- Can I use medications after they expire?
- What medications can I take for a cold?
- What can I take for a sore throat?
- What is the best remedy for earaches?
- What can I take for a cold when pregnant?
- What cough medication can I take while pregnant?
- What can I take for cold and flu while breastfeeding?
- What symptoms does Delsym treat?
- Can I take Mucinex DM and Sudafed at the same time?
- What can I take for a cold if I have bad reactions to Benadryl?
- What can I take for fever if I have arthritis?
- Which allergy medicine is best for cough?
Q: Can I take over-the-counter cold medicine past its expiration date?
A: Ideally, you should not take cold medicines or other medications past their expiration dates because the potency of the medication decreases over time, making it ineffective. Some medications can even turn into dangerous compounds when they degrade, so it is best not to take them after they've expired.
Q: What over-the-counter medications can I take for a cold?
A: Finding the cold medicine that will work best for you depends on the symptoms you are experiencing. Generally, it's a good idea to use medicines aimed at your specific symptoms, rather than an "all-in-one" cold medicine. This can help avoid side effects from medicines that you may not need. It can also let you use different products to suit your lifestyle needs.
Symptoms of nasal or sinus congestion typically respond best to decongestants that can help open up airways and restore normal breathing. However, decongestants (such as pseudoephedrine) can cause jitteriness that many people don't like and that can be dangerous for people with medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart disease. Talk to your doctor before using a decongestant if you have a chronic medical condition. Antihistamines (such as diphenhydramine or doxylamine) are more useful for cold symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, and watery eyes. But, antihistamines often cause drowsiness which can be a problem during the day.
Over-the-counter pain relievers are available to treat the aches and pains that can come along with colds. Cough medicines can help relieve any cough symptoms you may have. Dry, non-productive (no mucus) coughs will benefit from a cough suppressant (dextromethorphan), while a productive, wet cough is best treated with an expectorant (guaifenesin). Nasal sprays are another option for treating cold symptoms and work quickly to clear nasal passageways. Medicated nasal sprays should not be used for more than three days because of the risk of a rebound effect, which can lead to more congestion. Saline nasal sprays can also help clear nasal congestion. Although they work slower, there is no risk of a rebound effect with saline sprays.
As you can see, there is no one perfect cold remedy. They all have advantages and disadvantages. You may need to try a few different remedies to find the one that is right for you. You may also find that you can use one remedy at night, but you need a different one to get you through the day.
Q: Is there an over-the-counter medication that I can buy at a local drug store for a sore throat?
A: A sore throat, also called pharyngitis, is a painful inflammation of the pharynx - the back portion of the throat that includes the back third of the tongue, the soft palate (roof of the mouth), and the tonsils (fleshy tissue that are part of the throat's immune defenses). The most common cause of sore throat is infection from bacteria or a virus. A bacterial infection should be diagnosed by your health care provider and treated with antibiotics.
Because antibiotics don't work against viruses, viral pharyngitis usually is handled by treating the symptoms so that you feel more comfortable until your body's immune system defeats the infection. These measures can include taking ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol), or aspirin (adults only) to relieve throat pain; gargling with warm, salty water to ease throat pain; drinking warm liquids (tea or broth) or cool liquids or eating gelatin desserts or flavored ices to soothe the throat; using a cool mist vaporizer to relieve throat dryness; and using nonprescription throat lozenges (with or without zinc) or anesthetic throat sprays.
Always read and follow the complete directions and warnings on over-the-counter medications and discuss their use with your health care provider before taking them. Patients with certain medical conditions may not be able to take certain over-the-counter pain relievers. Contact your health care provider for sore throats lasting longer than one week. You can find more information at http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-information/sore-throat-pharyngitis-what-is-it.aspx.
Q: I'm looking for a home remedy for earaches and ear infections. Do you know of any?
A: Ear pain can have various causes, including a cold, an infection, or possibly both. Treatment of ear pain is based on the cause. If you're experiencing ear pain, it's important to contact your health care provider. Based on a description of your symptoms and physical examination of the ear, your doctor can determine the cause and the best treatment option.
