| Fever | Aches Pains |
Congestion | Sinus Pressure |
Runny Nose |
Watery Eyes |
Cough | Sore Throat |
||
|
Naphazoline
Privine® |
X | X | |||||||
|
Oxymetazoline
Afrin® |
X | X | |||||||
|
Phenylephrine
Neo-Synephrine® |
X | X | |||||||
| COMMENTS: Nose Drops / Nasal Sprays: Nasal sprays should never be used for more than three days. The body gets used to the effects of nasal sprays quickly. As a result, they become less effective with repeat use. | |||||||||
ANTIHISTAMINES
| MEDICATIONS: | SYMPTOMS | ||||||||
| Fever | Aches Pains |
Congestion | Sinus Pressure |
Runny Nose |
Watery Eyes |
Cough | Sore Throat |
||
|
Brompheniramine
Dimetapp® |
X | X | X | X | |||||
|
Chlorpheniramine
Chlor-Trimeton® |
X | X | X | X | |||||
|
Clemastine
Tavist-1® |
X | X | X | X | |||||
|
Diphenhydramine
Benadryl® |
X | X | X | X | |||||
|
Loratadine
Claratin® |
X | X | X | ||||||
| COMMENTS: Some antihistamines may be effective as cough suppressants. With the exception of Claratin®, the antihistamines listed in this table may cause drowsiness. This side effect may be beneficial in cold and flu sufferers who are irritable and have trouble sleeping. | |||||||||
COUGH SUPPRESSANTS
| MEDICATIONS: Dextromethorphan |
SYMPTOMS | ||||||||
| Fever | Aches Pains |
Congestion | Sinus Pressure |
Runny Nose |
Watery Eyes |
Cough | Sore Throat |
||
| Pertussin DM® | X | ||||||||
| COMMENTS: Dextromethorphan is the most widely used non-prescription cough suppressant and may be useful in relieving cough. | |||||||||
EXPECTORANTS
| MEDICATIONS: Guaifenesin |
SYMPTOMS | ||||||||
| Fever | Aches Pains |
Congestion | Sinus Pressure |
Runny Nose |
Watery Eyes |
Cough | Sore Throat |
||
| Robitussin® | X | ||||||||
| COMMENTS: Guaifenesin is an ingredient in many multi-symptom cough and cold medications. There is little evidence of its usefulness. | |||||||||
LOCAL ANESTHETICS
| MEDICATIONS: | SYMPTOMS | ||||||||
| Fever | Aches Pains |
Congestion | Sinus Pressure |
Runny Nose |
Watery Eyes |
Cough | Sore Throat |
||
|
Benzocaine
Cepacol® |
X | ||||||||
|
Dyclonine
Sucrets® |
X | ||||||||
|
Phenol
Cepastat® |
X | ||||||||
| COMMENTS: These medications are available as throat sprays and lozenges. In either form, these anesthetics provide short-term relief. Lozenges can pose a risk of choking and therefore should not be used by young children. | |||||||||
WebMD Medical Reference from the American Lung Association
Today in Cold, Flu, & Cough
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