# Do over-the-counter cold medicines work for anybody? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 20, 2019, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-over-the-counter-cold-medicines-work-for-anybody/828097 "2019-01-20T06:03:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-over-the-counter-cold-medicines-work-for-anybody/828097/41 "2019-01-21T11:40:09Z")
I also use Vick’s vapor rub to relieve congestion and cough. I have a small steam machine that takes Vick’s-infused pads and that helps too in severe circumstances. Hot baths, gargling with warm salt water, drink lots of water. Sleep! And avoiding colds — wash your hands frequently, and avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, mouth. Avoid proximity with sick people > **[Most parents still rely on myths to avoid colds | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/21/health/parents-myths-to-avoid-colds/index.html)** > > As with many other aspects of parenting, when it comes to preventing colds, most parents trust the advice passed down by their own parents and grandparents. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-over-the-counter-cold-medicines-work-for-anybody/828097/42 "2019-01-21T11:48:28Z")
Benefits of chicken soup are inconclusive but might just be comforting if nothing else [https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/12/the-science-of-chicken-soup/](https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/12/the-science-of-chicken-soup/) ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-over-the-counter-cold-medicines-work-for-anybody/828097/43 "2019-01-21T15:35:00Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I’ll work out(lightly) only if I feel up to it. Feeling real tired is a sure sign to skip that day. Sounds like a plan. I always have this thought that a good run will have some effect on blowing out the pipes and help my breathing, but I can never tell if it does. > [@Acsenray](#): > > If it hurts, stop. If your body is telling you to lie down and not move, lie down and don’t move. My particular quandary is not about physical pain though. ---
**Author:** ![Periwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-over-the-counter-cold-medicines-work-for-anybody/828097/44 "2019-01-21T17:42:36Z")
Mostly I have thought the OTC remedies have been useless, although the nighttime TheraFlu at least helped a little. Please do pay heed to the warnings about paying close attention to the amount of acetaminophen that you’re getting. My doctor told me that many people have killed their liver by not realizing how much they’re getting from products they’re combining. It’s too late for this time, but I feel I have successfully warded off colds by using a neti pot the minute I felt one brewing. I think it might wash out enough of the replicating cold virus to give your immune system a fighting chance. I don’t know if this is actually true but it seemed to work that way for me. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-over-the-counter-cold-medicines-work-for-anybody/828097/45 "2019-01-21T17:55:19Z")
I seem to have settled into a rhythm; sleep for an hour or two, wake up and rush to the bathroom sink, ten minutes coughing up phlegm and blowing my nose, drink a glass of water, repeat. And I may be starting to feel better. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-over-the-counter-cold-medicines-work-for-anybody/828097/46 "2019-01-21T20:11:26Z")
Thank you for … er… _sharing_ that. 😛 Rest and fluids - sounds like you have both covered there. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-over-the-counter-cold-medicines-work-for-anybody/828097/47 "2019-01-21T23:17:30Z")
I have an update. I know you’ve all been waiting. To recap, on Saturday morning I went to a clinic, got checked, was told it was just a cold. The instructions I got were to take Flonase and Mucinex, and if I wasn’t getting any better after a day the PA had called in a prescription for an antibiotic. I repeated the instructions back. I went to the drugstore, got the Mucinex and Flonase, and have been taking them for the last two days. They have done fuck all. So I prevailed on a friend for a ride to the drugstore. I wanted to get the antibiotic and ask if they had anything else I might try for the cough and sore throat. It would take them a few minutes to fill the antibiotic, they said, and did I want the other two prescriptions that were waiting for me? There have been a prescription for the cough and a nasal spray waiting for me for two miserable days. It occurs to me that I’m kinda back where I started; just took the first doses of stuff that’s supposed to make me feel better. The jury is still out on whether it works. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-over-the-counter-cold-medicines-work-for-anybody/828097/48 "2019-01-21T23:24:07Z")
I’ve found that Claritin (loratidine) works really well for me so at the first sign of my nose getting runny I pop one of those things–advantage is they’re 24 hour and for me at least that’s absolutely accurate. Aches and fever I manage with Aleve (naproxen) at 440mg or two OTC pills. I usually just use something like Hall’s Soothers for scratchy throat and cough because dextromethorphan makes me robotrip balls and I don’t like it. I sleep as much as I can, drink gallons of liquids and eat anything that doesn’t make me feel queasy to think about–usually something bland and sweet or very savory like chikin broth with red pepper in it. This regimen for 4-5 days will usually see me through the end of the cold. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-over-the-counter-cold-medicines-work-for-anybody/828097/49 "2019-01-22T00:24:32Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > Colds I use Mucinex DM. If the inner ears come into play, more from allergies than colds, I go Pseudoephedrine. We swear by Mucinex in my house. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-over-the-counter-cold-medicines-work-for-anybody/828097/50 "2019-01-22T15:54:08Z")
Pseudoephedrine - (the stuff you have to ask for) is a miracle cold drug in my opinion. When I take it, I have no cold symptoms at all. I even take it before bed and am able to sleep just fine. Ricola (honey and herb varieties) are the best cough drops - although coughing is probably the symptom that’s the hardest to combat. I usually get the dry coughing spells that go on and on until I feel like I’m going to choke. And it’s usually when I’m in a public place like church, a meeting, or a store :mad: I’ve had to run to the cough drop aisle and tear open a bag of Ricola’s. I usually keep a pocketful just in case. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-over-the-counter-cold-medicines-work-for-anybody/828097/51 "2019-01-22T19:20:23Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I have an update. I know you’ve all been waiting. > > To recap, on Saturday morning I went to a clinic, got checked, was told it was just a cold. The instructions I got were to take Flonase and Mucinex, and if I wasn’t getting any better after a day the PA had called in a prescription for an antibiotic. I repeated the instructions back. I went to the drugstore, got the Mucinex and Flonase, and have been taking them for the last two days. > > They have done fuck all. > > So I prevailed on a friend for a ride to the drugstore. I wanted to get the antibiotic and ask if they had anything else I might try for the cough and sore throat. It would take them a few minutes to fill the antibiotic, they said, and did I want the other two prescriptions that were waiting for me? > > There have been a prescription for the cough and a nasal spray waiting for me for two miserable days. > > It occurs to me that I’m kinda back where I started; just took the first doses of stuff that’s supposed to make me feel better. The jury is still out on whether it works. Just so you are clear, colds are caused by a virus. The antibiotic does nothing for a virus (that would be an anti-viral). Likely the antibiotic was given to treat a possible sinus / ear infection, which would be an aftereffect from the trauma caused in your sinuses from the cold symptoms. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-over-the-counter-cold-medicines-work-for-anybody/828097/52 "2019-01-22T20:31:12Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > Just so you are clear, colds are caused by a virus. The antibiotic does nothing for a virus (that would be an anti-viral). Likely the antibiotic was given to treat a possible sinus / ear infection, which would be an aftereffect from the trauma caused in your sinuses from the cold symptoms. I know. I was just repeating the instructions I got from the PA, and how I came to discover later that something had gone wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2019, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-over-the-counter-cold-medicines-work-for-anybody/828097/53 "2019-01-22T21:59:19Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Yeah, but if you take Nyquil (which is about 80% alcohol), you get to pretend you’re taking medicine instead of being a drunk. 🙂 Jägermeister then? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-over-the-counter-cold-medicines-work-for-anybody/828097.md?page=2)