Do flu and cold “remedies” just prolong the agony?

RosiesMaw2

jocork

-'If you need antibiotics pharmacists can now prescribe them and there are online pharmacies where you can also buy them without prescription.'-

It is important not to take antibiotics for viral infections as they are only effective for bacterial infections. Overuse of antibiotics can result in antibiotic resistance. Most colds and flu are viral infections and you just need to treat the symptoms to feel better and allow your own immne system to fight the infection.
Only get antibiotics if there is evidence of a bacterial infection such as coughing up green gunge or wheezing which may indicate a chest infection.

Just to add nobody was talking about antibiotics, but “cold remedies” (OTC) which generally contain paracetamol or ibuprofen, a decongestant, something like phenylephrine hydrochloride and, in the daytime versions, caffeine.

The OP didn't mention antibiotics however I quoted biglouis who did and that conserned me!

jocork

-'If you need antibiotics pharmacists can now prescribe them and there are online pharmacies where you can also buy them without prescription.'-

It is important not to take antibiotics for viral infections as they are only effective for bacterial infections. Overuse of antibiotics can result in antibiotic resistance. Most colds and flu are viral infections and you just need to treat the symptoms to feel better and allow your own immne system to fight the infection.
Only get antibiotics if there is evidence of a bacterial infection such as coughing up green gunge or wheezing which may indicate a chest infection.

Just to add nobody was talking about antibiotics, but “cold remedies” (OTC) which generally contain paracetamol or ibuprofen, a decongestant, something like phenylephrine hydrochloride and, in the daytime versions, caffeine.

My son in law had this a couple of weeks ago and their young Labrador refused to be in the same room as him! He was mystified as he is retired and always cares for her when my dd who is semi retired is working. He felt quite hurt. Maybel the Labrador is very intelligent but I didn’t realise how intelligent.🤣

Another one who uses Echinacea, but only the drops, i found the tablets didnt work nearly as well for me.

One of my daughters swears by echinacea tablets. I don’t know, personally but she says they work in cutting the time down.

-'If you need antibiotics pharmacists can now prescribe them and there are online pharmacies where you can also buy them without prescription.'-

It is important not to take antibiotics for viral infections as they are only effective for bacterial infections. Overuse of antibiotics can result in antibiotic resistance. Most colds and flu are viral infections and you just need to treat the symptoms to feel better and allow your own immne system to fight the infection.
Only get antibiotics if there is evidence of a bacterial infection such as coughing up green gunge or wheezing which may indicate a chest infection.

I rarely take the usual cold remedies but at the first sign of a cold I take echinacea tablets and if my throat is sore I take manuka honey. These often nip things in the bud.
I also take vitamin C daily as well as zinc and vitamin D. I don't often get colds and I think this may be protecting me. During the pandemic we were encouraged to take vitamin D supplements to strengthen our immune systems but I was already taking those supplements. They even painted the recomendations on a pavement in our road!

it is a bloody horrible hanging on cold isn't it? even my dog feels sorry for me

However Amazon can deliver most of these things same or next day.
Amazon must have had a run on a certain herbal cough mixture because the ETA was five weeks although mine did arrive in two weeks.

Also Tiger Balm on the forehead is great for headaches

I think there is much to be said for rest, maybe in bed. Plus drink plenty of fluids, I make my wonder drink of slices of lemon, a clove of garlic, four spoons honey and boiling water.
Sometimes I may mix a beechams powder in it too, but on its own it is very healing and comforting.

I agree with posters upthread that all these medications are simply making the symptoms easier to bear rather than "curing" the illness itself. For fit people your body will cure itself of the likes of cold, coughs and flu. Its when you get older or have weak immunity that you need to be more careful.

The symptoms described by OP - especially the throat like razer blades, difficulty swallowing and general lethargy sound like what my nephew had a couple of weeks ago. It also affected his sense of taste, making him sel sick when he tried to eat anything solid. Lasted for about 10 days.

I think that all any of us can do is to keep in stock some basic medications like paracetamol, cough medicine, and so on. I find that olbus oil is very useful for coughs and stuffed up heads and kaolin and morphine is my old standby for upset stomachs.

