Got a Cold? How to Pick Medications

The right stuff for your sniffles.

By Janelle Williams

From Reader's Digest

Clearing the Sinuses

You're sick and you want relief -- fast. Which product will help? First, identify which symptom bothers you the most, says Richard Colgan, assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Then, rely not on brand names, but on the active ingredient on the label. If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, have a chronic health condition or are on other medications, ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any OTC drug, says Jan Engle of the American Pharmacists Association. Don't use these products for more than a week -- most colds go away in about that time. Lastly, skip multi-symptom formulas unless you have all the symptoms . Here, a guide to make your next trip to the drugstore a breeze.

DECONGESTANT

(Sudafed, Afrin, Neo-Synephrine)

Active Ingredient: Pseudoephedrine, oxymetazoline, phenylephrine

Formulations: Capsule, tablet, liquid, nasal spray or drops

Your symptoms: A stuffy nose (decongestants reduce the swelling of membranes lining the nose, clearing nasal passages)

Need-to-know info: Nasal sprays, which often contain oxymetazoline or phenylephrine, work fastest, since they act directly on nasal passages. They also may have fewer side effects, but shouldn't be used for more than 3 days (they might cause a rebound effect or make stuffiness worse). A study by the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine found that sprays with the preservative benzalkonium may irritate the lining of the nose. Pseudoephedrine (found in tablets like Sudafed) works more slowly since it's distributed directly into the bloodstream. If you're over age 65, have a chronic medical condition or an enlarged prostate, talk to a pharmacist or MD before taking any decongestant.

Common side effects: Irritability, headache, nausea , vomiting, dry mouth, palpitations, burning in the nose; can boost blood sugar in diabetics and blood pressure in hypertensives

ANTIHISTAMINE

(Benadryl, Dimetapp Cold & Allergy, Chlor-Trimeton)

Active Ingredient: Diphenhydramine, brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine

Formulations: Capsule, tablet, liquid

Your symptoms: Itchy eyes, runny nose, recurring sneeze (antihistamines inhibit histamine, a natural substance that causes these symptoms in response to the cold virus or allergens)

Need-to-know info: Antihistamines can cause sedation and are best taken at night, or when you don't have to drive or do anything that requires complete alertness. Brompheniramine and chlorpheniramine cause less drowsiness than diphenhydramine. Avoid antihistamines if you have glaucoma, an enlarged prostate or high blood pressure. Discuss with a doctor before giving to children, as they may be more likely to experience serious side effets. The allergy drug loratadine (Claritin, Alavert) is the only FDA-approved OTC antihistamine that doesn't cause drowsiness at the dose recommended, but it's not as drying as the others.

Common side effects: Drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth

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