As cold and flu season approaches, it can be helpful to stock your medicine cabinet with a few things. If you do get sick, the last thing you’ll want to do is drag yourself out to the pharmacy when what you really want to do is go back to bed.
When you shop for cold and flu treatments, it’s important to be strategic, experts say. “I recommend putting together a small toolkit based on the symptoms you are most likely to treat, rather than buying several multi-symptom cold and flu products,” says Eve Glazier, MD, an internal medicine physician and the president of the faculty practice group at UCLA Health in Los Angeles.
Below, experts detail what you should have on hand to keep yourself and your family comfortable should the sniffles start. Though the products below are safe for most adults, it’s always a good idea to consult your primary care doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications if you have any chronic health conditions, says Terry Weaver, a registered pharmacist and a clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Texas at Austin.
1. Pain Relievers
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are heavy hitters because they treat several cold and flu symptoms, Dr. Glazier says. “Either can help with fever, headache, sore throat, and body aches,” she explains.
2. Throat Lozenges
Throat lozenges increase saliva and can soothe a dry, irritated throat, Glazier says. They work especially well when used in conjunction with acetaminophen or ibuprofen, says Andrew Robinson, MD, an infectious-diseases fellow at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
3. Saline Nasal Spray
“[Saline nasal spray] is one of the simplest and safest treatments for a dry or congested nose,” Glazier says. Saline nasal spray is not the same thing as decongestant spray, which contains active ingredients like oxymetazoline hydrochloride. Instead, look for a saline nasal spray that contains a mixture of salt and water. “It can loosen mucus and moisturize irritated nasal passages without the side effects of a decongestant,” Glazier adds.
4. Cough Medication
Cough syrup can be helpful if you have a dry cough. “[It] can help stop a dry, hacking cough. However, if the cough is productive — bringing up phlegm — it is sometimes better to let that process continue and have the patient increase their fluid intake to help thin out the mucus,” Weaver says.
Weaver doesn’t routinely recommend cough medications containing guaifenesin. “Guaifenesin is marketed to help thin mucus, but, in my experience, patients report mixed results,” he says.
5. Nasal Decongestant
Nasal decongestants come as a nasal spray and in a pill form. They can help if your nose feels impossibly stuffy, but it’s important to use them selectively. “A short course of oxymetazoline nasal spray [Afrin] can relieve significant congestion, but it generally should not be used for more than three days, because longer use can cause rebound congestion,” Glazier says. “Oral pseudoephedrine [Sudafed] can also help some adults, but it may increase blood pressure or heart rate and interfere with sleep. It is not appropriate for everyone.”
6. Digital Thermometer
“If you need to call your physician or speak with an on-call clinician, an actual temperature, along with when it was measured, is much more useful [because] it helps us give you more appropriate guidance.” It’s especially important to know the exact temperature of infants, older adults, or people who are immunocompromised, she adds.
7. COVID-19 Tests or COVID-19 and Flu Combination Tests
Like thermometers, COVID-19 and flu tests give you more data you can share with your doctor. “Testing can help you decide how to protect others and whether to contact your clinician promptly,” Glazier says. “This is particularly important for people at higher risk of complications, because prescription treatments for influenza and COVID-19 work best when they are started early.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorizes at-home COVID-19 and flu tests.
8. Well-Fitting Masks
9. Cool Mist Humidifier
One caveat: If your humidifier isn’t used and cleaned properly, it can do more harm than good, Dr. Robinson says. “They need to be cleaned rigorously and only used with distilled water. If they are not cleaned regularly, or nondistilled water is used, they can increase the risk of further infection,” he explains.
