How to get rid of a cold?

Question

I started off with a scratchy throat but now i a stuffy/runny nose and a dry cough...what should i take?

my head feels like it is going to explode....its hurts so bad

Answer 1

First of all I'd like to say you should not take Echinacea, a recent studied has found that it doesn't actually doesn't do much better than a placebo. As for what to take, mucinex is pretty popular nowadays, but expensive. It usually has 600 mg of time released Guaifenesin which is used to help coughs caused by colds or similar illnesses clear mucus or phlegm by thinning out the mucus in the lungs. Most cough medicines have guaifensin, though in lower doses and often in liquid form (mucinex is in pill form). Another version of mucinex has 30 mg Dextromethorphan HBr, Dextromethorphan relieves coughs by acting directly on the cough center in the brain but It should not be used for chronic cough that occurs with smoking, asthma, or emphysema or when there is an unusually large amount of mucus or phlegm with the cough. For your stuffy/runny nose I recommend Sudafed or anything with Phenylephrine or neosynephrin, which are decongestants. Pseodoephedrine used to be the norm for sudafed but it changed over because of the use of amphetimines (speed). 10mg versions are usually sold, but you can buy 30 mg versions from the pharmacy them w/o a prescription. Also nose drops help to temporarily relieve your stuffy nose.
Also if those aren't for you Dayquil and Nyquil can work well in conjunction with the items I listed above. Hope that helps and you feel better. Also sorry that this is all jumbled up, I haven't gone to bed yet. In the end this is what you should use for your symptoms.

For your Dry Cough
Dry coughs are treated with cough suppressants (antitussives) that suppress the body's urge to cough. The most common for this is Dextromethorphan found in Dayquil/Nyquil. I personally like Delsym: Delsym is time released. The active ingredient per teaspoon (5 ml) is Dextromethorphan polistirex, equivalent to Dextromethorphan 30mg.

For your stuffy/runny nose
Use Sudafed or anything with phenylephrine or neosynephrin, personally I used nose drops.

For your scratchy throat
Use a sore throat lozenge or spray, vicks chloraseptic works well to dull any pain you might have in your throat.

Answer 2

Take Robittusen for the cough, Vicks sore throat lozenges (I started using them on Sunday for a really sore throat and now I barely feel any pain at all), and a good cold medicine with decogestant for your nose. You should also make sure to get plenty of rest, avoid being in highly germy places, drink fluids (espically ones with vitamin C), and try some hot tea with honey and/or lemon (but not at the same time)

Answer 3

Treatment
There's no cure for the common cold. Antibiotics are of no use against cold viruses, and over-the-counter (OTC) cold preparations won't cure a common cold or make it go away any sooner, and most have side effects. Here's a look at the pros and cons of some common cold remedies.

Pain relievers. For fever, sore throat and headache, many people turn to acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or other mild pain relievers. Keep in mind that acetaminophen can cause liver damage, especially if taken frequently or in larger-than-recommended doses. Be especially careful when giving acetaminophen to children; the dosing guidelines can be confusing. For instance, the infant drop formulation is three times as concentrated as the syrup commonly used in older children. Never give aspirin to children; it may have a role in causing Reye's syndrome, a rare, but potentially fatal illness.
Decongestant nasal sprays. Adults shouldn't use decongestant drops and sprays for more than a few days because prolonged use can cause chronic inflammation of your mucous membranes. And children shouldn't use them at all. There's little evidence that they work in young children, and they may cause side effects.
Cough syrups. In winter, nonprescription cough syrups practically fly off the drugstore shelves. But the American College of Chest Physicians strongly discourages the use of these medications because they're not effective at treating the underlying cause of cough due to colds. Some contain ingredients that may alleviate coughing, but the amounts are too small to do much good and may actually be harmful for children. In fact, the college has strongly recommended against using OTC cough syrups or cold medicines for any child younger than 14. Coughs associated with a cold usually last less than two to three weeks; if a cough lingers longer than that, see your doctor.

Answer 4

I had the same problem a week ago. I started taking airborne fizz tablets and it took me 2 days to rid the nasty cough. A friend of mine got the same thing at the same time. He went to the doctor and took amoxicillin. He still has the cough. Airborne works for sure.

Answer 5

okay these are some old fashion(not wierd) home remadies

1. take a spoon full of honey(throat)
2. suck on crushed ice( stuffy nose)
3. Suck on a lemon or orange (dry cough)

Answer 6

Benadryl Maximum Strength Severe Allergy and Sinus Headache to get rid of all of your congestion first, then see if your throat still bothers you. If it does, then after the Benadryl wears off, switch to something like Contac Cold and Flu Maximum Strength.

Answer 7

kinda too late to kick its but before it took hold
next time: increase Vitamin C intake, and take cold ezzz zinc lozenges as directed as soon as you start showing s/s of a cold

Answer 8

go to the Dr. after you get home start washing your hands often and before meals and after using rhe restroom that will help a lot then you won't have to worry abouts colds that often anymore.

Answer 9

Drink homemade lemonade for 1 day and you should feel better.

Answer 10

try putting on vicks on ur nose and ur chest it rele helps