Which Cold Medications Really Work?
When you’re feeling awful about a cold, you just want something to cure you – if not cure, then at least help you temporarily feel better. Unfortunately, many medicines are placebos , but some things in the pharmacy work better than others.
The best decongestant is over the counter
If you have a stuffy nose, pseudoephedrine is best . Previously, it could be found on store shelves. Sudafed was one brand. (Sudafed, pseudoephedrine, you know?) But pseudoephedrine is fairly easy to convert to methamphetamine , so the 2006 law restricted its sale. Take the time to show your ID to the pharmacist if you want good things.
Honey works surprisingly well
Honey won’t cure a cold, but it does seem to soothe a sore throat and relieve coughs, at least slightly. Research often shows it works better than over-the-counter cough syrups. (Is it because honey is good, or because cough syrups suck? Perhaps the latter, to be honest.) But don’t worry about honey based cough syrups – yes, that’s a thing – just take some real honey and stir in hot water or tea. It’s cheaper and easier that way.
By the way, an important nuance about honey: honey is not considered safe for children under 1 year old . The risk of botulism is low and babies are especially susceptible. Honey isn’t going to help that much, so it’s not worth the risk.
Most drugs are of questionable effectiveness.
Phenylephrine is a decongestant that has replaced pseudoephedrine in over-the-counter products. It doesn’t seem to work very well and according to some research it doesn’t work at all .
Dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant, is also not very effective as guaifenesin, an “expectorant” designed to thin mucus to make it easier to cough up. The Cochrane review concluded that there was not enough evidence to say whether any over-the-counter cough medicines actually work.
Tylenol and ibuprofen tend to relieve pain and fever, although this is probably not what you think of when you think of cold medications. (Tylenol or acetaminophen is found in many cold medicines as part of the ingredient mix. If you combine medicines, make sure you do not double the dose of this ingredient.)
There is a lot of useless on the shelves
Almost all children’s cold medicines are rubbish. Those containing decongestants and antihistamines are not considered safe for children under 4 years of age . But if you’re on the drug line anyway, natural brands should fill the gap with blends of vitamins, honey, and herbal supplements. They don’t do anything either, but somehow they cost about eight bucks a bottle.
In the sections for children and adults, you will find homeopathic remedies that are pretty much a scam and should be illegal . Beware of anything that says “homeopathic” or ingredients measured in “X” or “C” rather than real units like milligrams. These are not just natural supplements, as the labels sometimes indicate; they’ve benefited from a bizarre FDA policy loophole that allows them to be marketed as drugs, claiming they work by magic . I wish I could make it up, but it’s not. Save your money.