When you catch a cold, you get a lot of symptoms at once, such as fever, body aches, cough, and nasal congestion. So, instead of taking one medicine for each of these, we are used to buying a single pill from the pharmacy to cure all of these. But do you know what is actually inside this one pill, and what are the things you need to be careful about when using it? Let's talk about that today.
What actually happens with these medications?
Simply put, these are a combination of several types of medicine. They are used to temporarily control your symptoms. They do not cure your illness (viral infection), but they reduce the discomfort and provide relief during the days of illness. A pill like this can usually contain all four of these things or more.
| Ingredients | Action |
|---|---|
| Acetaminophen | This is the paracetamol we all know. It reduces fever and body aches. |
| Dextromethorphan | This helps control coughs, especially dry coughs. |
| Guaifenesin | This helps to loosen the mucus in the chest and make it easier to cough up. This means it provides relief from a phlegmy cough. |
| Pseudoephedrine | This reduces the swelling inside the nose and opens up the blocked nose, making it easier to breathe. |
Things to tell your doctor before using this medicine
It is extremely important to tell your doctor if you have any health conditions before taking this type of medication, as this medication is not suitable for everyone.
- If you have diabetes .
- If you have heart disease or high blood pressure .
- If you are a regular drinker .
- If you have kidney disease or liver disease .
- If you have a lung disease , for example, asthma or COPD.
- If you are a man, you have prostate problems .
- If you have a thyroid condition.
- If you have taken an MAOI (e.g. Parnate, Nardil) for depression or another condition within the past two weeks. This is very important.
- If you have had an allergic reaction to these medications or other medications, foods, or preservatives.
- If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant .
- If you are a mother who is breastfeeding .
How exactly do you use this medicine?
Take this medicine with a glass of water. Follow the instructions on the medicine packet or bottle. Never use more than the prescribed dose.
If you are giving this medicine to young children, you should definitely ask a doctor about it. Sometimes these are given to children, but there are special precautions. Also, people over the age of 65 may react more severely to this medicine, so they may need a lower dose.
Overdose
If you suspect that you have taken too much medicine, do not delay. Go to the nearest Emergency Department (ETU) immediately. Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
This medicine is for you only. Never give your medicine to others.
Things to consider while taking the medicine
If your symptoms do not improve after 7 days, or if they worsen, be sure to see a doctor.
Special attention to Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)!
This is the most important thing. These medicines contain paracetamol. If you take other medicines for fever and pain (e.g. Panadol, Calpol) at the same time, the total amount of paracetamol that enters your body can be very high.
Taking too much acetaminophen (paracetamol) can cause severe liver damage. You may not have any symptoms, but if you suspect you've taken too much, seek medical attention immediately. It could be life-saving.
Possible severe skin reactions
Rarely, this medicine can cause a severe skin reaction. This can happen even weeks after starting the medicine. If you have a fever, body aches, red or purple skin rash, blistering, or peeling skin, or a red rash with swelling of the face or lips, see a doctor immediately.
Possible Side Effects
While not everyone can experience side effects from taking this medication, some people may experience them. Let's break them down into two categories.
| Side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
|---|---|
| Allergic Reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue. |
| Liver Injury | Dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing of the eyes or skin, pain in the upper right side of the stomach, loss of appetite. |
| Blistering or peeling skin | Redness, blistering, or peeling of the skin, including inside the mouth. |
| Serotonin Syndrome | Restlessness, confusion, diarrhea, rapid heartbeat, muscle tremors, high fever, sweating. |
| Other | Increased blood pressure, seizures. |
| Usually not serious (but tell your doctor if it persists) | |
| |
Is this medicine one or two antibiotics?
Yes, this is definitely not an antibiotic. Antibiotics kill bacterial infections. Most illnesses, like colds and flu, are caused by viruses. This medicine only controls the symptoms of that viral infection. It does not get rid of the virus.
Take-Home Message
- This type of medicine is just a mixture that temporarily relieves symptoms, not something that cures the disease.
- Always tell your doctor about any other medical conditions you have (diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure) and other medications you are taking before taking the medicine.
- Be very careful about acetaminophen (paracetamol) overdose. Avoid taking other medications containing paracetamol while taking this medication.
- If symptoms do not improve within a week, worsen, or if severe skin damage occurs, see a doctor immediately.
- Avoid giving this medicine to young children without the advice of a doctor.
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