Q: What drugs are good to take when you are pregnant for a cold, rash, head/body aches, etc.?
A: Whenever possible, avoid using pharmaceuticals during pregnancy. Alternate therapy such as humidifier, saline nasal spray, or Breathe Right Strips should be used first. Generally, it is not safe to use over-the-counter medications unless supervised by a physician. If a pharmaceutical agent is needed, avoid using it during the first trimester.
Risk levels are categorized as A, B, C, D, and X. Category A is the safest and X is absolute contraindication. For the treatment of pain, headache, and fever, acetaminophen is the safest and has a Category B labeling. Avoid ibuprofen in the third trimester because it is a Category D. As an antihistamine for allergies, rash, and runny nose, doxylamine is in Category A, but it has some side effects, such as drowsiness, dry mouth, and urinary hesitation. Antihistamines with fewer side effects and classified as Category B are cetirizine (Zyrtec) and loratidine (Claritin). To treat cough, Robitussin DM, which contains dextromethorphan and guaifenesin, has Category C labeling. Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine are also in Category C.
The physician and the patient must consider the risk versus the benefit when considering the use of these medications. Category C means animal studies show some adverse effects on the fetus, but no human data is available. You can find more information at http://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs.
Q: I am eight months pregnant and have a dry, severe cough. Is there a safe antitussive medication I can take?
A: Two of the most common medications that are available in over the counter cough suppressants are guaifenesin and dextromethorphan. Both of these medications are classified as pregnancy category C, which means that there may be some risk if taking when pregnant. Therefore, you may want to talk to your physician or OB/GYN to determine which treatment is appropriate and safe for you. Also, since you describe your cough as severe, you may want to be evaluated by your physician to determine if you have an infection or other medical condition that is causing your cough.
When choosing a medication, there are various patient specific factors that need to be considered. These factors include other medications you may be taking, other medical conditions you may have, any drug allergies you have and any other pertinent medical information. Due to the complexity of this decision making process, your physician is best able to make specific medication recommendations. For more specific information, consult with your doctor or pharmacist for guidance based on your health status and current medications, particularly before taking any action. Jen Marsico, RPh
Q: What can I take for colds and flu while breastfeeding that will not harm my son?
A: There are few studies on the use of medications while breastfeeding. However, it is known that if a drug passes into breast milk, it does so at about 1/10th the concentration of it in the mother. Many over-the-counter cold and flu preparations contain drugs that are often given to infants and children, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, diphenhydramine, and guaifenesin. It is generally recommended to only use the products you need for the symptoms that you have instead of using a combination product that may contain unnecessary ingredients for your symptoms. Also, avoid products with a high alcohol content. Based on your individual symptoms and current medical and prescription history, your doctor or pharmacist can help recommend an appropriate product.
Q: What other symptoms does Delsym treat? Can you tell me if it helps head colds and sore throats?
A: Delsym (dextromethorphan) is a cough suppressant that dulls the cough reflex to help reduce coughing. It is used to treat a dry cough caused by seasonal allergies, the common cold, upper respiratory tract infections, sinusitis, bronchitis, or sore throat. Cough suppressants should not be used for productive or wet coughs that are bringing up mucus. Delsym will not treat other symptoms of a cold or sore throat.
Cold symptoms can be relieved with medications targeted at the specific symptoms. Antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine or chlorpheniramine, are used to treat cold symptoms including itchy or watery eyes, sneezing, and runny or itchy nose. Nasal congestion can be treated with decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine. There are a variety of remedies for soothing a sore throat, including throat lozenges, throat sprays, drinking hot beverages, using humidifiers, and warm salt water gargles. Consult your doctor for any cold symptoms, including cough, that last more than 10 days. Always read and follow the complete directions and warnings on over-the-counter medicines and discuss their use with your doctor before taking them. For more specific information, consult with your doctor or local pharmacist for guidance based on your health status and current medications, particularly before taking any action. Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Q: Can I take Mucinex DM and Sudafed at the same time?
