Colds come in many varieties and so do cold medicines. The best medicine to treat your cold depends on your symptoms. MayoClinic.com reports there are more than 100 viruses than can cause a cold and the signs and symptoms vary greatly. There is no cure for the common cold. Antibiotics won't help. All you can do to help ease your suffering is to treat the symptoms until the virus runs its course, but you need to weigh the treatment against the possible side effects.
Pain Relievers
If your biggest complaint is fever, sore throat, headache or other minor aches and pains, consider taking an over-the-counter pain medication. Tylenol is the brand name of the pain reliever acetaminophen. Acetaminophen is used for the relief of fever, as well as aches and pains. Aleve, Advil and Motrin belong to the group of pain relievers known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which relieve inflammation, pain and fever. Aspirin is another NSAID, but it should never be given to children. MayoClinic.com reports that aspirin has been associated with Reye's syndrome --- a rare illness that has the potential to kill children.
Nasal Decongestants and Antihistamines
If your nose is stuffed or runny and you can't stop sneezing, consider taking an over-the counter nasal decongestant or an antihistamine. Nasal decongestants can help unclog a stuffy nose, notes MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. However, decongestant drops and sprays should not be used for more than a few days because they can have a rebound effect and keep you feeling bad, cautions MayoClinic.com. Children should not be given drops or sprays because there's little evidence they actually help young children and there are risks of side effects. Antihistamines can help stop runny noses and control sneezing.
Cough Suppressants and Expectorants
If a nagging cough is getting you down, MedlinePlus suggests trying a cough suppressant. If you need to loosen mucus in order to cough it up, try an expectorant. Cough medicines should not be given to children under the age of 4 because they have the potential to bring on side effects such as rapid heart rate and convulsions.
Mixing Medicines
You should not mix medicines, warns MayoClinic.com. If you give your child two medicines with the same active ingredient, you risk accidentally overdosing your child on that single ingredient.