However Amazon can deliver most of these things same or next day. If you need antibiotics pharmacists can now prescribe them and there are online pharmacies where you can also buy them without prescription.

My Husband's Uncle was a well respected Pharmacist. Even years ago he would say don't waste your money on all these so called remedies. Plenty fluid, honey , lemon and paracetamol ( add blackcurrant if you wish) hot toddy before bed. Plenty fresh air.

Georgesgran

My friends daughter, who is a Chemist, swears by echinacea to reduce the length of a cold. I got some, but didn’t think it made any difference,

There was once a comedy on TV where it was alleged someone had found the cure to the common cold, the instructions were to take it every day and the cold would be gone in 10-14 days!! 😂

I swear by Echinacea to boost the immune system. I have the drops and put some in a cold diluted drink. I have Ribena.
When I feel like I have a cold coming on I use it and it doesn't come to anything.

I've had a few sniffles - for me lemon and honey in my tea.

My family have had similar symptoms, and it hospitalised poor wee GS!
The Doc thinks it's RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), which seems very prevalent at the moment.
It can be dangerous to the very young or the frail and elderly, and there's not much you can do except to rest and sit it out with the usual remedies.
We were warned that it can lead to secondary infections which require antibiotics, so if you're struggling, it might be best to try to see your GP.
Hope you all feel better very soon!

Thank you. The nurse says this infection is probably viral so no antibiotics just an inhaler.

Mouse

Three weeks ago I had an annoying cough and I felt really washed out and tired. On the Friday I went to bed early I was so worn out. I woke up at 2am gasping for breath. To cut a long story short, I ended up in hospital with pneumonia. I felt really unwell. So make sure you take care of yourself. A visit to the doctor sounds sensible. I’ve recovered from pneumonia and now have an upper respiratory tract infection. I’m fed up of feeling ill.

Oh dear, that sounds dreadful Mouse
Do you need more antibiotics? Hope you get better soon.

We saw a friend of DH's the other week (buying cough mixture, as was I) and he said his wife had this awful cough which had turned into a chest infection, and was on her second lot of antibiotics.

Sorry, last message wasn’t meant to be to anyone in particular

emmasnan

I've had this for over two weeks and nothing seemed to work, now on day 16 and quite an improvement, although still tired.

Hope you feel better soon.

First sign of a cold or sore throat I eat raw onion, usually with a slice of the cheap packet ham. Probably not pleasant to be near but I eat as much as I can manage throughout the day. Fingers crossed so far so good.

Interesting to read all this as I am experiencing a cold for the first time in 20 years! I take Echinacea every day and up the dose the minute I suspect a cold symptoms. This time however I had forgotten to pack the Echinacea when I went for an overnight stop at my granddaughters and the 'cold donor' was staying overnight as well. Anyway, I took the pills the moment I got home but now have this dreadful beast living within me. This is my third day of it, with every symptom described above. Now I'll just have to hope the Echinacea will at least shorten the length of time it lingers! No advice or suggestions regarding what to take for it - I just rest and eat when and what I fancy.

I take a regular zinc tablet that seems to help with preventing infections like colds. I also keep a regular exercise and my house isn’t hot.

Three weeks ago I had an annoying cough and I felt really washed out and tired. On the Friday I went to bed early I was so worn out. I woke up at 2am gasping for breath. To cut a long story short, I ended up in hospital with pneumonia. I felt really unwell. So make sure you take care of yourself. A visit to the doctor sounds sensible. I’ve recovered from pneumonia and now have an upper respiratory tract infection. I’m fed up of feeling ill.

No they don't do anything to alter the course of the infection unless they make you feel so well that you don't bother to also take care to get enough rest etc.

Missiseff

Don't waste your money. Except for paracetamol for pain and fever, go natural. Honey and lemon in hot water. The only people that benefit from over the counter 'remedies' are the companies that produce them.

I actually find the over the counter cold and flu remedies work pretty well, they enable you to function by reducing the symptoms. I find I sleep better because of the decongestants and headache relief, so am better able to cope with another day. Obviously they're unlikely to reduce the length of your illness, though I feel that a good night's sleep may help your body recover.