And what treatments do you use to reduce your symptoms when a cold hits? Post a comment and let me know. And be sure to check out my earlier post on whether parents of small children get sick more often. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Vancouver Sun Headline News will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again.
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Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Sign up. Start your day with Sunrise, a roundup of B. Manage Print Subscription. Main Menu Search vancouversun. The only way to know if your child will react this way is by giving it to them. Not really. If your child is having difficulty sleeping, it is very important to discuss possible reasons with their doctor.
If your child is itching so much from eczema or other causes, then antihistamines may be helpful to calm this down so they can rest, but we can still use 2 nd generation options instead of older medications. Not at all. This can create problems not only in the eyes, nose and throat but throughout the rest of the body as well. Improvement in a runny nose during a cold is not due to the anti-histamine properties of the medication. There are many reasons why these medications may no longer offer benefit.
Most commonly, they are used inappropriately for symptoms that do not improve with antihistamines. For example, nasal congestion does not improve with antihistamines, which only treat sneezing and itching. The dose may also need to be increased with age or growth.
The common cold is the leading cause of missed work and school days during the winter months. There is no known cure. Because the common cold is a viral infection, antibiotics should be avoided. Treatment is limited to symptom relief and patients will often visit the pharmacy to inquire about OTC remedies. It is important to note that giving OTC medications to children less than 2 years of age may be dangerous; in , the FDA recommended that OTC cough and cold medications be avoided in children younger than 2 years.
There are a multitude of products available to help provide relief from the symptoms of the common cold. Before the pharmacist makes a recommendation, the patient should be assessed to determine if he or she is a candidate for self-treatment Table 2. If patients are suffering from nasal congestion, a systemic or topical decongestant may be appropriate. Decongestants are adrenergic agonists; they cause vasoconstriction, resulting in a decrease in sinusoid engorgement and mucosal edema.
Topical decongestants in the form of nasal sprays include the short-acting products ephedrine, na-phazoline, and phenylephrine and the longer-acting product oxymetazoline. Multiple doses of nasal decongestants seem to provide some relief in patients suffering from nasal congestion due to the common cold. Topical decongestants also relieve nasal congestion. One study evaluated the effect of a single-dose trial of oxymetazoline. The drug reduced nasal airway resistance and symptoms of nasal blockage within 1 hour, with the effect lasting for up to 7 hours.
Decongestants are relatively safe if used appropriately, but their use is associated with many adverse effects resulting from their direct action on adrenergic receptors and stimulation of the central nervous system CNS.
Common adverse effects include insomnia, increased blood pressure, restlessness, anxiety, tachycardia, palpitations, arrhythmias, hallucinations, and urinary dysfunction. To help relieve a runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, and sneezing associated with the common cold, antihistamines may be considered. First-generation antihistamines including brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine, and clemastine, are preferred over the second-generation antihistamines in the management of these symptoms.
Second-generation antihistamines such as cetirizine, fexofenadine, and loratadine do not cross the blood-brain barrier; effectiveness of the first-generation agents appears to be due to their actions on histaminic and muscarinic receptors in the medulla. First-generation antihistamines are associated with a variety of adverse effects because of their ability to interfere with CNS histamine receptors. These agents may cause drowsiness, sedation, somnolence, and fatigue; they should be used with caution in patients who require mental alertness.
They may also potentially impair cognitive function, memory, and psychomotor performance. Many OTC cold preparations contain dextromethorphan, an antitussive, to suppress the cough that is often associated with the common cold and other respiratory infections.
Although available as a single-agent preparation, dextromethorphan is also commonly available in combination with other agents in multisymptom cold and flu products. Multiple studies evaluating the efficacy of these products have been conducted but are limited by small sample size, poor study design, or variability in dosing and frequency of medication use.
When consumed in excessive doses, dextromethorphan is capable of producing hallucinogenic effects similar to those of phencyclidine and ketamine; this has resulted in the drug being abused by some individuals in the community setting. Expectorants are agents that are generally employed to reduce the viscosity and volume of sputum produced by patients suffering from a variety of respiratory conditions. Guaifenesin is the only FDA-approved expectorant and is found in a variety of remedies for the symptomatic relief of acute, ineffective, productive cough.
Although guaifenesin has been available in OTC preparations for decades, its efficacy as an expectorant in cold and flu preparations continues to be questioned. A Cochrane review of cough and cold products failed to find any clinical evidence supporting the clinical efficacy of the drug either alone or in combination.
Despite the lack of trials demonstrating clinical benefit, guaifenesin continues to be promoted as an effective expectorant in OTC products. The drug is considered relatively safe and is not associated with any clinically significant drug interactions.
When used at recommended doses, the drug is relatively well tolerated, with the most common side effect reported to be gastrointestinal intolerance. OTC analgesics and antipyretics such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen are often employed in the management of the generalized pain, headache, and fever associated with the common cold and other viral illnesses. In addition, a recent study suggested that patients who used NSAIDs during an acute respiratory infection tripled their risk of an acute myocardial infarction.
Preventing the spread of common cold viruses is the primary method for reducing the risk of getting a cold. Pharmacists should educate patients on the various methods used to help reduce the risk of getting a cold. Good hygiene practices include washing the hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; avoiding touching the face, eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands; and avoiding contact with infected people.
Patients affected by the common cold often rely on OTC products to help manage their symptoms. Pharmacists are an invaluable resource, providing education and recommendations to ensure safe and appropriate use of OTC medications. It is important to properly assess patients to determine whether they are candidates for self-treatment. It is also important to counsel patients to make sure that they understand potential adverse effects, drug interactions, and warnings associated with any medication.
The common cold usually causes nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing. You may also have a scratchy throat, headaches, and muscle aches; you may feel tired; and you may have a low-grade fever. If a cough occurs, it usually happens on the fourth or fifth day. There is no cure for the common cold, but there are medications that might help relieve some of the symptoms.
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