I always have the delsum orange cough syrup it's very good tasting, and Robitussin cough pills. My husband likes the Alka seltzer cold and flu tablets that dissolve in water. I drink an EmergenC powder in orange juice daily and we take Echinechia daily. We take a good multi vitamin with minerals daily. I don't take much otc stuff because of all the medications I am on, don't want any adverse reactions so I consult my doctors.

Studies at children's hospital Pittsburgh show a few teaspoons of honey work as well for a cough as otc cough meds. Another thing since there's no cure for a virus the cold meds will only make you feel somewhat better for a short time and can actually prolong the virus. Best thing to have on hand is Tylenol & Motrin, lots of fluids and soft foods that are easy to swollow and or comforting.

I do know people that swear by cold medications lol.

Hope your hubs feels better soon.

Me too...Dayquil and Nyquil...chloraseptic spray for DH.

Oh I didn't realize there were 2 of these threads

Alka Seltzer Plus, DayQuil and NyQuil. Most important of all is homemade chicken soup--always have some in the freezer.

Dislike multi-symptom products because they often contain meds not needed.

aspirin or naproxen – fever, aches, pain

diphenhydramine – dry secretions

pseudoephedrine – decongestant

dextromethorphan – cough suppressant

benzocaine lozenges - sore throat

We hardly ever get any colds or flu, but we do keep Airborne on hand to take at the first sign of not feeling good. We both take a lot of vitamins including probiotics.

A good book and a warm blanket.

I usually have Delsym for coughs and some sort of 12-hour antihistamine like loratadine on hand. I try not to take anything unless I'm miserable and need a break from symptoms.

Mucinex! I just got over a cold and it really helped with congestion. I did switch to Sudafed though when I had a lot of sinus pressure for a day or two. Robitussin for coughing.

Echinacea

Boy, I am different than everyone else. I have to make sure it gets out and stays out of my lungs! I use products containing guaifenesin, also known as Mucinex.

:)

Sudafed: for runny nose/ear issues.

Zinc: If you take it in first 48 hours of cold symptoms, it can reduce the multiplication of cold virus cells. We use the tablets since dh has to take it daily, anyway. He NEVER gets a cold. Lol

Chinese Anise Star: This is new to me, but my sister uses it to make a tea for the flu. It is a main ingredient in TamiFlu, which makes me SUPER sick. My daughter took a dose or two of the tea when she was concerned she was also getting sick, and she says she felt much better.

Hot tea with honey, hot showers, aspirin or Tylenol for fever, I can't take cold meds at all but husband takes everything. I seem to suffer far less and for a shorter period of time than he, but that could be the 'male cold versus or female cold' thing.

I went through our bathroom cupboards a while back and was shocked at how out of date some of our OTC were. We now buy the smallest container available and hope to use it before a decade goes by!

Airborne, Tylenol, Benadryl, sometimes Vick's Vapo Rub, of course hot tea and honey. Something I really like if I have a sore throat is Jello powder mixed into hot water and drink like hot tea.

Sue

I used to swear by Airborne but I don't like to use it anymore because I saw it uses artificial sweeteners, which I avoid at all costs.

Rob, does that work? I work in a school now so i'm picking up viruses left and right, and once they settle into my lungs, I'm absolutely miserable and it takes a month to clear up. I'd like to avoid that part, if possible! I can handle the sore throat and runny nose.

Airborne

Yes, it works VERY well.

We seldom ever get sick, but when we do, I always get the stuff from behind the counter, Advil Cold & Sinus worked wonders for us. For coughs, Robitusin with Expectorant.

I went to the dr. last week with "something." He thought I had either strep or the flu; however both tests were negative. He diagnosed a virus and upper respitory infection. He highly recommended Allegra-d, Mucinex DM, Coricidin HBP and the nasal spray Neo Synephrine, all of them over the counter. I've used all of them as directed...some 8 hrs and other 4 hrs...and am finally out of bed. Still coughing but not all the time as before. So, currently, that's what's been working for me. Good luck, everyone. It's been difficult to stay well this winter, with allergans so bad and Mother Nature thinking it's already spring. Local schools are closing for a day at a time to disinfect everything after near-epidemic levels of flu and even pink eye.