4 Effective Over-the-Counter Cold Remedies

Cold and flu season is officially here. Luckily, there are plenty of over-the-counter remedies to help you make it through in one piece. However, with all these options, it can feel pretty overwhelming sometimes. But never fear—we did some research and put together the top four things you need to look for when selecting an over-the- counter remedy.

1: Keep it simple.

Stick to single-ingredient products over multi-symptom medications. You wouldn’t want your doctor to style your hair or your server at a restaurant to paint your nails. Certain people do very specific jobs for a reason. And the same goes for over-the-counter medications. When a drug tries to do too much, it can actually do more harm than good. It may seem tempting to take the medication that promises to reduce your cold, fever, sore throat, aches and your student debt—but if you just have a simple cold, chances are that you just need a simple cold relief medication. Don’t overdo it if you don’t have to!

2: Choose the method that works best for you.

So you’ve found an over-the-counter remedy that targets your exact symptoms. But it comes in so many different forms! Most over-the-counter remedies come in pills, syrups and powders. Which one do you choose? Here are the benefits of each.

• Pills: No bad aftertaste.
• Syrups: Hit your bloodstream sooner.
• Powders: Good if you have trouble swallowing pills and can’t stomach the flavor of the medication.

3: Read the fine print.

Many times, medications will contain labels that promise to succeed at something specific. Like working 24 hours a day, helping you sleep through the night or providing a maximum strength dosage. Read these labels carefully, as they may not be what they seem. Sometimes, 24-hour medications contain double the dose, so you’ll want to be careful not to take it more than once a day. This is also true of the over-the-counter remedies labeled “maximum” or “extra strength.” However, unlike 24-hour medications, these extra strength options often have more of one particular ingredient. Depending on the ingredient and your situation, this could pose a risk since the higher dosage isn’t always necessary. Bottom line: Read about everything you’re putting into your body!

4: Become familiar with the basic medical lingo.

There are three main terms to know:

1. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): These can reduce basic aches, pains and flu symptoms. See: ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen.
2. Acetaminophen: These also treat cold and symptoms, but are generally not as hard on the stomach as their NSAIDs alternatives.
3. Antihistamines: These are your basic allergy medications. They don’t work as well on the general aches and pains as cold medications do, but they’re great for allergy-induced runny noses.