Is allergy medicine effective for colds with the same symptoms?
Question by Mellorine: Is allergy medicine effective for colds with the same symptoms?
I got a cold, and we have no actual cold medicine. We have allergy medicine (Reactine), which is made to treat the symptoms I currently have. If the symptoms are the same, are the treatments interchangeable? Or would it be completely ineffective since the cause of a cold is completely different from the cause of an allergic reaction?
Additionally, we have cough medicine (Buckley’s), which treats all the cold symptoms I don’t currently have. (coughing, sore throat – don’t have those. I’ve got sneezing, eyes watering, a stuffed nose, and headaches.) Would there be any merit in taking that?
Best answer:
Answer by pharmexp82
A cold is basically an allergy to the virus causing the cold.
If caught early zinc lozenses are good
If not caught early here is what to do
STopped up nose take an decongestant like pseudofed
running nose take an antihistamine like Zyrtec or a cheaper antihistamine like chlorpheniramime
cough take delsym or mucinex
I like non combination products because it seems that the symptoms change every few days and there are some mild side effects of these meds. I am not sure what is in reactine, but if it is made for the symptoms you have it should work. Also, drugs are not miracles…they just help the symptoms. Don’t expect for them to totally make the sympoms go away.
hope this helps
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I try not to use any cold meds if I don’t have to! I really focus on prevention with my Vidazorb probiotic, lots of whole foods and green tea for antioxidants. If I do get a cold, I will use my humidifier, peppermint tea and baths with essential oil! I am sticking with the most natural ways as possible!