A: Mucinex DM contains guaifenesin and dextromethorphan. Guaifenesin is an expectorant which helps to thin mucous and make it easier to cough it up and out of the airways. Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant which works to block the cough reflex. These drugs are generally well tolerated; occasional side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, and upset stomach. Sudafed contains pseudoephedrine, a decongestant. Sudafed works to reduce swelling in the nose by constricting blood vessels, making it is easier for you to breath. The common side effects of these medications are nervousness, dizziness, and an inability to sleep. Heart palpitations and high blood pressure are also possible. Sudafed is generally used during the day, because it can affect sleep. There are no interactions between these two over the counter products and they can be safely taken together.
However, if you choose a combination product, check all ingredients to make sure there is no overlap of the same ingredients. For example, there is also a Mucinex D product available that contains guaifenesin and pseudoephedrine. The use of Sudafed with Mucinex D would results in too much pseudoephedrine and an increased risk of dangerous side effects. If you have questions or need assistance picking a specific product, please consult your local pharmacist or other healthcare provider. For more specific information, consult with your doctor or pharmacist for guidance based on your health status and current medications, particularly before taking any action. Michelle McDermott, PharmD
Q: What can a person take for a cold if they have very bad reactions to Benadryl? Most cold medicines have this product in them.
A: There are many different formulations of cold products, and one should be selected based on symptoms. Cold medications are generally made up of different combinations of a pain reliever/fever reducer, nasal decongestant, cough suppressant, expectorant, and antihistamine. It is recommended that you check the packaging for a list of ingredients on a product that will provide relief for your symptoms. Choose one that does not list Benadryl (diphenhydramine) as an ingredient. Typically, the daytime products will not contain Benadryl, since one side effect of Benadryl is drowsiness. For more specific information, consult with your doctor or pharmacist for guidance based on your health status and current medications, particularly before taking any action. Megan Uehara, PharmD
Q: What are reliable drugs for fever and arthritis?
A: Fever is defined as an increase in the temperature of the body outside of the normal range. There are variances in people and their body temperature, but generally a fever is defined as a temperature greater than 99 degrees Fahrenheit in the morning or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit at anytime of the day. The treatment for fever includes staying well hydrated with water or fruit juices. Staying hydrated helps to prevent dehydration and helps to cool down the body. It is also recommended to eat foods that are easy to digest and that are light. Getting plenty of rest can also be beneficial.
There is some controversy on whether a fever should be treated if it is not severe. Medications sold over the counter that are used for the treatment of fever include: Tylenol (acetaminophen), Motrin (ibuprofen) and aspirin. If you choose to use one of these products, make sure to read and follow the directions on the label carefully. As with any medication, fever-reducing drugs have possible side effects, risks, and warnings associated with their use. For example, aspirin should not be used in patients that are less than 16 years of age due to the risk of developing Reye's syndrome. The recommendation is to talk to your physician or pharmacist to determine what fever reducing medication is appropriate for you. When selecting a specific medication to treat a medical condition, there are many variables involved with this decision such as the patient's condition, other medical conditions the patient has, other medications the patient is taking, any drug allergies the patient has, etc. Your health care provider has access to your personal medical information and is best able to make that decision.
Q: Which allergy medicine is best for cough?
A: Allergies tend to produce nasal congestion and a runny nose. Coughs as a result of allergies are generally caused by the nasal mucous running down the back of the throat and irritating the throat. Thus, the first treatment option is generally to address the nasal issues. Allergies are usually treated with antihistamines because they work to prevent part of the allergic response that causes itching, sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes.
There are two types of antihistamines. First-generation (older) antihistamines include brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine, dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine, and doxylamine. These drugs can make you feel sleepy and make it difficult for you to think clearly. They can also cause dry mouth and abdominal pain. Second-generation (newer) antihistamines include loratadine and cetirizine, and they are much less likely to cause side effects, including drowsiness.
Last Updated: 11/17/2011