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Cold and Cough Medicines
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Drug Therapy

Cold and Cough Medicines

Cold and cough medicines can help relieve symptoms of a common cold, though they do not cure the underlying illness.

What are cold and cough medicines?

Cold and cough medicines can help relieve symptoms of a common cold. The symptoms of a cold can include a sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, and coughing.

You don't usually need to treat a cold or the cough that it causes. You can't cure a cold, and antibiotics won't help you get better. But sometimes the symptoms can keep you awake or cause a lot of discomfort. In that case, cold and cough medicines can sometimes be helpful.

What are the different types of cold and cough medicines?

There are lots of different cold and cough medicines, and they do different things:

  • Nasal decongestants - unclog a stuffy nose
  • Cough suppressants - quiet a cough
  • Expectorants - loosen mucus in your lungs so you can cough it up
  • Antihistamines - stop runny noses and sneezing
  • Pain relievers - ease fever, headaches, and minor aches and pains

What do I need to know about taking cold and cough medicines?

Before taking these medicines, read the labels and follow the instructions carefully. Many cold and cough medicines contain the same active ingredients. For example, some of them include pain relievers. If you are taking these medicines and are also taking a separate pain reliever, you could be getting a dangerous amount of the pain reliever.

Do not give cold or cough medicines to children under two, and don't give aspirin to children.

What else can I do to feel better for a cold or cough?

If you decide that you don't want to take cold and cough medicines, there are other ways to feel better:

  • Drink lots of fluids
  • Get plenty of rest
  • Use a cool mist humidifier
  • Use saline nose drops or sprays
  • Use nasal suctioning with a bulb syringe, which can be very helpful in children under a year old

Frequently Asked Questions

cough suppressant, or antitussive, works to quiet the cough reflex and is best used for dry, hacking coughs that interfere with sleep or rest. An expectorant helps thin and loosen mucus in the lungs, making it easier to cough up, and is best used for wet, productive coughs. Using a suppressant for a productive cough can trap mucus in the lungs, potentially leading to infection, so it is important to match the medication type to the nature of your cough.
Oral decongestants like pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine work by constricting blood vessels to reduce nasal swelling, but this mechanism can also raise blood pressure and increase heart rate. For individuals with hypertension, heart disease, or thyroid problems, these effects can be dangerous. These patients should generally avoid oral decongestants and instead use saline nasal sprays or consult their doctor for safer alternatives.
Pregnant and breastfeeding individuals should exercise extreme caution with cold and cough medicines. Many ingredients, such as certain antihistamines and decongestants, can pass into breast milk or affect fetal development. It is essential to consult a healthcare provider before taking any medication during pregnancy or lactation to determine which specific ingredients are safe and to avoid those that may pose risks to the baby.
Many cold and cough medicines are combination products that contain multiple active ingredients, such as acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, or antihistamines. Taking two different brands that both contain acetaminophen, for example, can lead to an accidental overdose, which can cause severe liver damage. Always read the "Active Ingredients" section on every label to ensure you are not exceeding the recommended daily limit for any single component.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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