Not all cold and flu tablets were created equal. How to choose one for your symptoms.

May 12, 2015

Image via iStock.

By: Janet Sluggett, University of South Australia.

Winter is approaching. Your nose is stuffy and you feel a cold coming on. You head to the pharmacy to find an aisle full of cold and flu tablets.

Each year Australians spend more than A$500 million on cold and flu medicines. Choosing between the hundreds of different cold and flu tablets available in Australia can be difficult, as each product may contain three or four different medicines.

So, which product is the best one for your symptoms? And will it really help you feel better?

No cure

Cold and flu tablets won’t cure a cold. Colds are caused by viruses and symptoms generally resolve within ten days. Getting plenty of rest and keeping your fluids up may help you feel better. (Post continues after gallery.)

Tips to beat a cold

Rest up

Hydration

Get steamy

Honey and lemon tea

Good old chicken soup

Honey Citrus Mask.

Eat yo' greens!

There is some evidence that combination cold and flu tablets may provide relief from general symptoms in adults but not everyone will benefit.

The small benefits from treatment also need to be weighed up against the risk of side effects and the cost of the medicine.

How do cold and flu tablets work?

Cold and flu tablets may contain decongestants, pain relievers, antihistamines and cough suppressants. And tablets marketed for “daytime” symptoms often contain different medicines to “night-time” tablets.

Decongestants such as phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine may help to relieve a blocked nose. These medicines work by narrowing the blood vessels. The reduction in blood flow reduces swelling and congestion in the nose.

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Decongestant tablets can have effects beyond the nose and may exacerbate other medical conditions such as high blood pressure, so speak to your pharmacist before taking these medicines. These medicines can also cause sleeplessness, nervousness or dizziness.

In Australia, cold and flu tablets containing phenylephrine can be purchased from the pharmacy or supermarket. Products containing pseudoephedrine can only be supplied after consultation with the pharmacist or on a prescription.

Cold and flu tablets often contain paracetamol for relieving aches and pains. Other products marketed for joint pain, headaches, back pain and period pain also contain paracetamol, so check labels carefully to avoid taking more than recommended.

Antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine, dexchlorpheniramine or doxylamine may help with allergic symptoms such as sneezing. These medicines work by blocking the effects of histamine in the body.

Antihistamines can cause drowsiness and are often included in “night-time” cold and flu tablets. If your sleep is affected by decongestant tablets, try avoiding the decongestant late in the day or switch to a decongestant nasal spray, rather than taking a tablet containing an antihistamine and a decongestant. (Post continues after gallery.)

Fruit water - a tasty way to stay hydrated

Lemon and Lime.

Strawberry, Herb and Lemon.

Watermelon.

Lemon and Berry.

Cucumber, Strawberry and Kiwifruit.

Orange and Strawberry.

Lemon and Herb.

Peach and Raspberry.

Lemon and Herb. Strawberry and Melon.

Pineapple and Herb.

Fruit salad.

Strawberry, Lime and Orange.

Lime, Orange and Strawberry.

Cucumber.

Cold and flu tablets may also contain cough suppressants such as dextromethorphan. These medicines are used to relieve symptoms from a dry cough by acting on the “cough centre” in the brain.

Cough suppressants can sometimes cause drowsiness and are best avoided when coughing up mucous (a “wet” cough).

Which cold and flu product is best for me?

Think about your main symptoms when selecting a product and read the label carefully.

Avoiding medicines you don’t need will reduce the risk of side effects. A decongestant-only tablet or nasal spray, for instance, may be better than a combination product when your main symptom is a blocked nose.

It’s best not to use more than one cold and flu product at the same time without checking with your doctor or pharmacist.

Cold and flu products may not be suitable for some people. Always ask your pharmacist for advice if you have pre-existing medical conditions, or you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Cold and flu medicines are not suitable for children under six years of age and should only be given to children aged six to 11 years after discussion with a doctor or pharmacist. (Post continues after gallery.)

10 foods you never knew were healthy

BreadKATIE THOMSITT, Dieticians Australia spokesperson says: "Lots of people shy away from bread to achieve weight loss. But bread is such an important source of fibre, and plays such a helpful role in weight loss and preventing bowel cancer. A couple of slices of a dark, seedy bread per day is absolutely fine."

CheeseKATIE SAYS: "Cheese is definitely a higher fat source of dairy, but still a good dairy fat. Choose low-fat options if you have it regularly, otherwise consume it in moderation. One serve of dairy is 30g, so a couple of slices is absolutely fine."

ChocolateKARA LANDAU, The Travelling Dietician says: "Studies have been able to show that dark chocolate can improve insulin sensitivity, reduce blood pressure in healthy individuals, protect against heart disease, and improve HDL good cholesterol (not a bad start for such a tasty food!). Dark chocolate also contains polyphenols, whilst white chocolate does not. These polyphenolic compounds are able to relax blood vessels allowing for better blood circulation, and thereby assisting with the maintenance of healthy blood pressure levels."

CoffeeKATIE SAYS: "Coffee is a really good snack, in particular if its milk-based to get the dairy in - for example, a skim latte. As long as its in moderation - daily guidelines say a maximum of three per day! And you want lots of water on top of that."

EggsKARA SAYS: "Yes, even the yolks are good for you! Healthy fat soluble vitamins, as well as half the protein found in an egg, are all found in the yolk!"

Avocado KATIE SAYS: "Avocado is a healthy fat. Lots of people think its high-fat and not good for you, but its rich in mono unsaturated fats, which give you protection against heart disease. It also helps with controlling lower cholesterol levels."

nutsKATIE SAYS: "Nuts fall into the same category as avocado - they have lots of healthy oils and fibre."

dairyKARA SAYS: "Often milk and yoghurts are fortified with Vitamin D (a fat soluble vitamin) which requires a small amount of fat to be present in order for the body to absorb it, therefore having the full fat variety can be of value to enhance the nutritional benefits from the products' consumption. The fat in the dairy also aids with satiety, which could prevent unhealthy snacking at a later point in the day."

PotatoKATIE SAYS: "Potato always gets a bad rap as a starchy vegetable, but it's an excellent source of fibre. Sweet potato in particular is great for weight management and sugar level control. Potatoes are also really rich in potassium."

Red meatKARA SAYS: People tend to restrict red meat unnecessarily, thinking that its high in saturated fat. "But lean red meat is high in protein, CLA (which has been found to be associated with lower body fat percentages), B12, iron and zinc. These are all nutrients we want to get into our body!"

The fine print

Cold and flu products are intended for short-term use only. See your doctor if your symptoms get worse.

If you have specific questions about cold and flu tablets, ask your pharmacist for further advice, check the consumer medicines information (CMI) for the specific product, or call Medicines Line on 1300 633 424.

Janet Sluggett is Research Fellow: Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, Sansom Institute for Health Research at University of South Australia.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.