Allergy and
cold defense
Finding the right drug
to get the job done
RADIUS IMAGES/JUPITER IMAGES
Claritan
Kirkland Signature AllerClear
ANTIHISTAMINES
DECONGESTANTS
MULTI-SYMPTOM REMEDIES
ANTITUSSIVES
EXPECTORANTS
Afrin Nasal Spray
Kirkland Signature Nasal Pump
Delsym
Robitussin
Mucinex
Kirkland Signature Mucus Relief
Tylenol Cold Head Congestion
(pain, cough, congestion)
Nyquil (pain, cough, congestion,
runny nose, sneezing)
Dayquil (pain, cough, congestion)
Thera;u (pain, cough, congestion)
By David Wight
BY THE TIME you head to a Costco Pharmacy to
buy an over-the-counter (OTC) cold or allergy
medication, likely you’re already feeling bad and
suffering from one or more symptoms. That timing
works against you, because, even with a symptom-free, clear head, navigating through the cold and
allergy medication alternatives is a confusing task.
You don’t want to overmedicate or treat symptoms you don’t have, so carefully consider what your
body is telling you. Make a mental checklist of your
symptoms. Are you experiencing:
■ Sneezing ■ Wet cough
■ Runny nose ■ Headache
■ Stuffy nose ■ Fever
■ Dry cough ■ Several of these symptoms
Next, be prepared to read the packaging to
determine what symptoms the OTC medication
Active ingredients
Loratadine
Ceterizine
Active ingredients
Pseudoephedrine (by law, limited quantities,
sold only from behind the counter)
Phenylephrine
Oxymetazoline
Active ingredients
Dextromethorphan
Active ingredients
Guaifenesin
Active ingredients
Acetaminophen, dextromethorphan
guaifenesin, phenylephrine
Acetaminophen, dextromethorphan,
doxylamine (antihistamine)
Acetaminophen, dextromethorphan,
phenylephrine
treats and what side effects might occur. If the package information is unclear, you can always ask the
pharmacy staff for help.
Knowing the common terms used for cold and
allergy medications will speed the process.
The body releases a chemical called a histamine
when it comes into contact with allergens, and that
chemical is responsible for the congestion, sneezing,
runny nose and itching that you suffer with an allergic attack or infection. Antihistamine drugs reduce
those symptoms.
Decongestants are medications that shrink
swollen membranes in the nose, making it easier to
breathe. They can be taken orally or in a nasal spray,
and should not be used if you have been diagnosed
with an irregular heart rhythm, high blood pressure,
heart disease or glaucoma. A recent federal law
requires that one very effective decongestant—
pseudoephedrine—be sold in a controlled fashion
from behind the counter because it can be used to
make an illegal street drug.
For coughs, there are two major drug types to
know about. Antitussive medications are used to
suppress coughing, while expectorants are used to
help dissolve and bring up mucus from the lungs,
relieving respiratory difficulties.
Many multi-symptom medications are available that typically combine two or more types of
drugs to treat an array of symptoms. Often an
analgesic such as aspirin or acetaminophen will be part
of the combination. Analgesics reduce pain and
headaches associated with colds and allergies, and
also act as an antipyretic to lower fevers.
Be sure to check with your doctor to determine
if cold or allergy medications would conflict with
your other treatments. C
In addition to the items listed in the table, you
can also find a selection of natural treatments for
colds on the Costco shelves. Saline nasal washes
such as Ocean Sinus Irrigation and NeilMed Sinus
Rinse are popular for keeping nasal passageways
clear. Airborne and Zicam RapidMelts remain in
high demand among those who want to get a step
ahead of their cold.
