Type of medicine |
Active ingredient |
When to take |
When not to take |
Cough suppressant- |
Dextromethorphan |
Cold, cough |
Symptoms of pneumonia |
Expectorant-mucous thinner |
Guaifenisin |
Cold, cough |
Symptoms of pneumonia |
Oral Decongestant |
Phenylephrine
Pseudoephedrine |
Cold, nasal congestion |
High blood pressure |
Antihistamine |
Diphenhydramine
Loratidine
Fexofenadine |
Runny nose, sneezing; diphenhydramine also helps you sleep |
Do not take diphenhydramine and drive |
Nasal decongestant |
Oymetazoline
Neosynephrine |
Cold, nasal congestion, sinusitis symptoms |
Do not use for more than 3 days at a time |
Analgesic-pain reliever |
Ibuprofen
Naproxen
Acetaminophen
Aspirin |
Headaches, muscle aches, sore throat |
Do NOT give aspirin to children and teenagers |
Fever reducers |
Ibuprofen
naproxen
Acetaminophen
Aspirin |
Fever higher than 101 F |
Do NOT give aspirin to children and teenagers;
A low grade (<100.5 f) may actually help your immune system fight the infection—only treat if needed for comfort; use caution with acetaminophen if active liver disease |
Nasal saline |
Salt water |
Nasal congestion ; sinusitis symptoms |
|
Illness |
Symptoms |
Do I Need To Be Seen In The Clinic? |
Do I Need Antibiotics? |
What Can I Do To Feel Better? |
Common cold |
Cough, low grade fever,
mild sore throat, runny or stuffed up nose |
Usually not: but if you aren’t better in 5-7 days, maybe so. |
No. The cold is caused by a virus. |
Cough suppressants; fever reducers/analgesics; decongestants-oral or nasal; rest; fluids; saline nasal spray or irrigation |
Bronchitis-
“chest cold” |
Persistent cough, usually with or after a cold |
Not usually, unless you have other symptoms like difficulty breathing or have a cough that comes in spasms |
No. Also caused by a virus, even if it lasts longer than a week. |
Cough suppressants; fluids; humidifier; honey and lemon |
Influenza |
Fever, muscle aches, sore throat, high fever (>100.5 F), cough |
Usually not; unless you are elderly, have other significant health problems |
No, influenza is caused by a virus. |
Cough suppressants; fever reducers/ analgesics; rest and fluids; STAY HOME; no one else wants to catch this from you |
Sinusitis |
Headache; pain in front of face or teeth; nasal congestion |
Usually not. Unless you have a high fever or severe pain. |
Usually not. You need to clear the sinus congestion |
Decongestants-either oral or nasal; salt water nasal spray/irrigation; fluids; analgesics |
Strep throat |
Sore throat, fever,
NO cough, headache, rash |
Yes, we need to examine you and do a quick test to determine if you really have strep throat |
Yes, if your strep test is positive; NO if it is a viral sore throat |
Throat lozenges; honey and lemon; analgesics |
Pneumonia |
Cough, fever, shortness of breath, shaking chills |
Yes |
Probably |
Discuss with your provider |
