An insight into over-the-counter medication to fight flu season

POLOKWANE- With the cold and flu season upon us, more people are choosing to self-medicate than ever before.

With hundreds of over-the-counter (OTC) remedies available, how do you know which type of medication is the correct one to buy?

Marli Botha, OTC product manager at Pharma Dynamics, says there are more than 200 different colds and flu medicine brands available today which can make choosing the right treatment onerous.

While self-medicating can save you time and money, few consumers are familiar with the active ingredients in medicines and how they could potentially interact with one another she said.

Botha says if you are suffering from a cough and/or a runny nose, it’s important to know whether you have a cold or flu as they often require different treatment.

A cold usually comes on gradually over the course of a day or two and usually lasts three to four days but it can also linger for up to two weeks. These symptoms usually include tiredness, sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose and coughing.

In contrast, the flu comes on suddenly and hits hard. You will feel weak and tired, and could run a fever as high as 40°C.

You will also experience aching muscles and will most likely feel cold the one minute and hot the next.

The flu is often accompanied by a pounding headache and sore throat. A fever may last three to five days, but you could feel weak and tired for two to three weeks she said.

As most people heal fast from a cold, it is important to visit a doctor should your symptoms persist after one week as the flu can lead suppressed immune systems, such as the elderly, children or those suffering from a chronic condition

Consumers need to make sure they choose the correct medication that treat only the symptoms they have.

The best way to make sure that you choose appropriate OTC medication to treat a cold or flu is to understand the different active ingredients and the symptoms they treat she added.

There are six major active ingredient categories related to colds and flu symptom relief namely:

Analgesics relieve pain and discomfort.

Decongestants provide short-term relief for a blocked or stuffy nose. They work by reducing the swelling of the blood vessels in your nose, which helps to open up the airways. This relieves the feeling of pressure and allows you to breathe more easily through your nose.

Cough suppressants will help control a persistent and dry cough by acting on the body’s cough reflex. The cough reflex is the body’s way of getting rid of secretions in the airways and lungs. However, in some cases coughing can be excessive and exacerbate symptoms.

Mucoactive agents work best if you have a wet cough and will help clear mucus or sputum from the upper and lower airways, including the lungs, bronchi and trachea. Mucoactives include expectorants, mucolytics, mucoregulators and mucokinetics.

Bronchodilators relieve coughs by widening the air passages and this helps increase increasing the airflow.

Antihistamines are commonly used to treat allergy symptoms block histamine.

To relieve mild or moderate pain, such as headaches or to reduce fevers take paracetamol.

When you’re down with a cold or flu, your body needs plenty of rest and regular fluid intake.

Keep in mind that viruses cause colds and flu, therefore antibiotics won’t work. Taking unnecessary antibiotics promotes antibiotic resistance, which makes bacterial infections harder to treat than those caused by non-resistant bacteria.

Botha says having a basic understanding of the types of ingredients contained in colds and flu medications can help consumers make more informed choices, but she cautions, when in doubt, ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice.