There's never a good time to have a runny nose, sore throat, congestion, cough, body aches, fatigue and low-grade fever--symptoms of an upper respiratory infection also known as the common cold. Rest and fluids are the recommended treatment. Expect to catch more colds in the winter months, when they are the most common reason children miss school and adults miss work. Over-the-counter remedies may ease symptoms, but they do not shorten the normal course of a cold. Antibiotics are useless against viral infections.
Pain Relievers
Body aches, headache, sore throat, and fever in adults can be treated with over-the-counter aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). Do not exceed the recommended dose. Avoid multi-symptom cold remedies that contain pain relievers but may also have unwanted side effects, such as drowsiness or dry mouth. Pregnant women should not use aspirin or ibuprofen. Children's doses of acetaminophen can be confusing, according to the Mayo Clinic, because drops for use in infants are more concentrated than syrup intended for use in older children. Serious liver damage may result from accidental acetaminophen overdose. Aspirin administration for a viral infection in children and teenagers can lead to Reye's syndrome, a potentially fatal complication.
Decongestants
Cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, osymetazoline, naphazoline and phenylephrine work by constricting small blood vessels, which can also cause an increase in blood pressure. Some of these preparations also have a high sodium content. Do not take decongestants if you have hypertension.
Cough Syrups
The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) strongly discourages the use of nonprescription cough syrups for adults and children, because they are ineffective and may be harmful to children. The ACCP advises parents not to give OTC cough medicines to children under the age of 14. Accidental overdose in children can be fatal. A cough can be soothed with safe home remedies such as lemon and honey or sips of plain water. See a doctor for coughing that persists longer than three weeks.
Antivirals
Antiviral medications, unlike antibiotics, do not kill pathogens. They work by interrupting the life cycle of viruses. Many, like amantadine, rimantadine, zanamivir (Relenza) and oseltamiver (Tamiflu) are prescribed to treat early symptoms of influenza. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, new antivirals may work against the highly contagious rhinovirus responsible for most upper respiratory infections. Risks of serious allergic reactions may outweigh benefits, since cold symptoms clear up without treatment.
Zicam
The FDA issued a recall of Zicam nasal preparations on June 16, 2009 due to reports of consumers losing their sense of smell after using Zicam to treat cold symptoms. There has been concern that the side effect could be permanent. Zicam's active ingredient is zinc gluconate. Darrell Hulisz, whose research was published in a 2004 issue of the "Journal of the American Pharmacists Association", found that clinical trial data supports the value of zinc in reducing the duration and severity of symptoms of the common cold. Zicam is reported to be most effective when administered at the onset of viral infection.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Common Cold, Treatments and Drugs
- The American College of Chest Physicians: Patient Education Guides on Cough
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Common Cold Treatment
- "Journal of the American Pharmacists Association", Efficacy of Zinc Against Cold Viruses, Darrell Hulisz, Sept/Oct. 2004, 44(5)
- FDA: Zicam Fact Sheet, June 16, 2009
