# Best cold medicine **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 7, 2025, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cold-medicine/1018004 "2025-05-07T13:34:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cold-medicine/1018004/61 "2026-02-16T18:10:25Z")
Girl…you tryna kill me? ☠ 😱 No, I do love your mindset. 😉 Do what you can, that’s safe for you, to make YOU feel better. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cold-medicine/1018004/62 "2026-02-16T18:15:04Z")
I like to sip good scotch when i have a cold. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cold-medicine/1018004/63 "2026-02-16T18:28:26Z")
Chicken soup from a restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cold-medicine/1018004/64 "2026-02-16T23:41:24Z")
Time and Rest. I used to swear by Nyquil, but now it will allow me to sleep, but I’m up at 2am and unable to get back to sleep and don’t wanna double-dip the stuff. I’ve accepted that it’s gonna take a week or so, and not much I do is gonna change it. Rest as much as you can, keep tissues handy and suffer through it. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cold-medicine/1018004/65 "2026-02-17T01:23:58Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > The Walgreens brand pseudophenedrine. And I add some Tylenol if I have a headache. Eventually the cold works its way down to my chest so I add an expectorant, guaifenesin (Mucinex) because I hate coughing. Good choices. Using a combo generally wastes money and gives you a drug you dont want or need. > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > At night I’ll take a dose of a liquid nighttime med that usually has a mix of decongestant, expectorant and something to help me sleep. Not the best idea. Just take the individual drugs. > [@Nyvaak](#): > > But I’m here just to beg everyone: be cautious of acetaminophen overdose. Many of these remedies have acetaminophen (Tylenol) as an ingredient. Yes, one great reason to not use “all purpose” drug mixtures. > [@Briny\_Deep](#): > > - Generic Sudafed > - Generic Claritin (loratadine 10mg) > > Extraordinary measures: > > - Decongestant nasal spray – something that actually works, like Afrin (oxymetazoline), but you have to be very careful; the rebound effect is real. Good choices, and i never take that stuff in the same nostril two nights in a row, and in fact try to limit myself to once a week. > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Indian or Mexican food.. spicy as you can do it. > 2 shots of whiskey. > BC powder. > Go to bed. Not terrible, but BC powder has caffeine, which you dont want. And only one shot. Otherwise you sleep poorly during the night. > [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > topical painkillers Not “topical” - maybe you meant OTC? > [@jnglmassiv](#): > > . I said above I chew one of two tabs DO NOT CHEW pseudoephedrine. Very dangerous. > **[Pseudoephedrine (oral route) - Side effects & dosage](https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/pseudoephedrine-oral-route/description/drg-20067942)** _For patients taking pseudoephedrine extended-release capsules:_ "\*\* Swallow the capsule whole. However, if the capsule is too large to swallow, you may mix the contents of the capsule with jam or jelly and swallow without chewing.\* \*\* Do not crush or chew before swallowing.\* _For patients taking pseudoephedrine extended-release tablets:_ \*\* Swallow the tablet whole.\* \*\* Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.\*" ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cold-medicine/1018004/66 "2026-02-17T01:27:27Z")
Link doesn’t say it’s dangerous; extended release pills are coated to dissolve slowly so you get a lower dose over a longer period of time instead of all right away, and it lasts longer. Breaking the coating by chewing defeats that purpose. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cold-medicine/1018004/67 "2026-02-17T01:33:06Z")
It says not to do it. [Rosemont | Information For Patients On The Dangers Of Tablet Crushing](https://www.rosemontpharma.com/tablet-crushing/#:~:text=Crushing%20or%20splitting%20enteric%2Dcoated,benefiting%20from%20it%20at%20all). _2. You could be risking an overdose_ _Crushing or splitting enteric-coated or modified-release medication risks too much of the drug being released into your bloodstream too soon.[[2]](https://www.rosemontpharma.com/tablet-crushing/#ref_2)_ _Not only does this increase the risk of overdose and experiencing side effects, it also means there could be a period of time you won’t be benefiting from it at all.[[2]]_ Cite after cite says no. > **[pseudoephedrine ER 120 mg tablet,extended release | Kaiser Permanente](https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/drug-encyclopedia/drug.pseudoephedrine-er-120-mg-tablet-extended-release.197837)** > > Pseudoephedrine is used for the temporary relief of stuffy nose and sinus pain/pressure caused by infection (such as the common cold, flu) or other br _Take the capsules or tablets with a full glass of water. Swallow whole. Do not crush or chew the capsules or tablets. Doing so can release all of the drug at once, increasing the risk of side effects._ ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cold-medicine/1018004/68 "2026-02-17T03:34:37Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Doing so can release all of the drug at once, increasing the risk of side effects. Yes, I chew one to promote the faster acting though I don’t think mine are extended release. I wouldn’t say I’ve noticed any extra side effects but I can feel it working in about 20 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cold-medicine/1018004/69 "2026-02-17T17:24:36Z")
