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What can I take if I have lots of cold symptoms at the same time?

Multi-symptom cold products contain several ingredients to treat groups of symptoms. A product may contain ingredients that you don't need, so choose carefully. You can avoid unnecessary side effects if you choose a product with active ingredients for your specific symptoms.

Colds can cause a variety of symptoms, including mild fever, headache, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, and coughing. If you are suffering from several of these symptoms, it may be more convenient to use a multi-symptom cold product. Keep these tips in mind:

For a stuffy nose, choose a product that contains a decongestant such as pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine.

For a runny nose, try a product that contains an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, or clemastine.

For a wet cough, choose a product with the expectorant guaifenesin. Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant that works well to relieve a dry cough.

For fever, sore throat, or aches, choose a product that contains acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin.

Some liquid forms of multi-symptom cold products contain large quantities of alcohol. Alcohol can disturb your sleep and does nothing to relieve cold symptoms. Read the product label to find out how much alcohol a product contains.

If you have medical conditions such as high blood pressure, glaucoma, or an enlarged prostate, you may need to avoid antihistamines and decongestants. Read product labels carefully and talk to your pharmacist or doctor if you have any questions.

Sources:
Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. American Pharmaceutical Association, 1996.
Mayo Clinic Family Health Book. William Morrow & Co., 1996.
Micromedex® Healthcare Series. Thomson Micromedex, 2006.
Drug Facts and Comparisons, Facts & Comparisons, 2006.
The Merck Manual of Medical Information: Home Edition. Merck & Co., 1997.
Medline Plus. Medline, 2006.

This answer prepared 11/6/2000.
This information updated 12/14/2006.

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