Cold medicine?

[tikitavi]

What do you all recommend for cold medicine? I have a terrible sore throat, runny nose, etc., but I have to go to work. I need something that will help me get through my busy workday (lots of phone talking and customer service), without drowsiness.

I resorted to a CVS brand "daytime" cold reliever that we had at work, but it has some sucrose in it, and it makes me feel rather nauseous from the sugar. But, at least it is helping me function. Is there something better for me that you can recommend?

[colormist]

Chloraseptic looked to be safe the last time I checked the label. It's for sore throats.

I also use Claritin for any congestion (get the non-drowsy type behind the counter). It works wonders. I know it's billed for allergies, but it works great for a cold or flu.

I also sip a nice tea for a really bad sore throat. It's call Throat Coat (I think the brand is Herbal Remedies). It should be in the tea aisle. Avoid the one with honey. It will instantly make your throat feel 100x better.

Also, tylenol or ibuprofen for pain. If anything hurts, use a pain reliever.

[tikitavi]

Good suggestions, thanks Colormist!

I looked around this morning and decided to try Aleve-D Sinus and Cold, before I had a chance to check back on here. It's got Naproxen for pain relief (thank goodness, my sore throat was killing me!) and pseudoephedrine for decongestant, and the inactive ingredients SEEM safe (correct me if I'm wrong): colloidal silicon dioxide, hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, povidone, talc, titanium dioxide.

It's a 12 hour pill. I took one this morning and it's now almost 4pm and I'm feeling great! Amazing! So it seems OK!

[tikitavi]

This is interesting - a week ago, I got another cold. This time I didn't take anything at all, just went to work and suffered through it. But it cleared up much quicker! So maybe it's better to just let one's body fight it naturally and not take any medicine!

[ukbill]

Slow release Vitamin C with Zinc..

One a day or two when I feel a cold around..

Its kept me cold and flu free for last 3 years.. (OK a two day grotty nose or two but that's the worst)

Sore throats I treat with neat Scotch Whisky gargle.. (at night) it hurts a bit but the throat is clear the next day even if I have a bit of a thick head.

I don't spit it out and repeat the gargle until I'm sure I have killed all the bugs, about he time I cannot walk straight usually is considered about right!

[tikitavi]

You know, this is very interesting. I got two head colds this winter, and they both happened when I started and re-started taking vitamin C! And the second one was lingering and lingering, with coughing and phlegm for weeks, until I decided a few days ago to quit the vitamin C. And now I feel 100% better! It might seem crazy, but I actually think that the vitamin C was CAUSING me to get sick - and stay sick longer!

This has happened once before too, I remember a few years back I started taking vitamin C because friends said I should, since I don't eat any fruits or veggies. And I got sick then too!

I was taking Ascorbyl Palmitate, which did not have any fructose that I can tell. Here are the ingredients:
Ascorbyl palmitate, Dibasic Calcium Phosphate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Stearic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cellulose, Modified Cellulose Gum, Colloidal Silicon Dioxide.

So I am going to just eat my HFi diet and not worry about the vitamin C. I eat fresh raw milk which contains some vitamin C, and fresh meats which are supposed to be antiscorbutic too. I will continue to take my high-dose vitamin D, because I can tell that it helps a lot with my old tendon injuries. And I'll continue taking my digestive enzymes for casein and gluten. But no more other supplements for me!

[tikitavi]

I did some research and found that taking too much vitamin C can cause genetic damage!

www.nytimes.com/1998/04/09/us/taking-too-much-vitamin-c-can-be-dangerous-study-finds.html

"The researchers found that at the 500-milligram level, vitamin C promoted genetic damage by free radicals to a part of the DNA, the adenine bases, that had not previously been measured in studies of the vitamin's oxidative properties."

"''The vitamin C in supplements mobilizes harmless ferric iron stored in the body and converts it to harmful ferrous iron, which induces damage to the heart and other organs.''"

I'm definitely feeling better after I quit taking the vitamin C! I'll just stick with drinking some raw milk and eating meat for my vitamin C requirements.

[carolyn]

I swear by Day Nurse capsules, & Night Nurse capsules at night. Never had a problem with these, although felt pretty rough on the rare occasions that I took night nurse liquid in the past. I can see why now!!

[saynotocookies]

For a sore throat and/or cough relief, the only products I can tolerate are from Buckley's. Be warned that their commercials say, "It tastes awful. And it works". They're not kidding ...

It's a made-in-Canada product that is apparently now available in the US (see www.buckleys.com/products/us.htm )
Worth a cautious try for HFIers suffering thru a cold without relief.

[ukbill]

Welcome to the site "Saynotocookies"

I also like Carolyn go for night nurse type cold and flu capsules when I get a cold or flu..

And being capsules.. no bad taste

[susan]

Thank goodness for cough medicine in pill form.

I remember as a young child...asking the pharmacist if there was cough medicine in milk flavor.

The medicine was worse than the cough.

hack, hack, aahh-chooo