Is it true that cold medicines can actually prolong your cold?

Question

I saw a show on Discovery channel years ago that explained that cold medications actually slow your cold down and you have it longer. I think I have found this to be true, could be all in my head, though, since I saw this show. I hate taking medication, I think our minds are much more powerful than we give them credit for. I am not a crazy person that doesn't believe in any medicine, don't get me wrong. But I do believe we are an over-medicated group of people that don't give our bodies the chance to heal themselves for simple things. So many people around me pop pills, (and have their kids popping pills), for every little sniffle or any time they cough. Does anyone have any knowledge on this?(About the cold stuff, the rest was just my opinion)

Answer 1

Yes, it's true -- but not because herbal remedies are better. Here are the FACTS:

Colds are caused by a family of viruses known as rhinoviruses. They're all around us, and very common (hence the name "common cold"). We have no way to *kill* or eliminate the rhinovirus from our systems through substances you ingest, breath, rub on your skin, or anything else. The only way to "get over" a cold is to let your body's natural defenses overcome the viral invader, and that takes time.
Cold medicines (and herbal remedies) treat the symptoms of a cold, nothing more. You get a runny nose when you have a cold because your respiratory passages are being attacked by the virus, and your body responds by increasing mucous production in an attempt to flush them out. Using a cold medicine or remedy that stops mucous production will make your nose less runny, but that also means that the virus stays in your system longer instead of being flushed out. You cough for the same reason, to expel virus-laden mucous from your lungs -- so a cough medicine makes you stop coughing, which means you expel less virus, and the viral infection lasts longer.
For most people, though -- unless you're already seriously ill with something else -- the common cold isn't deadly, just annoying. We make a tradeoff with medicines so that we will feel a bit better and be able to work and function, even though it makes the viral infection last longer. It's a tradeoff you can decide to make or not -- don't take cold medicines, and the cold will go away sooner...but you'll likely feel worse for a shorter time, while if you take medicine you'll feel a bit less miserable longer. Your choice :)

Answer 2

Well Traveled is right. Cold medicines dry up the secretions in the nose and delay the expulsion of the virus from the body. This is just like in diarrhea, medicines which reduce the intestinal movements prolong diarrhea by making the organism stay in the body longer. Symptomatic treatment is not always beneficial in the long run. Stick to chicken soup!

Answer 3

Each doctor seems to have their own way of doing things - min in particular does not like anything that is not a natural products. Drives me nuts sometimes! My little one had a horrible cold at around 2 months and I gave him a small dose of medicine. Glad I did - he was able to sleep and breath - hard to drink a bottle when their nose is all plugged up. My cousin, who had a baby a little younger, was told to squirt saline solution or breast milk up her nose to clear it up. So - just goes to show you how different everyone is. I am learning to trust my gut and make my own decisions. If the cold medicine would harm a child I don't think they would sell it or a warning would be on the package.

Answer 4

i see shows on the Discovery channel that explain the mating habits of dinosaurs - this is not a science channel it is entertainment and sensationalism like all channels

i know people in great health with good habits who get long lasting colds - we all have immune systems but some are better than others and colds are caused by MANY different viruses so any general statement needs to be taken with the proverbial 'grain of salt' ( note that 'cold' is just a mild upper respiratory track infection and can be any number of things including allergies)

Answer 5

This is very true. I havent taken any cold medicine since 1989. I use vitamins, herb tea, and rest to get over a cold. It's just like quitting smoking with patches, it just makes matters worse and moreover more complicated. Good luck to you. Try this new vitamin stuff called Airborn, pure vitamins and tons of C. Vitamin C is vital in the healing process from a cold.