Hey Dan,
What's that cold medicine lecture? I'm out of Dayquil, so I've been surviving on Menthol Cough Drops today. They were more effective today, though they lack the acetaminophen, but I didn't really need that today. I know what I really need is a good, strong antibiotic, but there doesn't seem to be any way to go about getting one at this juncture.
Dave

...and to the topic at hand:<medic mode><training mode>

With the common cold, most Family Practice Physicians will choose one of two treatment modalities:

1) Aggressively treat the cold with prescription decongestant/antihistamine combinations often with an expectorant or cough suppressant adjunct. This will usually relieve the bulk of the symptoms and provide full relief in approximately seven days.

2) Allow the cold to take its course, allowing the patient to procure over-the-counter (OTC) medications designed to provide symptomatic relief. This procedure will usually provide full relief in about a week.

Bottom line: nothing helps and nothing makes the cold itself better. Treatment is best targeted to the specific symptom(s) that bother the patient. The following OTC medications are available:

1) Decongestants, specifically those containing psesudophedrine or phenylpropanolamine (typically marketed as Sudafed or Triaminic. Note: phenylpropanolamine and related compounds have been removed from the market ). These are used to open up nasal passages to promote the free drainage of the nose and sinuses. Please note that one of the primary functions of this class of medications is to overdrive the sympathetic nervous system; in addition to open airway passages (including the bronchi of the lungs), you will also find your heart rate up, irritability up (!), hunger down (one of these compounds is a component in many common diet pills), and sex drive absent (and unable to function anyway). Basically these meds mimic the fight-or-flight system in your body. Being continuously on them for over a week can be quite problematic, especially with individuals sensitive to them (or to related drugs like caffeine).

2) Antihistamines, typically those containing diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or any of several others. These are used to dry up those nasty secretions so you don't drip snot on your keyboard. The main side affect is drowsiness, especially if used in combination with other sedatives such as alcohol (Nyquil, for example is 25% alcohol, making it 50 proof).

3) Expectorants, such as guaifenesin, which are used to assist the lungs in expelling the crud that gets trapped there when the secretions dry out from either bronchitis or taking an antihistamine.

4) Cough suppressants, such as dextromethorphan, which are used to block the cough reflex and prevent the crud in your lungs from being coughed up.

If you notice a certain dichotomy here, welcome to the cynical side of medicine. If you notice that a certain nighttime OTC med has all of these plus something to bring down your body temp (from overdriving it), you are also not alone. Picking the medication that will treat your symptom(s) is a good plan; and taking a combo that will allow you to sleep at night will help your body recover sooner. Please note that I am not a physician, and I'm not prescribing medications. I am pointing out the primary actions of some very common medications for your personal perusal. Your mileage may vary; take as directed; please read label directions; drink plenty of liquids; the pharmacist is your friend and is there to help you; good luck and God speed.

That said, any changes in things besides snot production, such as the development of a fever or developing a productive cough (crud from the lungs) can indicate something else has decided to take advantage of the situation. Sinusitis, bronchitis and the flu often piggy-back in during a cold.

Oh, and the menthol in the cough drops help open up your nasal passages and the sucking action with the drops helps generate saliva which will keep the back of your throat moist and help prevent irritation from the sinus drainage down the back of your throat.

</medic mode></training mode>

So, other than that, how's life,

Dan