What do you take for a cold?

SeattleSheri

SeattleSheri

Sweet Shoppe SugarBabe
Unfortunately, I've come down with a cold .... I tried to fool myself into thinking it was just bad allergies, but I'm pretty certain that charade is over. I take Zyrtec for my allergies, but it's been so long since I've had a cold, I don't what the best meds are. I tried taking some Sudafed today, but it really didn't do the trick :mad: I have typical runny nose, congestion and coughing symptoms. No fever. Any suggestions? What works for you?
 
Aww I'm sorry Sherri! I take zycam (it's a little gross not too bad) its supposed to lessen the duration of a cold...for symptoms, I take DayQuil
 
To shorten the duration of a cold I take vitamin c, zinc and oregano oil. For the yucky groggy feelings I just take advil and hope for the best. Feel better soon!
 
Sudafed is a decongestant. Only the original formula works for me (pseudoephedrine).
Antihistamines like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) dry up the drainage.
Cough expectorants like guaifenesin loosen mucous to make coughing productive
Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Advil/Motrin (ibuprofen) relieve sore throat and sinus pain, but they work differently. Tylenol is more of a pain inhibitor and Advil reduces swelling which is part of the cause of the pain

You can take one of each sort of drug. NyQuil has them all, but uses less effective decongestant and antihistamine than I really like, so I usually just take a cocktail of the most effective. I haven't had a cold escalate to an infection since Avery was a baby once I educated myself on the drugs and figured out how to stay on top of the symptoms. Antibiotic free since about 1997.
 
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I had bad allergies for more than a month -- cough, runny nose, congestion. I went to the doctor twice during the month and she confirmed that it was allergies causing the whole thing. At the second visit she gave me a steroid shot and that finally did the trick (mostly... I still have a runny nose and cough a little, but not the coughing till I gag multiple times a day I was having).

As far as OTC, I hated Mucinex. Because it was caused by allergies, I did not need to loosen up the mucus (because my allergies would just cause my body to make more and more mucus and it was disgusting). I used a nasal spray to dry up my nose, took Zyrtec, DayQuil during the day, NyQuil or Benadryl at night. Take a multivitamin and my doctor recommends Vitamin D for immune health.

Just wanted to put out there that it could still be allergies. If you're really struggling with the cough, don't be afraid to go to your doctor. On my first visit, my doctor prescriped some narcotic cough syrup that was amazing and let me finally get some rest.
 
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This is the only thing that works for me. (Other than original Nyquil, but I don't like the drunk feeling I still have the next morning).
091208_alka_seltzer1.jpg
 
Me too on the Alka Seltzer Plus, although I got out of the habit of taking it during the years when I was always pregnant or nursing. I need to get back to it, cause I'm sick right now.

Hope you're feeling better soon Sheri!
 
krystalhartley said:
Sudafed is a decongestant. Only the original formula works for me (pseudoephedrine).
Antihistamines like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) dry up the drainage.
Cough expectorants like guaifenesin loosen mucous to make coughing productive
Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Advil/Motrin (ibuprofen) relieve sore throat and sinus pain, but they work differently. Tylenol is more of a pain inhibitor and Advil reduces swelling which is part of the cause of the pain

You can take one of each sort of drug. NyQuil has them all, but uses less effective decongestant and antihistamine than I really like, so I usually just take a cocktail of the most effective. I haven't had a cold escalate to an infection since Avery was a baby once I educated myself on the drugs and figured out how to stay on top of the symptoms. Antibiotic free since about 1997.
Click to expand...

Our pediatrician told me it was far better to take individual meds if you have 1-2 symptoms than to take a combined cold/flu med because you don't get a large enough dose of what you need. The original Sudafed works great - it's behind the counter at your pharmacy. You have to ask for it.

At night I always take a night time cold pill and if I'm congested rub some Vick's Vaporub on my chest.

If I'm overly congested head and/or chest I use the Mucinex products - just make sure you drink lots of water with whatever you use to dry up your runny nose. Otherwise you risk dehydration.
 
