# What is the best cold medicine? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 26, 2000, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467 "2000-10-26T19:14:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Blunt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Blunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blunt)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2000, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467/1 "2000-10-26T19:14:10Z")
OK, what is the best remedy for the common cold? I’m talking drugs, not home-remedys or anything. I have a nasty cold with all the usual symptoms (sore throat, congestion, sneezing, etc.) and I want to end it now. I’m looking to walk into Walgreens and buy the medicine to end all medicines. I’m not worried about side effects at all. If you tell me cocaine is the only decent remedy, I’m out the door looking to score some blow. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2000, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467/2 "2000-10-26T19:16:37Z")
I don’t think cocaine would do much for your congestion. I’ve always been fond of Alka-Seltzer Cold & Sinus. It seems to work pretty well. Get some Cloroseptic spray for your sore throat. It numbs it quite nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Myndephuquer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@Myndephuquer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myndephuquer)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2000, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467/3 "2000-10-26T19:22:46Z")
As soon as I saw this, I thought, as did Lissa, Alka-Seltzer Cold & Sinus. ('sorry – this is a ‘me too’ post, but in case you had any doubt about the fine Alka-Seltzer products… before you take one, lay one of the tablets flat on your tongue.) 'Hope you feel better. I’m just getting over the flu and it truly sucks. ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2000, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467/4 "2000-10-26T19:25:45Z")
no beating it – eat well and go to bed – let is pass. ---
**Author:** ![Zumba\_The\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/779978/32.png) [@Zumba\_The\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zumba_The_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2000, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467/5 "2000-10-26T19:33:02Z")
If you are past the point of not caring about side effects let me recommend NyQuil. My plan works like this. Place a box of Kleenex, a box of Salteen crackers, a glass of water and a bottle of NyQuil on your nightstand. Put on sweat pants and get in bed. Eat two crackers. Take a sip of water. Take two good swigs of NyQuil. Blow Nose. Go to sleep. Repeat the above steps every time you wake up. When you wake up and can breath you are better. The best part about this plan is that most of the time you are too asleep to care if you are sick. Really though, other then drugs I recommend drinking plenty of hot orange juice and gargling warm salt water for your throat. I hope you feel better soon. ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2000, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467/6 "2000-10-26T19:40:36Z")
the ONLY thing that works for me when I get really sick (not just sniffles sick) is **Comtrex Deep Chest Cold**. …Ah, those blimp-shaped rubbery red pills…Salvation from even those colds that settle in your chest and head! K. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2000, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467/7 "2000-10-26T19:47:14Z")
Alka Seltzer Cold and Sinus is the only thing that works for me. … and Jägermeister:) (separately of course!) The zinc and other tablets just make everything taste worse IMHO ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2000, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467/8 "2000-10-26T19:56:32Z")
Extra-Strength Nyquil, regular green death flavor. It works great if you don’t care about side effects. If you do, sorta go with Contac-C but beware - They say 12 hrs, at 11 hrs 55 mins you will start feeling worse. ---
**Author:** ![Stupendous\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Stupendous\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stupendous_man)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2000, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467/9 "2000-10-26T21:34:49Z")
Extra-strength Contac Cold and Flu formula, 12-hour. Cough, sore throat, runny nose, and sneezing. Takes care of it all, and does it all day. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2000, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467/10 "2000-10-27T01:11:00Z")
I’m told that there is a concoction used in Britain for terminal cancer patients that contains gin, cocaine, and a little bit of heroin. (Don’t know what it’s called.) Probably won’t help your cold, but who cares? A cold will go away in a week if you treat it, and seven days if you don’t. That said, I always like Chloraseptic (sp?) for a sore throat. And you can never go wrong with NyQuil, especially in Death Green flavor. Dr. J ---
