Cough & Cold Treatments

TL;DR

The ingredients found in a great deal of over the counter cough, cold and flu treatments are ineffective.

The ingredients you'll find in cough, cold and flu treatments, especially of the over the counter type, are often ineffective and unproven. Keep reading for a quick reference so you don't waste money or suffer needlessly, but first a quick explanation of the terms used;

anaesthetic - reduces sensation including pain (temporarily)
analgesic - reduces pain
antipyretic - reduces fever
antiseptic - reduces the possibility of sepsis, infection or putrefaction
antitussive - reduces and/or suppresses coughing - should only be used by adults with dry coughs, not mucus producing ones
decongestant - reduces or relieves nasal congestion (in the upper respiratory tract) - can cause high blood pressure
expectorant - reduces mucus or sputum production or viscosity, or increases it's transportation (clearance from the airways)
humectant - substances that keep things moist

Neither in this article but, as they are common remedies for a cold, please remember that children under 1 year old should not be given honey and children under 18 years old should not be given aspirin.

Effective Treatments

Ibuprofen - analgesic
Paracetamol/Tylenol - analgesic and antipyretic
Phenylephrine - Spray Form - decongestant in spray form only
Promethazine - reduces sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes
Pseudoephedrine - effective oral decongestant not available over the counter (OTC)
Amylmetacresol (AMC) - typically found in throat lozenges; a topical antiseptic and local anaesthetic used to treat mouth and throat infections and associated pain - effective but mild ¹, ²
Hexylresorcinol - as above

Ineffective Treatments

Codeine - a claimed antitussive ³
Dextromethorphan - another claimed antitussive ⁴
Diphenhydramine - yet another claimed antitussive ⁴
Glycerol/Glycerine - a claimed humectant
Guaifenesin/Glyceryl Guaiacolate Ether (GGE) - a claimed expectorant and antitussive ⁵
Phenylephrine - Tablet Form - a claimed decongestant which does not work if taken orally

Cough & Cold Treatments

Effective Treatments

Ineffective Treatments

References