Safe Tips for Cold and Flu Medications

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Happy Tips & Tricks Tuesday, everyone. This will be pretty short and probably more of a reminder to most, but let’s talk about safely taking over-the-counter (OTC) medications for cold and flu symptoms. Even to this day, it’s still a common misconception that OTCs are very safe, and a lot of people don’t go further than reading the front label before taking them.

However, we can’t just pull these medications off the shelf and use them however we feel like doing. The truth is overdosing on OTCs is quite easy to do. I’ve even known medical professionals who knew better how to take these medications safely and accidentally overdosed. Though OTCs can really make a difference in relieving symptoms, they can also have serious consequences, often outweighing any potential benefits if taken inappropriately.

So here are some tips to help keep us safe when we treat our cold and flu illnesses at home

Always Read the Back Label

Look at the dosing instructions, which include how many pills/tablets and how frequently to take. Don’t exceed the recommended dose. Don’t take more frequently than recommended, and don’t take longer than the recommended duration of days. Taking more medication won’t relieve symptoms faster, but it could do a good deal of harm, and here’s why

Reduced Effectiveness

1. Rebound Effects: Taking more than the recommended dose or taking longer than recommended can lead to a rebound effect, where symptoms worsen after the medication wears off.

2. Tolerance: The body can become tolerant to a medication, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effect. This can lead to a dangerous loop of increasing the dose taken and potentially overdosing without realizing it.

Increased Risk for Serious Side Effects

1. Organ Damage: Certain medications, like acetaminophen, can cause liver damage if taken in excess> ibuprofen can cause kidney damage if taken in excess, and all nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen, have the potential to cause gastrointestinal bleeds.

2. Allergic Reactions: Resist the urge to pop the highest dose right away. To reduce the risk of an allergic reaction, especially if a medication hasn’t been taken before, start with the lowest recommended dose or even half a dose and see how it goes first before scaling up to a total recommended dose.

3. Underlying Health Conditions: Some cold and flu medications contain active ingredients that can adversely affect blood pressure or heart rate. Check with a pharmacist or doctor before taking to see which ones are safe for you. Pro tip: most pharmacies have the option for patients to ask for a consult even when no picking up prescriptions. Go to your pharmacy and ask to schedule a consult for an individual review of what cold and flu meds you can take and what the pharmacist would recommend.

Drug Interactions

Consider forgoing a cold and flu medication with more than one active ingredient. Combining multiple OTC medications, especially those with similar ingredients, can increase the risk of adverse reactions or overdoses.

1. Read the Active Ingredients List: The active ingredients list is at the top of the back label of every bottle or package of cold and flu medication. Often, these OTC medications will contain a combination of medications that help with mucous thinning (expectorant), cough suppression, decongestion, and pain. Tylenol is often an active ingredient in these medication combinations. If it is taken because it’s part of a combination cold medication and then later separately for pain, it can be easy to see how an accidental overdose can happen.

2. Consider Buying Active Ingredients Separately: Personally, I do this because I found it difficult to remember which medications I was taking and at what time. Also, I realized I didn’t always need to take a medication that had several active ingredients when I only needed something to help with a cough or pain. This ultimately gave me more control over how to better address my symptoms and less worry about accidentally overdosing.

Some of you might recognize this brand, which has been around for a while. It is a good example of an OTC with only one active ingredient: a cough suppressant.

Potential for Dependence

Since we’re discussing OTC medications, I’m not going to go over prescription cough medications, which can have codeine (a narcotic) in them. However, psychological dependence can still happen if a person relies on medication to feel better too often, which can make it harder for them to manage symptoms without medications.

Child Safety

Children Are Not Small Adults: It can be easy to assume that children can take smaller doses of the same medications as adults, but this is not the case. Some medicines, like Aspirin, have the potential to be quite dangerous for children. Always check with a pharmacist or physician first before giving what’s in the medicine cabinet.

Use Pediatric Formulations: Many cold and flu medications already exist that are specifically formulated for children. Consider buying a children’s cold and cough medication just for the kids to make it a little easier and safer when dosing.

Keep Out of Reach: Kids can be quite curious without a real understanding of safety and consequences. Also, many cough syrups or chewable medications may come in flavors some children enjoy, and they may be tempted to get into them, such as my older brother when he discovered children’s multivitamins as a young child. Luckily, the vitamins contained nothing unsafe as he was caught eating them by the handful. However, this story still highlights the need always to have a way to secure medications safely away from children.

Natural Remedies

Oftentimes, natural remedies are the best course of action for treating viral illnesses. Although OTC medications might give quick relief, they can also sometimes prolong illnesses and symptoms by suppressing the body’s natural defenses. And they are often safer with fewer side affects.

Drink Plenty of Fluids: Stay hydrated and thin out mucous secretions by drinking plenty of water and other liquids.

Nasal Decongestant: OTC saline spray (not medication nasal sprays) can be a great natural way to help decongest the nasal passage and sinuses. Often used like a netty pot, the saline can help wash out mucous and has the added benefit of being antimicrobial. Also, for years, many people with severe seasonal allergies have touted this method for keeping their symptoms under control.

Natural Cough Suppressant: Honey is an effective cough suppressant. Some studies even showed it as effective or better than some OTC cough suppressants.Honey for treatment of cough in children - PMC.

Natural Anti-Inflammatories: Omega3, Ginger, Green tea, and Turmeric are effective natural anti-inflammatories and can have other beneficial health effects. Natural anti-inflammatory agents for pain relief - PMC

Remember:

• Read the Label Carefully: Always follow the dosage instructions on the label.

• Consult a Healthcare Professional: If you have underlying health conditions or are unsure about medication usage, seek advice from a doctor or pharmacist.

• Avoid Combining Medications: Check with a healthcare provider before taking multiple OTC medications to avoid potential interactions.

• Prioritize Natural Remedies: Consider natural remedies like rest, hydration, and over-the-counter saline nasal sprays to alleviate symptoms.

By understanding the risks of overusing OTC medications, we can take a proactive approach to managing our health and avoiding unnecessary harm.