There is a whole aisle of cold and flu products, and a fair amount of it is the same handful of ingredients in different boxes at different prices. Some of it genuinely helps you feel better. Almost none of it makes the cold go away faster — and knowing which is which saves you money and stops you doubling up on paracetamol without realising.
Colds are viral. Antibiotics do nothing at all for them, and taking antibiotics you do not need contributes to resistance and gives you side effects for no benefit. Most colds peak around day two to three and settle within seven to ten days, though a cough can hang around for two to three weeks after everything else has cleared.
Coloured mucus, incidentally, does not mean you need antibiotics. Green or yellow nasal discharge is a normal part of an ordinary cold and reflects your immune system doing its job.
Paracetamol or ibuprofen for aches, headache and fever — these are the workhorses, and they help most people feel noticeably better.
Decongestant nasal sprays (xylometazoline, oxymetazoline) clear a blocked nose quickly. Use them for no more than five to seven days, or you get rebound congestion when you stop.
Saline drops or sprays are unglamorous, safe in pregnancy and for children, and genuinely help with a blocked nose.
Honey has as much evidence behind it for cough as most cough medicines, and is recommended by NICE as a first option for acute cough in adults and children over one. Not for babies under a year.
Fluids and rest are not a fob-off. Staying hydrated thins mucus and helps you feel better.
Combination "all-in-one" cold and flu products usually contain paracetamol. If you also take paracetamol separately for a headache, you can exceed the safe daily dose without realising. Always check the label — this is one of the most common accidental overdoses we see people close to.
Cough medicines have modest evidence at best. Suppressants and expectorants are largely a matter of preference, and there is nothing wrong with using one if it makes you more comfortable — just do not expect it to shorten the illness.
Oral decongestants such as pseudoephedrine are not suitable for everyone, including some people with high blood pressure, heart conditions or diabetes, or those on certain antidepressants. Ask before buying.
Cough and cold medicines are not recommended for children under six, and should only be used in children aged six to twelve on a pharmacist’s advice.
Come and see us, or contact your GP or NHS 111, if you have:
1 Lyng Lane, West Bromwich B70 7RW · Mon–Fri 8:30am–6pm, Sat 9am–1pm · 0121 500 5756
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