**Author:** ![Eo\_Echo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ebca7d/32.png) [@Eo\_Echo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eo_Echo)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2000, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467/11 "2000-10-27T03:37:24Z")
I subscribe to the Denis Leary formula: NyQuil and Sudafed. I’m high as a kite and my teeth are green. Merry Fucking Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2000, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467/12 "2000-10-27T04:52:36Z")
Depends on the form the cold takes… vile, aching sore throat: Chloraspeptic spray. Topical relief but lets you rest. General cold nastiness: Alka-Seltzer Cold & Flu, or Nyquil. Only time will cure the illness, but these will help alleviate the symptoms. _Stay home, rest and let your body heal_. Yes, chicken soup helps. But it helps more if you simmer garlic in the broth. No matter what, keep the fluids pumping through. But _stay home_! Don’t share the infection; it’s socially responsible, not to mention common sense. Keep up fluid intake, sleep, rest, heal. Total hypocrite w/ a sinus infection, Veb ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2000, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467/13 "2000-10-27T05:02:04Z")
Another vote for the big Q… * * * Yer pal, [Satan](http://www.members.tripod.com/jmspoofe/sdmb/satan.jpg) \*TIME ELAPSED SINCE I QUIT SMOKING: Six months, two weeks, four days, 3 hours, 3 minutes and 15 seconds. 8045 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,005.64. Extra time with Drain Bead: 3 weeks, 6 days, 22 hours, 25 minutes. **Religion + Asshole = FUNDIE** \* ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2000, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467/14 "2000-10-27T05:06:25Z")
As someone said the other day… “Nyquil, the sniffling, sneezing, stuffy head, aches, and fever, how the hell did I get on my kitchen floor medicine”. You still have the cold but won’t care. My favourite is a few ounces of Scotch, neat. Again, you won’t care about the cold. Where would the world be without us Scots? I bet we invented Nyquil too, anything that will knock you out after a few teaspoons has to be a Scottich concoction. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![uberDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f04885/32.png) [@uberDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uberDave)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2000, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467/15 "2000-10-27T12:57:56Z")
Gotta go with Feynn. Nothing better than a dram of single malt scotch. However, my mom always gave me a small glass mixed with equal parts honey, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and bourbon. Still works every time. Hopr you feel better soon. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2000, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467/16 "2000-10-27T14:45:43Z")
My grandma used to make me hot toddies. Southern Comfort, honey, and a sprinkle of ginger. Heat it up as hot as you can stand to drink and sip it. Works like a charm. Plus, it gives you a nice buzz. Ahhh, NyQil in the classic Green Death flavor! It’s really good for sleeping off a hard cold. ---
**Author:** ![WillyK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/47e85d/32.png) [@WillyK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillyK)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2000, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467/17 "2000-10-27T15:04:02Z")
I actually hallucinated after taking too much NyQuil once! I can vividly remember the whole thing. I was flying around my living room and my old high school gym teacher was yelling at me to come down. He was saying, “Physical education and participation are synonymous!!” What a trip! ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2000, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467/18 "2000-10-27T15:10:08Z")
There is no ‘common cold’. The cold is a group of rhinoviruses. Thus, there is no one virus & therefore, no one remedy. Lots of sex might make you sweat it off 🙂 PS: been discussed before. ---
**Author:** ![Thirsty4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Thirsty4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thirsty4)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2000, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467/19 "2000-10-27T15:26:39Z")
Another option is Coricidin HBP. But in order for it to work you need to overdose. You get trippy just like NyQuil only you don’t have that awful cough medicine taste. Make sure you get the kind with the purple stripe on it. > **[Walgreens: Pharmacy, Health & Wellness, Photo & More for You](https://www.walgreens.com/)** > > Your go-to for Pharmacy, Health & Wellness and Photo products. Refill prescriptions online, order items for delivery or store pickup, and create Photo Gifts. P.S. Handy what haven’t we discussed on this board before? ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2000, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467/20 "2000-10-27T15:57:08Z")
I cast my vote for the biq Q, too. But the cherry flavor is easier to keep down. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-cold-medicine/38467.md?page=2)