Cold and flu (4/5)

Recovering from a Cold or Flu at Home
Rest, Fluids, and Over-the-Counter Relief Explained

When a cold or flu strikes, recovery often happens at home with rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medicines that ease specific symptoms. Understanding which active ingredients treat which symptoms—and what cautions apply to adults over 50—can help you feel better while staying safe.

Why Rest Matters During Recovery

Rest gives your body the energy it needs to fight off the virus. When you sleep or relax quietly, your immune system can focus on producing the cells and proteins that battle infection.

Pushing through illness and staying busy may prolong your symptoms or make you feel worse. Light activity around the house is usually fine if you feel up to it, but now is the time to let chores wait and accept help from family or friends.

Resting also reduces your risk of spreading the virus to others. Staying home while you are contagious protects those around you.

The Role of Fluids in Recovery

Drinking enough fluids helps your body in several important ways. Staying hydrated keeps mucus thinner and easier to clear from your nose and chest. It also supports your immune system and helps regulate body temperature when you have a fever.

Water is a good choice. Warm liquids like broth, herbal tea, or warm water with lemon can soothe a sore throat and feel comforting. Some people find that warm drinks also help loosen mucus.

Drinks with caffeine or alcohol may contribute to dehydration. The amount of fluid you need varies based on your body size, activity level, fever, and how much you are sweating or losing through mucus, so let your thirst guide you and sip throughout the day.

Understanding Over-the-Counter Medicines for Symptom Relief

Over-the-counter medicines do not cure a cold or flu, but they can ease uncomfortable symptoms while your body recovers. Each active ingredient targets specific problems, so reading labels carefully helps you choose what you actually need.

Many products combine multiple ingredients to treat several symptoms at once. These combination products can be convenient, but they also raise the risk of taking too much of one ingredient if you are not careful.

For Runny Nose and Sneezing: First-Generation Antihistamines

First-generation antihistamines like diphenhydramine and chlorpheniramine can dry up a runny nose and reduce sneezing. These medicines work by blocking histamine, a chemical your body releases during an immune response.

Important safety caution for older adults: These first-generation antihistamines cause drowsiness and can also increase the risk of falls, confusion, and dizziness in people over 50. They may affect balance and coordination even if you do not feel especially sleepy.

If you choose to use these medicines, avoid driving or operating machinery, and be extra careful moving around your home, especially at night. Do not combine them with alcohol or other medicines that cause drowsiness without asking a pharmacist first.

For Stuffy Nose: Pseudoephedrine

Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that shrinks swollen blood vessels in your nasal passages, making it easier to breathe through your nose. It works differently than antihistamines and does not usually cause drowsiness.

You will find pseudoephedrine behind the pharmacy counter. You do not need a prescription, but you will need to ask the pharmacist and show identification due to federal purchasing limits.

Note: Many cold medicines sold on open store shelves contain oral phenylephrine instead. In 2023, an FDA advisory committee concluded that oral phenylephrine does not work to relieve nasal congestion, so check the active ingredients on the label.

Important safety caution: Pseudoephedrine can raise blood pressure and heart rate. If you have high blood pressure, heart disease, or certain other conditions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine. It can also cause jitteriness or make it hard to sleep, especially if taken late in the day.

For Dry Cough: Dextromethorphan

A dry cough that does not bring up mucus can be irritating and interfere with rest. Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant that works in the brain to reduce the urge to cough.

This ingredient can help you sleep better at night when coughing keeps you awake. Follow the label directions and ask a pharmacist if you take other medicines, as dextromethorphan can interact with certain prescription drugs.

For Chest Congestion: Guaifenesin

Guaifenesin is an expectorant that helps thin mucus in your chest, making it easier to cough up. This can be helpful when you have a productive cough that brings up phlegm.

Drinking plenty of fluids while taking guaifenesin may help the medicine work. Remember that coughing up mucus is your body’s way of clearing the infection, so suppressing a productive cough is usually not recommended.

For Fever, Aches, and Sore Throat: Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen

Both acetaminophen and ibuprofen reduce fever and ease body aches, headache, and sore throat pain. They work in different ways, and some people find one more helpful than the other.

Acetaminophen is generally easier on the stomach, but taking too much can harm your liver. Many combination cold and flu products contain acetaminophen, so check every label carefully to make sure you are not taking it twice.

Important safety caution for acetaminophen: Never exceed the maximum daily amount listed on the label. If you drink alcohol regularly, talk with your doctor about safe use of acetaminophen.

Important safety cautions for ibuprofen: This medicine needs caution if you have kidney disease, stomach ulcers, heart disease, or if you take blood thinners. Ibuprofen can irritate the stomach, especially when taken on an empty stomach or for several days in a row. Taking it with food may help reduce stomach upset.

If you are unsure which option is safer for you, ask your pharmacist or doctor.

Reading Labels and Avoiding Doubled-Up Ingredients

Many over-the-counter cold and flu products combine multiple active ingredients in one pill, capsule, or liquid. Before taking any medicine, read the “Active Ingredients” section on the label to see exactly what you are getting.

If you take more than one product—for example, a daytime multi-symptom formula and a separate pain reliever—you may accidentally take the same ingredient twice. This is especially common with acetaminophen, which appears in many combination products.

Taking too much of any ingredient increases your risk of side effects and can be dangerous. When in doubt, ask a pharmacist to review everything you are taking.

Safety First: Ask Your Pharmacist Before Combining Products

Pharmacists are trained to spot potential problems with medicine combinations. Before taking multiple over-the-counter products together, or before adding over-the-counter medicines to your prescription drugs, ask your pharmacist to review your full list.

This is especially important if you have ongoing health conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, or stomach problems. Bring a list of all your current medicines, including vitamins and supplements, so the pharmacist can give you accurate advice.

Your pharmacist can also help you choose the simplest, safest option for your specific symptoms rather than a multi-symptom product that includes ingredients you do not need.

Putting It All Together

Recovering from a cold or flu takes time, usually one to two weeks. Rest and fluids form the foundation of home care, while over-the-counter medicines can ease specific symptoms.

Choose medicines based on the symptoms that bother you. Use the lowest amount that provides relief, follow label directions, and watch for side effects, especially if you are trying a medicine for the first time.

Part 5 of this series will explain the warning signs that mean you should seek medical care. If you develop trouble breathing, chest pain, or sudden confusion at any time, call 911 right away.

Being informed about the medicines you take and the cautions that apply to older adults helps you recover safely and comfortably at home.

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Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not replace professional medical advice. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before making changes to your health care, and call 911 in an emergency.