Female: Dr. Mom has been practicing medicine for over 30 years and has raised two children. She has learned that people sometimes need both the knowledge of a doctor and the comfort of a mom. Dr. Mom, when someone has a cold, what kinds of over the counter medication can they take?
Dr. Mom: Over the counter medications are treatments that you can get without a prescription. They are usually marketed under familiar brand names like Motrin or Tylenol and commonly can be found at your local pharmacy. But with all the options that you can see on the pharmacy shelves, it can be very difficult to figure out which kind of medication will work for your symptoms.
Analgesics are one important type of over the counter medicines commonly refer to as painkillers. Analgesics include Aspirin, Motrin and Tylenol. Remember, if you are treating a child, never give Aspirin to anyone under the age of 12. When you have a runny nose or stuffed up, there are two kinds of medication that can help. Pseudoephedrine, commonly sold under the brand name Sudafed, helps dry and clear the nasal passages and will also make you feel alert and awake. Make sure to check with the doctor before taking Pseudoephedrine as it can be dangerous for people with high blood pressure or history of heart disease.
Combination medications containing antihistamines such as Actifed can help to dry a runny nose. Antihistamines often cause drowsiness. Both of these medications can help you get through your cold. Just be sure to take the right one at the right time of day.
Another way to treat stuffiness or a runny nose is with a decongestant like Phenylephrine, which is sold under the brand name of Neo-Synephrine. Decongestants help to reduce nasal swelling and can provide quick relief.
The careful use of decongestants is very important. Using them from more than five days in a row can actually lead to worse congestion in the long run. If you have a wet cloth or you are producing mucus, you should use an expectorant. Expectorants found in medications like Robitussin work by thinning mucus so that it can more easily be coughed up. Once the mucus has been expelled, coughing lessens considerably. On the other hand, if you have a dry cough without much mucus, you should use a cough suppressant like Dextrometorphane. These medications work by blocking the cough reflex center in the brain.
No one likes having a cold but treating each symptom with the right medicine is the way to feel better while you get healthy. So next time you or someone in your family is sick, you will be able to make them feel better faster.
I am Dr. Mom and thanks for listening.
Female: You want to learn more? Check out other videos and sources on this site for more information.
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