Mucinex DM for head & chest congestion. It's a 12 hour tablet which is awesome... and it works for me all day. I will take Advil or Extra-Strength Tylenol with the Mucinex if I have discomfort. And, at bedtime I add a Benedryl tablet to help me sleep. I prefer this cocktail to any all-in-one cold/flu medicine (like NyQuil).
Mucinex DM- Guaifenesin (for congestion) & Dextromethorphan HBr (for cough)
OR
Mucinex- just Guaifenesin (if you're not coughing)
Tylenol- Acetaminophen or Advil- Ibuprofen (for headache, pain, fever, swelling)
Benedryl- Diphenhydramine (antihistamine... creates a drowsy feeling, helps you fall asleep)

I also take Emergen-C Immune + twice a day when my kids are sick (once a day through cold/flu season typically) and it has really helped me stay healthy this year.
 
I normally take Advil Cold & Sinus. It dries things up with an antihistamine and helps with sore throat with the advil part. And it doesn't make me drowsy (which Sudafed does).
 
Most over the counter drugs is a migraine trigger for me... except for the Mucinex DM family... big fan!

When I feel a cold coming on, I hit the vitamins hard - that is what has helped me really shorten the cold to a day or two.

Vit D3, liquid form and zinc pills. And then we do the triple tickle (from a doctor friend of my hubby) - 3 pills of each: Vit C, garlic, and Echinacea.... at morning and night... and then elderberry extract, liquid form... hot showers... ginger ale if stomach is upset... and then climb under a bunch of blankets and try to sweat the cold out...
 
krystalhartley said:
Sudafed is a decongestant. Only the original formula works for me (pseudoephedrine).
Antihistamines like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) dry up the drainage.
Cough expectorants like guaifenesin loosen mucous to make coughing productive
Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Advil/Motrin (ibuprofen) relieve sore throat and sinus pain, but they work differently. Tylenol is more of a pain inhibitor and Advil reduces swelling which is part of the cause of the pain
Click to expand...
^^^This. Just be sure you get the Sudafed that you have to get at the pharmacy as the one on the shelves is ineffective for the
most part.

Oh, and when I feel anything coming on, I'm a BIG fan of Airborne.
 
Umcka all the way - they have a few formulas. I keep it on hand all winter and take it at the first sign of a cold. It works awesome for me and really limits the symptoms. If I'm around a lot of people with colds I take it prophylactically and it keeps me from getting colds at all most of the time.
 
Thank you all for the suggestions and information, this is super helpful!!!

Kim, I agree, it still could be allergies. I did a lot of yard work this weekend and I'm highly allergic to grasses (to the point where I will get a rash on my skin when contact is made).
 
/hijack - Sheri, I LOVE your siggy! (I might be late noticing. ;))

And I have 2 boys allergic to grass where they get rashes. My DH is NOT happy about that since he is still doing the mowing. ;)
 
I know sometimes switching allergy meds for awhile helps me. I'm a fan of loratadine (Claritin/Alavert...I just buy the generic from Sam's). If I take it every day during allergy season I don't get attacks. Our first spring here, moving from AZ, I almost died from allergies, so my doctor told me to switch to Zyrtec, so I always keep some around for if it gets bad.

I asked a doctor how to tell the difference between a cold and a sinus infection, and he said that you know it's a sinus infection if you can feel it in your teeth.

If it's a cold, Ibuprofin, Sudafed (NOT the PE stuff), and the occasional Mucinex helps me through it. And lots of OJ. DH also makes a really good honey lemon tea, by boiling water, and adding honey and lemon until it tastes good, and then melt in a eucalyptus cough drop or two. It's perfect to clear me up and sooth my throat so that I can get to sleep.
 
Thank you so much for the compliment on my siggie Mary! You put a big smile on my face! :wub:

I also asked the pharmacist for a recommendation today based on the symptoms I gave her and she pretty much told me that if Zyrtec wasn't completely masking my symptoms, I couldn't expect much relief from anything else (which I guess is why the Sudafed didn't help). I don't have a sore throat and I'm really not congested, it's mainly the runny nose and a cough caused by the nasal drip that are making me miserable. My poor nose is looks like rudolph, but not nearly as cute :D I did take a Benedryl this evening and it seems to have helped a bit.

Thanks again for your advice!
 
I have a tip for the coughing . . sounds crazy but it really does work.

Rub Vicks Vapour rub (brand name or cheapie, matters not) on the soles of your feet then pop on your socks. You wont cough as much, or sometimes not at all!!

I don t know why or how, but it works. Great for night time, and especially great for the kiddies =)

I actually used to keep some at work in my drawer so I could re apply it a couple of times, just love it
 
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