Common Cold - Treatment

There are no medicines that will cure the common cold. Given time, the body's immune system will make antibodies to fight the infection and the cold will get better on its own. Antibiotics have no effect on colds because they do not kill viruses.

A very large number of medications are available for the treatment of cold symptoms. These include antihistamines, decongestants, and pain relievers. Antihistamines block the action of histamine. They relieve sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and congestion. Side effects include a dry mouth and drowsiness. For this reason, antihistamines should not be taken by people who must drive or operate heavy machinery. Some common trade name antihistamines include Chlor-Trimeton, Dimetapp, Tavist, and Actifed. The generic (family) name for these drugs are chlorpheniramine (pronounced KLOR-fen-eruh-meen) and diphenhydramine (pronounced DIE-fen-HI-druh-meen).

Decongestants reduce blood flow and shrink tissues in the nose and make it easier to breathe. A side effect is nervousness and an inability to sleep. People with heart disease, high blood pressure, or glaucoma (an eye disorder; see glaucoma entry) should not use decongestants. Some common trade name decongestants are Neo-Synepherine, Novafed, and Sudafed. The generic names of common decongestants include phenylephrine (pronounced fenuhl-EF-reen), phenylpropanolamine (pronounced FEN-uhl-PRO-puh-NOL-uh-meen), pseudoephedrine (pronounced soo-doe-i-FED-run), and, in nasal sprays, naphazoline (pronounced nuh-FAZ-uh-leen), oxymetazoline (pronounced OX-si-muh-TAZ-uh-LEEN), and xylometazoline (pronounced ZIE-luh-met-uh-ZOE-leen).

Many over-the-counter medications are combinations of two or more drugs. They may contain an antihistamine, decongestant, pain reliever, and/or cough suppressant. Some common pain relievers include acetaminophen (pronounced uh-see-tuh-MIN-uh-fuhn, trade names Datril, Tylenol, Panadol) and ibuprofen (pronounced i-byoo-PRO-fuhn, trade names Advil, Nurpin, Motrin, Medipren). The most common cough suppressant is dextromethorphan (pronounced dek-struh-mi-THOR-fan). Medications that include combinations of drugs are Tylenol Cold and Flu, Triaminic, Sudafed Plus, and Tavist D. Aspirin should not be given to children with a cold. It may cause a serious condition known as Reye's syndrome (see Reye's syndrome entry).

Nasal sprays and nose drops can also help to reduce nasal congestion. These products are used to apply a decongestant directly to the nose. It can take effect and act more strongly, therefore, than decongestants in pills or liquids. One problem with nasal sprays and nose drops is that people may become dependent on them. Once an individual stops using the products, he or she may experience withdrawal symptoms. For that reason, nasal sprays and nose drops should not be used for more than a few days.

People react differently to various cold medications, therefore each person needs to find the medication that works best for himself or herself. The effectiveness of medications can also change over time. It should be especially noted that children sometimes react differently from adults to medications. Over-the-counter cold remedies should not be given to infants without first consulting a doctor.

Care should always be taken not to exceed the recommended dosage for any cold medication. People need to remember that cold remedies do not cure a cold or shorten its duration. They can only relieve symptoms. Pharmacists can often advise a cold-sufferer about the best medications to try.

Cold symptoms can also be relieved by some simple self-care steps. These include:

• Drinking plenty of fluids, but avoiding acidic juices (such as grapefruit juice) that may irritate the throat
• Gargling with warm salt water for a sore throat
• Not smoking
• Getting plenty of rest
• Using a cool-mist room humidifier to ease congestion and sore throat
• Rubbing a lubricant such as Vaseline under the nose to prevent irritation from frequent nose-blowing
• Removing mucus from the nose of infants who are too young to blow their noses. Infant nasal aspirators are available for this purpose

Alternative Treatment

The goal of many alternative treatments for colds is to strengthen a person's immune system. Alternative practitioners point out that everyone is exposed to cold viruses, but only some people get sick. Those people, they argue, are more likely to have weak immune systems. Practitioners recommend strengthening the immune system by eating a healthy diet low in sugars and high in fresh fruits and vegetables, practicing meditation to reduce stress, and getting regular, moderate exercise.

Some practitioners do not believe in treating the symptoms of a cold. They say the infection should be allowed to run its course naturally. Others suggest a variety of treatments, such as:

• Inhaling a steaming mixture of lemon oil, thyme oil, eucalyptus (pronounced yoo-kuh-LIP-tus), and tea tree oil
• Gargling with a mixture of water, salt and turmeric powder or other astringent (drying-out agent), such as alum, sumac, sage, and bayberry to ease a sore throat
• Taking one of a variety of herbs, such as echinacea. (ek-i-NAY-see-uh), goldenseal, yarrow, eyebright, garlic, or onion to relieve symptoms
• Taking one of a variety of Chinese herbal medicines, such as loquat syrup (for coughs and sinus congestion), or Chinese ephedra (for runny nose)
• Using zinc throat drops along with high doses of vitamin C