Cold and Cough Medicines

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Treatments and Therapies

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• Related Issues
• Specifics

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Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

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For You

• Children
• Teenagers

Summary

Sneezing, sore throat, a stuffy nose, coughing -- everyone knows the symptoms of the common cold. It is probably the most common illness. Every year, adults get about 2-3 colds, and children get even more.

What can you do for your cold or cough symptoms? Besides drinking lots of fluids and getting plenty of rest, you may decide to take 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 so you can cough it up
• Antihistamines - stop runny noses and sneezing
• Pain relievers - ease fever, headaches, and minor aches and pains

Before taking these medicines, read the labels carefully. Many cold and cough medicines contain the same active ingredients. For example, taking too much of certain pain relievers can lead to serious injury. Do not give cold or cough medicines to children under four, and don't give aspirin to children. Finally, antibiotics won't help a cold.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Start Here

• Antihistamines, Decongestants, and Cold Remedies (American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery)
• Cold Remedies: What Works, What Doesn't, What Can't Hurt (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Cough Medicine: Understanding Your OTC Options (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Decongestants: OTC Relief for Congestion (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Time To Talk About Natural Products for the Flu and Colds: What Does the Science Say? (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)

Related Issues

• Cough and Cold Medicine Abuse (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
• 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)

Specifics

• Echinacea (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)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Antitussive Agents (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Histamine Antagonists (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Antibiotic prescription strategies and adverse outcome for uncomplicated lower respiratory...
• Article: Antibiotic Prescribing for Nonbacterial Acute Upper Respiratory Infections in Elderly...
• Article: Firm, non-tender mass in right breast · worsening, nonproductive cough...
• Cold and Cough Medicines -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• Food and Drug Administration

Children

• Cough and Cold Medicine Abuse (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Coughs and Colds: Medicines or Home Remedies? (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
• Daily Medicine Record for Your Child (Food and Drug Administration)

Teenagers

• Cough & Cold Medicine Abuse (Nemours Foundation)
• Cough and Cold Medicine (DXM and Codeine Syrup) (National Institute on Drug Abuse)