You stumble into the pharmacy, bleary-eyed and miserable, hoping to find something - anything - that will make you feel better. You're exhausted because your cough kept you up all night, making it even harder to focus on finding the right remedy. Before you close your eyes and reach for the nearest box, we've got a strategy: Take stock of your symptoms, read the fine print and, when in doubt, choose less over more. Just remember that a cold is a virus that can linger for up to two weeks. Over-the-counter meds are designed to help you live with your symptoms, not curb them altogether, says Dr. David Tannenbaum, a family physician-in-chief at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. To help you, Carey Lai, a community pharmacist in Winnipeg, matches symptoms to solutions so that you'll feel better faster.
You stumble into the pharmacy, bleary-eyed and miserable, hoping to find something - anything - that will make you feel better. You're exhausted because your cough kept you up all night, making it even harder to focus on finding the right remedy. Before you close your eyes and reach for the nearest box, we've got a strategy: Take stock of your symptoms, read the fine print and, when in doubt, choose less over more. Just remember that a cold is a virus that can linger for up to two weeks. Over-the-counter meds are designed to help you live with your symptoms, not curb them altogether, says Dr. David Tannenbaum, a family physician-in-chief at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. To help you, Carey Lai, a community pharmacist in Winnipeg, matches symptoms to solutions so that you'll feel better faster.
| You Have | You Need | We Like |
| A sore throat and dry, hacking cough | A suppressant, such as dextromethorphan | Benylin DM |
| A persistent chest cough with phlegm | An expectorant, such as quaifenesin | Benylin DM-E |
| A stuffy or runny nose | A decongestant, such as pseudoedphedrine or phenylephrine | Sudafed Decongestant |
| A headache or sinus pain | Acetaminophen or ibuprofen with a decongestant | Advil Cold & Sinus Caplets | A fever, aches and pains | Acetaminophen or ibuprofen | Life Brand Ibuprofen |
| Difficulty sleeping due to a cold | An antihistamine, such as chlorpheniramine or brompheniramine | Tylenol Cold & Flu Cool Burst Sensation Nighttime |
| A partner who's miserable with a cold | Immune-boosting natural supplements to keep you symptom-free | Ginseng-based COLD fX, vitamin C and/or echinacea |
BE CAREFUL WITH COMBOS
Combination, or shotgun, remedies target multiple cold symptoms with just one dose. "They may help a sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and cough, congestion and muscle aches," says Lai. "There could easily be five medications inside." Because of their typically long list of ingredients, it's important to look closely to ensure that you don't take more than you actually need.
"There will usually be acetaminophen in the products marked 'extra strength' or 'all-in-one,'" he says. "The problem is, some people take acetaminophen in addition to a combination remedy and don't think it's a big deal. Extra strength means extra ingredients." Also, if all you have is a scratchy throat, don't reach for a shotgun remedy. "If you only have two symptoms, take something less aggressive that addresses those specific symptoms," says Lai. "If you can live with your symptoms, you're better off undermedicating than overmedicating."