Dr. Mom has been practicing medicine for over 30 years, and has raised two children. She has learned that people sometimes need both the knowledge of a doctor and the comfort of a mom. Dr. Mom, when someone has a cold, what kinds of over-the-counter medication can they take? Over-the-counter (OTC) treatments are medications you can get without a prescription. They usually are marketed under familiar brand names, like Motrin or Tylenol, and commonly can be found at your local pharmacy. But with all of the options you see on the pharmacy shelves, it can be hard to figure out what kind of medication will work best for your symptomsAnalgesics are one important type of OTC medicine. Commonly referred to as pain-killers, analgesics include aspirin, Motrin, and Tylenol. Taking any analgesic will reduce your pain, but Tylenol is the most effective at reducing fevers. Remember, if youre treating a child, never give aspirin to someone under the age of 12. When you have a runny nose or are stuffed up, there are two kinds of medicine that can help. Pseudoephedrine, commonly sold under the brand name Sudafed, helps dry and clear nasal passages and will also make you feel alert and awake. Make sure to check with a doctor before taking pseudoephedrine, as it can be dangerous for people with high blood pressure or a history of heart disease. Combination medications containing Antihistimines, such as Actifed, block histamines, which can help to dry a runny nose. Antihistimines often cause drowsiness. Both of these medications can help you get through your cold, just be sure to take the right one at the right time of day. Another way to treat stuffiness or a runny nose is with a decongestant like phenylephrine, which is sold under the brand name Neo-Synephrine. Decongestants help to reduce swelling and can provide quick relief. Some decongestants can cause drowsiness, so make sure you check the label before taking them. Be careful not to use decongestants for more than 5 days in a row, since this can actually lead to worse congestion in the long run. If you have a wet cough where you are producing mucus, you should use an expectorant. Expectorants, found in branded medications like Robitussin, work by thinning mucus so that it can more easily be coughed up. Once the mucus has been expelled, coughing lessens considerably. Also, take note if your mucus is green, be sure to see your physician immediately, as this is often a symptom of pneumonia or bronchitis. On the other hand, if you have a dry cough without much mucus, you should use a cough suppressant like dextomethorphan. These medications work by blocking the cough reflex center in the brain. No one likes having a cold. But treating each symptom with the right medicine and avoiding medicines that arent recommended for your symptoms is the way to feel better while you get healthy. So, the next time you or someone in your family is under the weather, youll be able to make them feel better faster. And remember, if you or a loved one is sick for more than 7 days, please see a physician. Im Dr. Mom, and thanks for listening.