So you’ve tried all the home remedies to get over your cold and you’re still not feeling better. Now is a great time to consider some of the popular over the counter drugs that are available at any grocery store. Here is a look at some of the top selling OTC medications; we’ll look at the strengths and risks of each one in order to help you make an informed decision.
Sudafed
What does it do?
Sudafed contains Pseudoephedrine, which is a powerful vasoconstrictor, which is something that shrinks blood vessels. Why is this important if you’ve got a cold, you ask? Because more often than not your feeling congested because of mucus, instead it’s swollen blood vessels.
Things to know
Sudafed is usually not available without asking the pharmacist. Besides being a powerful vasoconstrictor, it is also a primary ingredient in the making of methamphetamines. Usually all this means is that you have to ask the pharmacist and then show some form of ID before you are allowed to check out.
Afrin
What does it do?
Like Sudafed, Afrin is another vasoconstrictor. It is usually known to offer faster relief because it’s sprayed directly into the affected area. .
Things to know
While Afrin is a good idea for a short term plan; it should not be the only thing you use. It’s advised that you only use the product for two or three days before moving on to a different product. Over use of Afrin could cause nosebleeds or make your congestion worse.
Tylenol
What does it do?
Besides congestion, there are many more symptoms that go hand in hand with having a cold or the flu. Body and muscle aches are just a few of them. Tylenol contains Acetaminophen which is a pain reliever and fever reducer. It also has aspirin in it which will help with some of the inflammation that comes with being sick.
Things to know
As with any drug, it’s important to read the medication. Tylenol interacts very unpleasantly with many other drugs. So either make it the only thing you’re taking or CAREFULLY read the back of the bottle in order to see what other drugs it interacts with. Failure to do this could lead to life threatening liver damage. Since acetaminophen is already hard on your liver, make sure that you don’t mix it with alcohol.
Delsym
What does it do?
If your cough is getting the better of you, then Delsym could be what you need. The main ingredient in it, dextromethorphan, works by binding the receptors in your brain to get rid of the urge to cough.
Things to know
Like with Tylenol, it’s important to make sure that you’re not taking anything else that will interact with this drug. You should probably avoid this one if you are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors or MAOIs. These are usually used to treat depression, anxiety or Parkinson’s disease. As with any of these drugs, if you’re not sure if you can take it ask your doctor first.
Mucinex
What does it do?
This is an example of a drug that used to be only available with prescription. It’s very effective at what it does, which is thin out and loosen mucus so that it’s easier to cough up or blow out.
Things to know
Much like all the other drugs that we mentioned, this one could have a few side effects that include, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and headache. While they are usually rare it’s important to pay attention to your body and if you start having one or more of these side effects you should consult a doctor.
Hopefully, this list will answer all the questions you have about using over the counter drugs to get over your cold or flu. Of course, if you have any other questions feel free to talk with your doctor. Also, if you have any experience taking any of these drugs then I would love to hear what you thought about them in the comment section below.
Rachel Pharlain is an avid writer and lover of science fiction and fantasy books. When she’s not writing she enjoys cooking and camping.