So Many Drugs, Which One should I Use!?
Jul 03 '01 (Updated Jul 06 '01)
The Bottom Line To simplify your choices for buying the right over the counter medication I've compiled a short list of drugs that are effective, popular and excellent choices based on specific symptoms.
A-CHOOOO!!! It's that time of the year when those cold symptoms make their unwelcome entrance into your life and you don't know which medication to use. You know how it is, you walk into your local drugstore, head towards the pharmacy and look at the OTC (over the counter) drug selection and are bombarded by hundreds of drugs to choose from for your specific set of symptoms. Vick's, Vick's Sinus, Vick's Sinus and Allergy, Vick's Sinus, Allergy and Cold with Pain, Vick's Dye Free Cold and Flu And Cough, Vick's Cold, Allergy, Pain, Cough, Expectorant, Laxative, Upset Stomach Plus Yeast Relief!!!! AHHH!! The next thing you know your talking to the pharmacist because your totally confused and couldn't make a rational choice if your life depended on it. Well here, today, I have made some selections for you based on your symptoms. It's really easy if you remember just a few things and a few brands/or their generic if available, which sit on the shelf right next too them.
WARNING: Though I deal with these questions everyday, please take into consideration any medical conditions you have as well as age. In certain situations you should consult your physician before buying and trying these products. For example, a diabetic runs the risk of lowering or raising his blood sugar if he takes the wrong medication. Individuals with high blood pressure, asthma, glaucoma, urinary conditions, depression, heart conditions and others should always consult their doctor. Also, if you are currently taking other meds, please ask the pharmacist for advise first.
Congestion.. The bodies response to a virus or bacterial infection to rid the body of a potentially dangerous invader. These symptoms usually present in the lungs, throat or sinus and make it hard to breath. Tightness is also present. The best choice here is Sudafed, or its generic psuedophedrine. It is present in most product combinations but if your only symptom is congestion you should stick specifically with psuedophedrine, don't contaminate your body with several drugs it doesn't need. Remember also that this drug is a stimulant and can increase blood pressure and raise your heart rate as well as keep some people up at night.
Coughing.. Treatment here depends on your goals. For a productive cough you may want to help the body out and use an expectorant. This loosens flem in the chest but does not suppress the cough. The product to use is Robitussin, not DM OR PE, just plain Robitussin. It's important to drink lots of water as it aids in liquefying the mucous. If you want to suppress the cough use Robitussin DM. This contains dextromethorphan a cough suppressant. Again most combo cold products have this so be careful to treat symptoms specifically. Many prescription drugs you take for cough also have this medication with another ingredient added such as codeine.
Allergy symptoms... These symptoms may be confused with cold symptoms so try to remember which is which. Allergy symptoms present with a runny nose, sneezing and watery itchy eyes. They are caused by allergens in the air not viruses or bacteria. Treatment consists of using an antihistamine. Unfortunately all over the counter drugs can cause sedation which is an unwanted response. The least sedative is Chlortrimaton. It is taken every 4-6 hours or every 12 hours depending on which formula you choose. For nighttime symptoms I would choose Benadryl. The most potent antihistamine out there with a sedative punch. Other side effects to watch out for are dry mouth and difficulty urinating. Also it's use should be cautioned with asthmatic individuals.
Headache... This can become complicated depending on the type of headaches you have. For a simple headache I would simply recommend Tylenol. It should do the trick if you don't suffer headaches often. For more acute headaches I would use Exedrin or its migraine version. It has a triple wammy containing tylenol, aspirin and caffeine. The caffeine constricts dilating blood vessels and also speeds up the time of relief from the other two meds. If you have a sensitive stomach you may want to take it with food to prevent the aspirin from irritating the stomach. The maximum daily dose for Tylenol is 4 grams or 4000 milligrams per day. This is very important, your liver can not handle more so take only as needed.
General aches and pain caused by swelling or inflammation.. Advil, Ibuprofen or Motrin are the drugs of choice here. They are anti-inflammatories that reduce swelling following injuries or surgeries. After an injury your body inflames the area during it's healing process. This swelling impinges on nerves which cause the pain. You need an anti-inflammatory to bring some of this swelling down. Although you may get some relief from Tylenol it wont decrease the swelling making it a more suitable headache medicine. CAUTION.. It's very important to take this drug with food. Anti-inflammtories can wreck havok on your stomach causing ulcers and GI bleeds. This can be fatal so use them wisely.
Combination Products...
Sudafed Cold/Allergy... Contains psuedophedrine and chlorpheneramine (active ingrediant in Chlortrimaton). This is a big winner if you are complaining of both cold and allergy symptoms.
Tylenol PM... Some people can't believe how well this helps them sleep. Guess what, it's just Tylenol and Benadryl.
Exedrine... Yes I already said it, but it's a good choice for difficult headaches. Beyond this drug, you should go see a doctor, nothing else for PAIN will work. Again, it contains Tylenol, Aspirin and Caffeine.
Other highly recommended products....
Nasal spray for congestion... Afrin. Never use more than 3 days in a row. A good choice for longer term use would be Ocean normal saline. It simply provides a solution that can help liquefy mucous.
Itching... Hydrocortisone. Most powerful cream for itching on the market. It's a steroid so use with caution sparingly. Also good is oral Benadryl, just remember the drowsiness. It's best used at night.
Eye drops... For itching I would recommend Naphcon or Opcon. For dryness just use a normal saline. There cheap and safe for the eyes since it just mimics natural tear fluid.
These are some basic choices for some of the common symptoms you may be experiencing. An important thing to remember is to just treat the current problems your having not everything the product is indicated for. Your liver has a tough enough job of metabolizing normal chemicals let alone those you introduce it to. And only take these drugs as you need them. I recommend using the short acting products versus the longer acting ones, unless you are unable to take them throughout the day. Let your body do some of the work naturally and only help out when you are unable to cope with symptoms or you feel you are healthier when you have the relief.
This opinion is an opinion of course and please take some discretion in choosing and using any medicinal product.
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