Cold medicine is the best way to relieve a stuffy nose or a bad cough. Although cold medicine will not totally attack the cold viruses, by focusing on the cold symptoms they can give you some relief and make the amount of time you have a cold shorter.
There are various types of cold medicine available on the market, and each person tends to have a favorite method. The most popular methods used are decongestants and antihistamines, nasal sprays, cough syrup and throat drops. Although some people think that by asking their doctor for an antibiotic they can treat their cold, they do not realize that antibiotics only treat bacteria-related illnesses, not colds, which are caused by viruses. Therefore, by taking an antibiotic they are not relieving themselves from the cold, instead they are doing quite the opposite.
What to Look for
According to the WebMD.com, the best way to find the right cold medicine is to use the main symptoms as signs. For example, if you have a nasal or sinus congestion, a decongestant cold medicine would be the best solution. However, be aware that decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine, can increase your blood pressure and heart rate. As long as you monitor your blood pressure, though, this shouldn't be a problem. If you have a runny nose or are sneezing a lot, then an antihistamine could be used, although antihistamines can make secretions thick, which asthmatics should remember.
Nasal sprays are one of the quickest ways to open breathing passages, but they can have a "rebound effect" and make your cold last longer. By using a saline spray instead of a medicated spray the relief will be slower and you will not have a rebound effect.
Common Pitfalls
According to the AARP magazine website there are several pitfalls to be aware of when taking cold medicine, as often patients can misread labels or get the wrong prescription by their doctor. Some of the health problems that can occur are liver failure or damaged kidneys, and by taking pills in addition to cold medicine can make a person have an overdose.
In order to avoid this people should keep track of all the dosages of their cold medicine, and do not mix prescription drugs with pain relievers such as naproxen (Aleve), ibuprofen and aspirin. Also, alcohol should not be taken when taking a tablet as it can increase internal bleeding linked with ibuprofen and aspirin, and damages the liver.
