Cold Medications

[mdono]

I have quite the cold; I need a good decongestant - any recommendations for that?, and other cold symptoms...

[StrongerToday]

I just take Benedryl at night, I'm super sensitive to other decongestants... feels like I'm on speed!

Also a big beleive in Zycam, but you need to start that within the first 24 hours or so. It is gluten-free, I called them and asked.

[Moongirl]

There is Dayquil sinus which I have taken. Anything from Vicks is gluten-free.

[Elizabeth-Elindel]

What about losenges? What brands are gluten-free that you know of?

[Fiddle-Faddle]

I'm a big believer in leaving your cold alone. I have always gotten over colds faster when I HAVEN'T taken meds for them. Besides, we don't know long-term side effects of the meds, either. And your symptoms are a result of your body's fighting the germs--take the symptoms away, you've taken away your body's fight, too. Let your immune system do its job!

I would suggest drowning the germs and flushing them down the toilet: drink down as much chicken soup, lemonade, tea, Hawaiian Punch--whatever sounds good to you!

[tarnalberry]

I take Mucinex (it's gluten-free). But I also take Nasonex and Advair when I get sick, as it's the only hope I have of not getting a lung infection (and really, it just keeps me from getting a bad lung infection three days after the first sign of a sore throat). (I'm asthmatic, so this is *not* universal advice.) I also sleep a lot, take hot showers, drink a LOT of water, and do nasal rinses.

Following what fiddle-faddle said, however, I do think it's a good idea to try to be complimentary to your symptoms. If I've just started getting a cold, and I'm getting some congestion, I do *not* use Benadryl or the like, as these can dry out the nasal passages. (I'll take it if I *really* can't possibly get any sleep. It's a last ditch medication for me at a time like that. I do keep it on hand for that purpose, but try to avoid using it.) I take the Mucinex (guifennesin) instead, as it's an expectorant that will loosen up the mucuous. Yes, that'll cause more drainage, but you want to help that process get through faster. Same idea with the nasal rinse and hot showers.

I also find that vitamin C drops help a lot. Mostly it's the lozenge, 'sucking' action that helps the throat and nose drainage, and I don't want to use methol or other cough drops, and why waste the calories on pure candy, when you can be getting a bit more vit C in your system at that time.

[lorka150]

Fisherman's Friends are glutenfree, however, if you are in America, I don't know if you have them there. But they are really nice on the throat.

[flagbabyds]

I am for sure a fan of leaving it alone, i have a vicks personal steam inhaler which just gently boils a little water and creates steam that you put your face over, then you can breathe in steam without having to use up all the hot water (when me and my sisters all have colds there is absloutely no hot water...)

[cottonwoodian]

I have quite the cold; I need a good decongestant - any recommendations for that?, and other cold symptoms...

Benadryl is an antihistimine not a deconjestant. I need a decongestant as I have used Sudafed and now think it may not be gutton free I would like a different one. Ohe without an antichistimine. Any information is welcome

[Daxin]

Almost anything by TYLENOL is gluten free. Their cold medication is for sure.

[plantime]

Can you take ibuprofen? It reduces the swelling of your nasal passages. Other than that, try a nasal decongestant spray.