medicine for headache, fever, cold.

[Azzure_7]

Are you sick?
What medicine do you eat?
I took vicks 44 with no cure.

[FlyingPhotog]

There is no known cure for the common cold.

[EDIT] I have been known, however, to consume mass quantities of "Airborne" at even the slightest twinge of feeling ill...

[blonde]

i swear by sudafed...

[Ronald S. Jr.]

organic foods and high quality supplements. Then, you won't get sick.

As for medicine, I don't take it. I'm not some nut, but if it doesn't occur naturally, or is already in my body, then it's not going to be.

[nufan]

Keep hydraited and get rest. Avoid dairy as those products tend to produce more mucus and take tylenol if headaches become too bad.

I like to drink a OJ & 7-up mix when i get sick

[PAFC2004]

organic foods and high quality supplements. Then, you won't get sick.

As for medicine, I don't take it. I'm not some nut, but if it doesn't occur naturally, or is already in my body, then it's not going to be.

Sorry, can't say I agree with that. Any foods that we eat (here in Australia anyway) are void of chemical residues. We have with-holding periods for a reason.

[pictureshooter]

Nyquil.The stuffy head fever so you can rest medicine. :)

[canon_fire]

People may deny it but try vitamin C. You can take 3 to 5 Grams a day, and it helps to keep your body up in defense against colds and junk. I do this now, and have not been truly sick with a cold/flu in almost two years. Before hand I never took the C and would get sick more often. Vitamin C is water soluble so it dissipates in the body every time you urinate. Keeping it available to your system can really do some good.

[medicdude]

People may deny it but try vitamin C. You can take 3 to 5 Grams a day, and it helps to keep your body up in defense against colds and junk. I do this now, and have not been truly sick with a cold/flu in almost two years. Before hand I never took the C and would get sick more often. Vitamin C is water soluble so it dissipates in the body every time you urinate. Keeping it available to your system can really do some good.


3-5 GRAMS?!
more than 200mg is overdoing it. your body cannot absorb that much. i take a 500mg tab every morning just because its what i have. along with a multivitamin and multimineral.

to the op-- get rest and fluids. as said earlier, oj and 7up, stay away from dairy. tylenol is good for headaches, as is aspirin. those will help with any fever you may run across also. aspirin is not good if you have asthma, however. if youre a drinker stay away from tylenol too much. you can take up to 3grams or so of tylenol or aspirin daily. i like sudafed for congestion, and delsym for cough. stay warm, keep windows closed, hair dry after showers etc. good luck and get well soon!

[PAFC2004]

People may deny it but try vitamin C. You can take 3 to 5 Grams a day, and it helps to keep your body up in defense against colds and junk. I do this now, and have not been truly sick with a cold/flu in almost two years. Before hand I never took the C and would get sick more often. Vitamin C is water soluble so it dissipates in the body every time you urinate. Keeping it available to your system can really do some good.

Um, what? lol

[Tee Why]

For common cold, I'd recommend the following. Note, these are general information, not a detailed prescription for anyone specific. So use common sense and see a doctor if you think that you may be ill and in need of medical attention.

For Sinus/Nasal Congestion/Post nasal drainage:
Sudafed (real sudafed as in Pseudoephedrine) 120mg 12 hour tabs, once a day to twice a day. If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure or an enlarged prostate, you may want to avoid this as it can cause blood pressure elevation and urinary retention, respectively. Sudafed is a stimulant and cause palpitations or insomnia (if taken later in the day).

Afrin/Neosynephrine- 1-2 sprays upto 3 times a day for only 3-5 days. If you use it longer, it can cause rebound congestion.

For body aches/headaches/sore throat/fever.
Ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) or acetaminophen/Tylenol. Unfortunately, over the counter dose is generally not enough for adults. OTC ibuprofen is 200mg upto 4x/day. Prescribed strength is 600mg upto 4x/day. For Tylenol, OTC strength is 325mg, 1000mg upto 4x/day is generally used for fever and pain. If you have bleeding problems, ulcers, or kidney issues, ibuprofen can worsen these condition, especially bleeding from the bowel. Tylenol can cause liver failure if taken in a very large dose or if you have underlying liver disease.

For coughing:
Consider Robitussin with DM (dextromethorphan) as directed to reduce the cough. Unfortunately, narcotic based medicines tend to work better but they are prescribed medicines as it can cause sedation, constipation, and/or dependence if used long term.

Products containing guaifenesin like Mucinex may be minimally effective at reducing thickness of the phlegm at the prescribed dose of 1200mg 2x/day but overall is not that effective.

