GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Pharmacy aisles are filled with products claiming to fix all ailments.
But what really works? We spoke to the owner of Kay Pharmacy in Grand Rapids, Mike Koelzer, to find out.
First of all, know that medication cannot cure the common cold or other viral infections. It can help ease some of the symptoms. The best thing to do when sick is rest and drinking plenty of fluids.
SORE THROAT
Koelzer recommends taking ibuprofen for the pain.
"Then, I would probably go with a just a sore throat spray, something like that," said Koelzer.
COUGH
"If you're coughing through the night and it's affecting your sleep, or you're throwing up from the cough because you're gagging, then I would go with a cough suppressant," said Koelzer. "Something along these lines of Dextromethorphan."
FEVER
"Fevers are kind of good for you," said Koelzer. "So, that would be acetaminophen, ibuprofen, fluids."
CHEST CONGESTION
He recommends a chest expectorant like Guaifenesin, commonly in Robitussin or Mucinex.
NASAL CONGESTION
This one is slightly tricky. Koelzer says decongestants containing Pseudoephedrine, like Sudafed, work very well. However, they are behind the counter and must be sold to you by a pharmacist with an I.D.
"Years ago it became popular as the main ingredient to produce meth," said Koelzer about Pseudoephedrine.
There is a nasal decongestant you might see over the counter, called phenylephrine, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this month recommended removing it from shelves due to infectiveness.
"The FDA is finally coming around and saying, 'look, this stuff doesn't work.' 99% of it's not absorbed. It just doesn't work very well," said Koelzer.
COLD LIFESPAN
Koelzer said products claiming to shorten the cold likely will not work.
"There's a product called echinacea, which maybe some effectiveness," said Koelzer. "But the whole zinc and vitamin C and all that, I don't go for any of that."
He also suggested keeping some chest vapor rub on hand during this season to make you feel better.