Antihistamine
Symptoms:
Runny nose, sneezing
What the drug does:
Blocks the effects of histamine, a chemical produced when you have a cold or allergies, which causes mucus secretion, sneezing and itchiness.
Active ingredients:
For help sleeping, select medicines that contain antihistamines such as brompheniramine or diphenhydramine. To stay alert, try an antihistamine-decongestant combination. The stimulating side effects of the decongestant may cancel out the drowsiness from the antihistamine.
Who should avoid:
If you need to drive or operate dangerous machinery, stay away from antihistamines and never mix them with alcohol or tranquilizers. Pregnant or nursing women should consult their physician before taking them.
Decongestant
Symptoms:
Nasal stuffiness
What the drug does:
Constricts the blood vessels in the nose and sinuses, reducing the swelling of the tissues. May help dry out the mucus. These drugs are stimulants and come in tablets, sprays and drops.
Active ingredients:
Phenylephrine offers fast action with a little buzz; pseudoephedrine is mellower but slower to kick in. Other decongestants include oxymetazoline and tetrahydrozoline.
Who should avoid:
Pregnant or nursing women; anyone with heart problems, high blood pressure, overactive thyroid, glaucoma or diabetes. Don't take decongestants with asthma medications or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs); you may alter the actions of the drugs or increase the risk of side effects.
Cough expectorant
Symptoms:
Wet, phlegm-producing cough
What the drug does:
Thins and loosens mucus and phlegm—a potential breeding ground for bacterial infection—from the respiratory tract, making it easier to expel.
Active ingredients:
Guaifenesin is the main ingredient.
Who should avoid:
Pregnant or nursing women. People with a cough due to asthma, emphysema, bronchitis or smoking should consult a physician before using any of these products.
Cough suppressant
Symptoms:
Dry cough, hacking, wheezing
What the drug does:
Suppresses the body's cough reflex. This is only recommended for times when you can't sleep or your cough is causing pain. Combination cough expectorant-suppressants are not recommended.
Active ingredients:
Codeine, available by prescription, is effective but has powerful sedative effects. Dextromethorphan is the synthetic over-the-counter relative—minus the sedating and often constipating side effects.
Who should avoid:
Pregnant or nursing women; anyone with a wet cough or a cough due to asthma, emphysema, bronchitis or smoking; those using MAOIs. Do not mix codeine with alcohol or tranquilizers or take when driving.
Pain reliever
Symptoms:
Headache, body aches, sore throat, fever
What the drug does:
Suppresses the production of prostaglandin, which makes your nerve endings register pain and causes the involved area to swell. Pain relievers also often help thin the blood and reduce fever.
Active ingredients:
Ibuprofen and naproxen sodium are more effective anti-inflammatory agents than aspirin and far less irritating to the stomach.
Who should avoid:
People with gastrointestinal problems, heart disease, asthma, high blood pressure, liver or kidney disease, or bleeding disorders should check with their doctor before taking pain relievers. The same is true for pregnant or nursing women.