Lastly, rest. Resting boosts your immune system. Drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration from fever (avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages b/c they will dehydrate you even more). Zinc nasal sprays may reduce the severity, but they may cause a loss of smell/meaning loss of ability to taste (for how long is not known). Many of those multi symptom cold remedies usually have a pain fever reducer/decongestnat/cough med./benedryl like antihistamine. But these are rarely in the right dose and not very effective for most. Echinasea and high dose vitamins have not been shown to be effective in US government funded scientific studies.

Also practice common sense and consider seeing your doctor if things don't seem like a cold or if you have other concerning medical conditions.
webmd and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) have a good resource. Here is a link to patient information about the common cold from AAFP.
http://thepracticalpatient.familydoctors.net/handouts.cfm?destination=/online/famdocen/home/common/infections/cold-flu/073.membersite.membersite.html

[medicdude]

is tee why an emm dee? lol

[Tee Why]

Not MD, DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine); in family medicine, so I'm upto my armpits in viruses/colds/sinus infections/ear infections/ bronchitis/tonsillitis/flu...

[canon_fire]

3-5 GRAMS?!
more than 200mg is overdoing it. your body cannot absorb that much. i take a 500mg tab every morning just because its what i have. along with a multivitamin and multimineral.

to the op-- get rest and fluids. as said earlier, oj and 7up, stay away from dairy. tylenol is good for headaches, as is aspirin. those will help with any fever you may run across also. aspirin is not good if you have asthma, however. if youre a drinker stay away from tylenol too much. you can take up to 3grams or so of tylenol or aspirin daily. i like sudafed for congestion, and delsym for cough. stay warm, keep windows closed, hair dry after showers etc. good luck and get well soon!

Better Do some research... 3-5 grams of vitamin C, especially while you are sick will Not harm you, and the body can process it. Quiet quickly actually. I take 1-2 1000mg a day, 3-5 if I feel fevered or like I'm coming down with something, it always knocks it down before it can start. No Problems from this regiment.
3grams of tylenol a day?? That will eventually Kill you. The acetaminophen in it will tax your liver litterly to death. I use to take excedrin quiet often due to migrains, and it started to toxify my body as it damaged my liver, and built up in my system. And I surely wasn't taking up to 3 grams a day, it was only about 1-2 at the most. I laid off the exedrin/tylenol and anything containing acetaminophen, and I feel alot better. Natural vitamins are WAY better than the meds out there. Truth be known, the FDA wants the vitamins out of the way. http://www.newstarget.com/022499.html

[medicdude]

Not MD, DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine); in family medicine, so I'm upto my armpits in viruses/colds/sinus infections/ear infections/ bronchitis/tonsillitis/flu...
Right on, I knew there were alot of medics around here but I didnt know any docs. :D

Better Do some research... 3-5 grams of vitamin C, especially while you are sick will Not harm you, and the body can process it. Quiet quickly actually. I take 1-2 1000mg a day, 3-5 if I feel fevered or like I'm coming down with something, it always knocks it down before it can start. No Problems from this regiment.
3grams of tylenol a day?? That will eventually Kill you. The acetaminophen in it will tax your liver litterly to death. I use to take excedrin quiet often due to migrains, and it started to toxify my body as it damaged my liver, and built up in my system. And I surely wasn't taking up to 3 grams a day, it was only about 1-2 at the most. I laid off the exedrin/tylenol and anything containing acetaminophen, and I feel alot better. Natural vitamins are WAY better than the meds out there. Truth be known, the FDA wants the vitamins out of the way. http://www.newstarget.com/022499.html

I never said it would harm anyone (vitamin c), and from what i have read in multiple sources, 200mg a day is plenty. as for apap, i never said take it everyday for the rest of your life. all i said was it will help with aches/fevers. i am completely aware of the liver side effects.

[Pete]

Drink plenty of water.

Also try hot water with honey and lemon.

[DAMphyne]

Alka Seltzer Plus

[medicdude]

this is one i forgot that works surprisingly well. or hot tea, with some honey.
Drink plenty of water.

Also try hot water with honey and lemon.

[Col_M]

I always go for the tea with honey and lemon for colds. Honey always amazes me with the properties it has, magic stuff, that and it tastes great too ;)

To help with fever and headaches I just take whatever extra strength pain relievers with paracetamol and asprin in that I can get my hands on, seems to do the job for me :)

[Mum2J&M]

My Mom swears by Echinacea (hth do you spell that?!) and I think Afrin is great to unclog the nostrils, lol. Exederin for headaches. Please excuse the spelling. I'm pretty sure it's all wrong. ;)