Best medicine for sore throat and cough and runny nose

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Feeling under the weather can make you sluggish, uncomfortable, and fatigued. Whether it's the common cold, a nagging cough, or the flu, you need medicine to help ease your symptoms so you can get back to a normal life. As you shop for cough, cold, and flu medicine, it's important to understand which ones you need and what they can do for you. No matter which one you choose, read on to determine what the right medication is for your specific symptoms.

Cold Vs Flu

Before purchasing cold, cough and flu medicine, it's a good idea to recognize the symptoms of your condition. A cold usually starts with a sore throat that goes away in a few days. You'll also experience a runny nose, congestion, and a slight cough within a few days. Most people do not have a fever if they have a common cold, however, children may have a slight fever during the first day to two days. A typical cold should last approximately one week.

What are Symptoms of the Flu?

If you have the flu, your symptoms will be much more severe than a cold. Flu symptoms happen fast, and they usually include a sore throat, headache, muscle aches, fever, cough, and congestion. You could also experience vomiting and diarrhea if you have the flu. Fever and stomach issues are two of the most important factors in determining whether it's the cold or flu. If your symptoms persist for more than a week, talk to your doctor as soon as possible.

Cold and Flu Medicine

You can purchase a variety of products at your local drugstore to help combat the symptoms of cold, cough, and flu. Cough syrups can coat your throat and keep coughing to a minimum. Certain cough syrups also contain an expectorant, and ingredient that will help to loosen chest congestion. Antibiotics will not help with cold or flu since they are not effective against the cold and flu virus. You can find cold, cough, and flu remedies over the counter that can relieve pain, reduce fever, and help you sleep until your body heals. 

When you look for treatments, make sure they contain ingredients that will not cause an allergic reaction. Some cold and cough medications contain ingredients that increase the heart rate and are not recommended for patients with high blood pressure. Always read the ingredient label and the dosage directions before you buy a treatment for cold, cough, and flu. If your fever does not break or your symptoms continue to persist, see your doctor as soon as possible.

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Summary

What are cold and cough medicines?

Cold and cough medicines can help relieve symptoms of a common cold. The symptoms of a cold can include a sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, and coughing.

You don't usually need to treat a cold or the cough that it causes. You can't cure a cold, and antibiotics won't help you get better. But sometimes the symptoms can keep you awake or cause a lot of discomfort. In that case, cold and cough medicines can sometimes be helpful.

What are the different types of cold and cough medicines?

There are lots of different cold and cough medicines, and they do different things:

  • Nasal decongestants - unclog a stuffy nose
  • Cough suppressants - quiet a cough
  • Expectorants - loosen mucus in your lungs so you can cough it up
  • Antihistamines - stop runny noses and sneezing
  • Pain relievers - ease fever, headaches, and minor aches and pains

What do I need to know about taking cold and cough medicines?

Before taking these medicines, read the labels and follow the instructions carefully. Many cold and cough medicines contain the same active ingredients. For example, some of them include pain relievers. If you are taking these medicines and are also taking a separate pain reliever, you could be getting a dangerous amount of the pain reliever.

Do not give cold or cough medicines to children under two, and don't give aspirin to children.

What else can I do to feel better for a cold or cough?

If you decide that you don't want to take cold and cough medicines, there are other ways to feel better:

  • Drink lots of fluids
  • Get plenty of rest
  • Use a cool mist humidifier
  • Use saline nose drops or sprays
  • Use nasal suctioning with a bulb syringe, which can be very helpful in children under a year old

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Start Here

  • Acetaminophen Level
    Best medicine for sore throat and cough and runny nose
    (National Library of Medicine)
    Also in Spanish
  • Don't Double Up on Acetaminophen (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
  • High Blood Pressure and Cold Remedies: Which Are Safe? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

  • Echinacea
    Best medicine for sore throat and cough and runny nose
    (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
  • Echinacea: What Should I Know about It? (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
  • Zinc for Colds: The Final Word? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

How do you get rid of a runny nose and cough and sore throat?

Natural Cold Remedies.
Drink plenty of liquids, including chicken soup. ... .
To relieve a sore throat, gargle with warm salt water, use throat sprays, and suck on ice or lozenges..
Try a saltwater nasal rinse. ... .
Use petroleum jelly on your nose if it's irritated from constant blowing. ... .
Use a humidifier to help break up phlegm..

What is the best medicine for sore throat and runny nose?

If you have a runny nose or you're stuffed up, an over-the-counter decongestant or antihistamine may help. If hay fever is causing the drip of mucus into your throat, allergy treatments will ease your soreness, too. Try a throat spray. Over-the-counter versions of these "numbing" products can help.

What medicine is best for cough and sore throat?

Here is the best medicine for a sore throat:.
Best overall: Chloraseptic spray, $6.79 on Walgreens. ... .
Best cough drops: Cepacol cough drops, $3.29 on Target. ... .
Best natural: Zarbee's Natural Honey Cough Soothers, $8.99 on Amazon. ... .
Best home remedy: Numi Throat Soother Tea, $4.93 on Amazon..

What is best medicine for cough and runny nose?

Expectorants such as guaifenesin (Mucinex, Guai-Aid) work chiefly by thinning mucus so it is easier to cough up and out. Antihistamines block histamine, a chemical the body releases that triggers runny nose and watery eyes.