_ **cracks knuckles, waits for insults** _ So here are some things that might work that haven’t been mentioned. 800mg a day of cimetidine split into 400mg in the morning, 400mg in the evening. This medicine is available OTC to treat acid reflux. However it is an inhibitor of the H2 histamine receptor, which is found on suppressor T cells in the immune system. What that means is when you take cimetidine, it blocks the immune cells that keep your immune system in check, making your immune system stronger. Its been researched as a tool for helping with cancer and infections due to its ability to increase the activity of the immune system. > **[Cimetidine as an immune response modifier - PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2657245/)** > > Cimetidine, a selective histamine-2 receptor antagonist, has attracted interest because of its potential as an immune response-modifying drug. Most data suggest that cimetidine has a stimulatory action on the immune system, possibly by blocking of... > Cimetidine, a selective histamine-2 receptor antagonist, has attracted interest because of its potential as an immune response-modifying drug. Most data suggest that cimetidine has a stimulatory action on the immune system, possibly by blocking of receptors on subsets of T-lymphocytes and inhibiting histamine-induced immune suppression. Several studies have shown that cimetidine can affect the relative number of CD8 + ve lymphocytes and increase the NK cell activity as well as the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Cimetidine has also been used successfully to restore immune functions in patients with malignant disorders, hypogammaglobulinemia and AIDS-related complexes . In the past, when I was able to use cimetidine at the first sign of a cold, the cold would be gone in about 4 days or so. Now that I can’t use it anymore because it interacts with some Rx meds I’m on, my colds last for 3 weeks now. Massive warning. Cimetidine blocks major enzyme pathways involved in metabolizing drugs. So taking it is risky, which is why I had to stop using it when I got sick. Also I don’t know what dangers there are to making your immune system stronger. I don’t know if that increases the risk of developing auto immune disorders. For me, when I used cimetidine, I just used it at the start of a cold and stopped a few days after symptoms were gone. Another thing that may help is a supplement called andrographis. I don’t know exactly how it works, but it supposedly has broad spectrum anti-viral properties. Many herbal cold remedies have this in it. [https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-46249-y](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-46249-y) > _Andrographis paniculata_ (Burm. F.) Nees is a medicinal plant previously reported with broad-spectrum antivirals but the mode of inhibition remains elusive. Another thing you can try is buying the amino acid L-glutamine. Supposedly your immune cells use that for energy, so 5-10g a day of that when you have a cold can make your immune system stronger. To prevent a common cold other than doing things like washing hands and wearing a mask, other things you can try are CPC mouthwash or nasal sprays. CPC mouthwash (like crest pro health) have antiviral activity that can hopefully reduce the risk of catching a respiratory infection through the mouth. I gargle with this before I go out to events. [https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-18367-6#Sec6](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-18367-6#Sec6) Nasal sprays containing either xylitol or Iota Carrageenan can help make it harder for respiratory viruses to attach to receptors in your nasal passages. > **[Efficacy of a Nasal Spray Containing Iota-Carrageenan in the Postexposure...](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8493111/)** > > Iota-Carrageenan (I-C) is a sulfate polysaccharide synthesized by red algae, with demonstrated antiviral activity and clinical efficacy as nasal spray in the treatment of common cold. In vitro, I-C inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection in cell culture. Can... Also if you take zinc lozenges for the cold, it is best to look for zinc acetate, other forms of zinc supplements don’t dissolve nearly as well in saliva. Zinc acetate lozenges are far superior to cold-eeze supplements. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cold-medicine/1018004/70 "2026-02-17T17:34:52Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > 800mg a day of cimetidine split into 400mg in the morning, 400mg in the evening. This medicine is available OTC to treat acid reflux. Huh, do you know if the (now more widely available) famotidine has the same effect? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cold-medicine/1018004/71 "2026-02-17T17:37:16Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Huh, do you know if the (now more widely available) famotidine has the same effect? No, it doesn’t. Famotidine is more selective in the H2 receptors it blocks. Cimetidine blocks a far wider range of H2 receptors, including the H2 receptors on immune cells. Famotidine is more selective for the H2 receptors in the gut and doesn’t affect the H2 receptors on immune cells as much. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cold-medicine/1018004/72 "2026-02-17T17:49:20Z")
Thanks. I may stock some cimetidine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cold-medicine/1018004.md?page=3)