There are MANY combination cold and flu
products available over the counter at your local
pharmacy. They vary based on the ingredients
included in the product. Some contain more
ingredients, some contain less ingredients. Some
come in non-drowsy formulations for daytime
but also have nighttime formulations. Some have
cough suppressants in them, others do not.
The options can be overwhelming.

Single product alternatives provide a great way to
customize your cold & flu treatment for your
symptoms. They only contain one medication and
are good for targeting specific symptoms. Many
pharmacists recommend these over
combination products.

Cold and flu season generally runs from October
to May. During this time you may be exposed to
many cold and flu viruses.

The best first line of prevention against the
cold & flu is good hand hygiene. Be sure to wash
your hands frequently- especially after you sneeze,
cough, or come in contact with a person who is ill.
A good rule of thumb is to wash your hands for
the entire duration of singing the “ABCs”.

But what if you end up getting sick? What
products are available to help you feel better?

• It is important to identify exactly which symptoms
  you have and base your treatment on them.
• Extra medications that treat symptoms you do
  not have may be contained in combination products.
  Any medication can put you at risk for side effects,
  so it is important to only use what you need. This
  is where single product over-the-counter medications
  may be beneficial.
• Single product treatments also can help cut down
  on cost as combination products tend to be pricey.

Suggested single product medications for associated
symptoms***:

• Headache → Ibuprofen
• Fever → Acetaminophen
• Nasal congestion → Pseudoephedrine
• Mucus in throat or lungs → Guaifenesin
• Cough → Cough drops or Dextromethorphan
• Runny nose → Cetirizine

***Most importantly: Ask your pharmacist what may
be right for you and your health. Some medications
listed above may not be right for you if you have
certain medical conditions.

There are many options available over the counter to help treat cold and flu symptoms. Sometimes the product selection can be overwhelming. There are several factors to consider when
choosing a medication.

• Combination products contain multiple medications in one
• Most of the combination ingredients can be purchased alone as well as in the combination
• It is important to choose a product that only contains medications you need to treat your
  specific symptoms
• Many pharmacists recommend choosing single products over combination products to ensure
  you don’t take extra unneeded medications which have the potential to cause extra side effects

• Alkaseltzer Plus Cold for (Pain or fever, Runny nose, Nasal Congestion)
• Alkaseltzer Plus Cold & Cough for (Pain or fever, Runny nose, Nasal Congestion, Cough)
• DayQuil Severe Cold & Flu for (Pain or fever, Nasal Congestion, Cough, Mucus in throat)
• NyQuil Cold & Flu for (Pain or fever, Runny nose, Cough, Mucus in throat)
• Robitussin Cough & Chest Congestion for (Cough, Mucus in throat)
• Theraflu Daytime Severe Cold & Cough for (Pain or fever, Nasal Congestion, Cough)
• Theraflu Nighttime Severe Cold & Cough for (Pain or fever, Runny nose, Nasal Congestion)
• Tylenol Cold & Head Congestion Severe for (Pain or fever, Nasal Congestion, Cough)

• Medication: Acetaminophen/Symptom: Pain or fever
• Medication: Ibuprofen/Symptom: Pain or fever
• Medication: Pseudoephedrine/Symptom: Nasal congestion
• Medication: Guaifenesin/Symptom: Mucus in throat or lungs
• Medication: Cough drops or dextromethorphan/Symptom: Cough
• Medication: Cetirizine/Symptom: Runny nose

To summarize, choose your cold & flu products carefully! Ask your pharmacist if you have questions or need help choosing which is right for you!