From glimmering lights to shimmering trees, the holidays bring a joyful ambiance. Unfortunately, the season is also synonymous with sickness, as the spread of cold and flu viruses peak. A flu vaccination offers some peace of mind and can lessen your chances of needing hospitalization, but there’s no guarantee you won’t contract a respiratory illness—whether cold or flu. Over-the-counter medications can provide relief and help you manage the symptoms, but it’s crucial to use these drugs with caution to avoid accidental overdose or other complications.
Before probing your medicine cabinet or scouring the drug store shelves for cold and flu remedies, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the safety of over-the-counter products. Even widely available drugs can have harmful effects. For example, decongestants can elevate blood pressure or cause blood sugar levels to spike. They can be dangerous for diabetics and people with hypertension. In addition, certain prescription medications can interact with cold and flu products or supplements.
Tips to Avoid Accidental Overdose
They come in powders, liquids, pills, and capsules. And while they differ in price, packaging, and form, cold and flu medications often contain some of the same active ingredients. Among them are acetaminophen and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), the most commonly available pain relievers in over-the-counter and prescription medications. Given the number of drugs that include them, it’s easy to see how you might take too much inadvertently, especially when you’re suffering with a slew of cold, flu, or allergy symptoms, and looking for quick relief. Using multiple products with acetaminophen can damage the liver. NSAIDS can cause high blood pressure, kidney damage and stomach ulcerations if taken improperly or in high quantities. These drugs should be used cautiously and under the direction of a medical provider.
In addition to reading packages labels closely, follow these tips to prevent medication misuse.
- Talk to your doctor before mixing medications.
- Always use the provided dosage cups and administer the recommended dose.
- Write down the time you took your last dose to prevent readministering too soon.
- Never swig directly from the medicine bottle.
- Avoid using alcohol when taking cold and flu drugs.
Is it Cold or Flu?
Choosing the best medications may be tricky if you aren’t sure whether you have a cold or the flu. Sometimes symptoms overlap. Learn more about the differences between cold and flu here. Both are contagious respiratory illnesses but the flu packs a more powerful punch, and may include sinus congestion, fever, muscle pain, loss of appetite, vomiting and chills. Be sure to report flu symptoms to your primary medical care team. In some cases, and where appropriate, prescription medicine can help reduce the intensity and duration of the flu. Your physician can monitor your progress and escalate your care level if necessary. They can also provide guidance on other remedies that may be appropriate for you.
Self-Care for Healing Cold & Flu
You have likely heard the adage “Feed a cold, starve a fever,” which stems from the ancient belief that eating helps the body generate warmth (feed a cold), and fasting cools down a high temperature (starve a fever). When it comes to self-care, however, it’s essential to drink plenty of fluids for hydration and eat the right foods to support your immune system. Getting lots of rest is also key to recovery.