OT: Cold remedies - YouLookFab Forum

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OT: Cold remedies

Maya

Veteran

Is it just me or are cold medications completely useless?

This is the second cold I have had in a relatively short span of time. The last one lasted AGES and nothing seemed to offer any relief from the coughing, congestion, and runny nose. Please, if you know of ANYTHING that actually works, tell me what it is. I'm desperate. I can't take off so much time from work yet again.

If it helps, I have tried Mucinex, Dayquil/Nyquil, and Vicks. None of the above helped.

General

30 replies

Latest reply was from Maya

Anonymous

Have you tried Claritin or other OTC antihistimines?

Heather

Veteran

Maya, have you tried Mucinex D? I think you have to give your ID and it is kept behind the pharmacist's counter. It will clear you up very quickly!

I also keep Zicam (the homeopathic tablets) on hand in case I feel a sniffle coming on...it helps curtail it before it even begins.

Maya

Veteran

Hmm, I didn't take Claritin because I thought it would only work for allergies. But I have it so I can give it a try.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Antihistamines are not for colds. They're for things like allergies (which are regulated by histamines).

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Pretty much.
Rest, hot beverages, and things that boost your immune system is what I do for colds. My husband can sleep for almost 24 hours straight at the beginning of a cold and feel well enough to work after that. He will only get a day or two more of mild illness if he does that. I can't manage to sleep that long, though.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I just rest up, and take the time off if you have to. I took off 2 wks because I had pneumonia (which I was in the hospital for). Stay well hydrated. If you're feeling ++ sick; get thee to a hospital.

And make sure to get your flu shot in the fall.

Maya

Veteran

That's what I thought, Lynn.

I would love to rest and sleep but I just can't. My nose is leaky and I can't breathe. It's driving me crazy.

I have 3 deadlines in 2 days this week so this couldn't possibly be a worse time to get sick.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Prop yourself up with as many pillows as you can or sleep sitting up in chair, Maya. Sometimes that helps. Hope you are feeling better soon!

Beth

Veteran

The only piece of advice I have is if you have a stuffy nose, avoid the "new" Sudafed that's on drugstore shelves. It's phenylephrine, which I've found it to be useless and I've heard the same from others. Stick to the original Sudafed, which is pseudoephedrine. You'll have to ask the pharmacist for it and provide ID, but it's much, much better. Mucinex will thin the mucus and should help with chest congestion.

Other than that, stay hydrated and rest up:)

Diana

Veteran

I agree with Beth - the only cold med worth anything is the "good" sudafed, the one you have to show ID to buy.

That, and lots of hot tea. If you drink alcohol, a hot toddy is excellent and helps you sleep. =)

Melissa

Maya, I feel your pain. I have a horrible cold right now. I've had good luck with alka-seltzer plus cold tablets for congestion. Get well soon!

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I also take Zicam to reduce the duration. And third the real Sudafed.

Maya

Veteran

Ok, tomorrow I will get the hard Sudafed. Is Zicam effective once your cold is already in full swing?

nancylee

Veteran

There's not a lot you can do after the cold has settled in, but if you catch it early Cold-Eeze works great. As soon as I feel a cold coming on I start using these lozenges. They're packed with zinc and they really stave off colds! You need to start as soon as you feel a cold coming on and have six lozenges per day for three days straight for them to really work...but they work for me every time.

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

I agree with Beth....pseudoephedrine is the only thing that helps keep you on your feet and dries out the mucus when a nasty cold is in full force. Otherwise, paracetamol, hot lemon and some R&R! Hope you're feeling better soon!!

Anonymous

Maya, my DH who has a PhD in pharmacy has me taking antihistamines if I have a drippy nose because they help dry it up. It won't cure the cold but does help the symptoms. Besides, you could have a spring allergy rather than a cold. It's often hard to tell the difference.
Another idea learned from my Swedish grandfather is to breathe cold water up your nose (then snort it out again). This sounds gross but has helped my nose stop dripping many times.

Medicechic

(website)

Steamy hot lemon tea with honey! Even better with Jameson (or another similar Irish whiskey) added in.

And yes, I echo everyone else in getting the "real" sudafed! I can only take it a day or two at a time, but usually that is all it takes!

I also love Afrin (or similar Zicam/store brand etc) nose spray... and I always despised nose sprays before. It really does help open everything up.

Oh and just a tip... make sure and read the active ingredients in whatever you get. Don't want to accidentally overdose on tylenol or any other meds etc. (Dayquil/Nyquil contains tylenol so you don't want to take more with it, Mucinex-D has sudafed... Mucinex-DM has a cough suppressant called dexamethorphan.)

Just ask the pharmacist, and they'll help you.

Hope you get to feeling better!

MNsara

Veteran

Another generic-sudafed vote from me. I tend to stuff up terribly at night and can't sleep if my nose is plugged, so I'll take sudafed, but if I take two (4-hour pills) together, they keep me awake

I've found that staggering them an hour apart helps a lot. I notice when that first one is wearing off and start the process again.

Why is it when you are sick and need the sleep it is SO hard to get. . .?

cciele

Veteran

Oh, sorry to hear about your cold Maya ... I've been sick with something for 2 months and it sucks.

