A cold is a mild viral disease that may inflame the mucous membranes of the nose, throat, and bronchial tubes. A cold is contagious; it can be spread by coughing and sneezing. There is no cure for the common cold; however, many OTC products alleviate its symptoms.

Symptoms of a cold include sneezing, runny nose, congestion, sore throat, cough, headache, fatigue, and fever. A person with a cold may not necessarily have all of these symptoms. It is recommended that you treat just the symptoms you are actually experiencing.

Antihistamine are commonly included in cold remedies to dry up runny noses and help prevent sneezing. Many healthcare professionals do not believe antihistamines are of value for colds. Nevertheless, antihistamines such as diphenhydramine, clemastine, brompheniramine, and chlorpheniramine are commonly found in cold preparations.

Acetaminophen is an effective OTC fever reducer. It may also help with headache and sore throat.

If you have a dry (nonproductive) cough, you may want to suppress it with an antitussive. Effective OTC cough medicines should contain either dextromethorphan or codeine. If you have a cough that is eliminating phlegm (productive cough), you may wish not to suppress it unless it is excessively bothersome or is preventing sleep.

Lozenges and gargles/mouthwashes may provide temporary relief from sore throat pain. When selecting these products, search the ingredient list for local anesthetics such as benzocaine, menthol, dyclonine, and phenol.

When selecting a cold medicine, try to choose a medicine that contains active ingredients intended for your actual symptoms.