I agree with others' suggestions. I do the following:
- Zinc (Cold-eeze or other) immediately when symptoms appear
- Pelargonium sidoides (Umcka or other) also is good at the beginning
- Pseudoephedrine (sudafed) is the only decongestant that works for me
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is the only antihistimine that works for me. Only for night-time use though!
- Dextromethorphan (Robitussin) works as a cough suppresant for me. Honey or honey-based remedies works for some people.
- Neti pot works for some people
- Salt water gargle for sore throat
- Lots of fluids and rest!

Hope you get well soon!

Anonymous

I tend to catch every little cold that goes around and I am grounded for a week at least. This has been especially true since I have a couple germy kids living with me! A couple months ago, in desperation I went to the natural pharmacy and asked the pharmacist what he recommended to battle a cold and he handed me a bottle of super-duper strength echanacea capsules. I took it every 2 hours or so the first day I felt it coming on and then tapered off after about the third day. For the first time in years my cold only lasted a couple days and was much less intense than I usually deal with. He also said that you can start it any time during your cold to help boost your immune system. I also pop a couple capsules whenever one of the afore mentioned germy kids comes home feeling sick. Mommies don't get sick days! The pharmacist also recommended the neti pot or lots of saline nasal spray to clear out the mucus in the sinuses to fend off an infection. Rest as best you can and drink lots of fluids. Chicken soup and Pho are also good remedies.

If you are desperate for immediate relief and need to get back to work, I also recommend the "real" sudafed to manage the symptoms but it is a wicked stimulent so only take it in the morning or you won't sleep at night. None of the other OTC stuff really does anything for me but make me feel buzzed and loopy. Sorry you're feeling yucky and I hope you kick this in the butt soon!

anne

Veteran

I wanted to second Marlene's recommendation of echinacea. I started taking it when I was coming down with a cold 4 days before a half marathon. Though still a bit sniffly I was well enough to run it. Since then I have taken one whenever I have felt a cold coming on (or been exposed, like Marlene) and it has definitely helped - no colds of long duration with coughs that go on my weeks etc, no need to take antibotics for secondary infections.
Mind you I do have a cold at the moment that is tiring me out somewhat, so I am not sure if the echinacea is helping right now.

My mum is very keen on an iodine throat gargle solution (Betadine is one brand that has one in Australia) that often works if you take it regularly.

I can't remember if you drink alcohol. I am quite an infrequent drinker (I never know what to put on forms since one glass of wine every month or so hardly counts as a "social" level of drinking) But I do find that if you are having trouble sleeping due to cold symptoms a little drink before bedtime can be helpful in getting the rest you need.

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

Wish I could help. I love NyQuil. It knocks me out cold and I always feel better after a good night's sleep.

Zicam works great for me too, but you have to start the *second* you don't feel well or it's pointless. Other than that, ginger tea and sour balls?

Jyoti

(website)

Veteran

Rest and fluids is about all you can really truly do for a cold.

For congestion, whenever I have a cold, I never enjoy eating because I can't taste anything. I like to take a Fisherman's Friend tablet thing before eating for a little bit of food-related happiness. xD

Louise

Veteran

Maya I feel your pain. I must have narrow nasal passages as whenever I've got a cold I get terribly congested but Sudafed gives me an upset stomach. At night I pop on a breathe right strip http://www.walmart.com/ip/Brea.....t/10317712 I also put olbas oil on my pillow http://www.olbas.co.uk/ which means I can at least sleep well. I take pain killers to keep the headaches at bay, drink loads and go to bed as early as possible. I've been known to get in my PJ's as soon as I get home from work, have tea and get straight into bed sometimes straight to sleep sometimes I'll watch TV for an hour. The best advice is to take it easy go to work if you have to but get to bed early x

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I'm not a fan of taking medication, I will take a paracetamol if I have a temperature and use a steam bath with eucalyptus oil to help with congestion. I sometimes feel that taking medication can prolong the symptoms (not scientific fact but personal experience). I hope you feel better soon.

Megan

Poor Maya- I do find antihistamines to be helpful because they dry you out. I use a decongestant nasal spray then a Claratin to dry me out. Works to alleviate the miserable blocked but leaky nose issue.

Olive leaf extract is brilliant if taken at the very first sign of a cold- for me that's always a scratchy throat.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Maya, how about a good, strong cocktail? (-:

Carole

Veteran

So sorry you are sick. Sudafed sometimes helps, Nyquil and the latest home remedy is ginger tea. Just steep a piece of ginget root in hot water and drink. It really seems to help me.

Steph

Veteran

The last time I was sick I asked my boyfriend's sister and brother-in-law--both doctors--what they would recommend, and they both gave me the same advice (separately--neither knew I had asked the other): take Tylenol or some other acetaminophen and eat honey (I hate tea, so I just ate it out of a spoon). Neither thought that Nyquil or Dayquil would give me much relief, although I took those as well. Like you, it's the runny nose that drives me insane. I have found Mucinex helps with that sometimes, but not always.

Another thing I do is put Vicks vaporub on the soles of my feet before going to sleep, and then putting socks on. The Vicks seems to work its way up through my body throughout the night--I saw this tip online somewhere and it really works.

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