What medicine should I take when I get a cold?

As ' m glad you ' re looking for help ! However , I must point out that there is no specific medicine that can c ure a cold . C olds are caused by vir uses , and ant ib iot ics are not effective against vir al in fe ctions . \n Inst ead , there are several over - the - counter ( OT C ) medic ations and home rem ed ies that can help alle vi ate sympt oms such as con g estion , c ough , and s ore thro at . These include : \n 1 . P ain rel ie vers : Ac et amin oph en ( Ty len ol ) or i bu pro fen ( Ad vil , Mot rin ) can help reduce fe ver and rel ieve head ache , s ore thro at , and body ach es . \n 2 . De con gest ants : Pse udo e ph ed r ine ( S ud af ed ) or phen yle phr ine ( S ud af ed P E ) can help rel ieve nas al con g estion . \n 3 . C ough suppress ants : Rob it uss in or D els ym can help reduce c ough ing . \n 4 . Ex pect or ants : Gu a if enes in ( M uc ine x ) can help lo osen and thin m uc us , making it easier to c ough up . \n 5 . Sal ine nas al sp ray s : Ocean or Sim ply Sal ine can help mo ist ur ize the nas al pass ages and lo osen m uc us . \n 6 . Hum id ifiers : Adding mo ist ure to the air can help rel ieve con g estion and c ough . \n 7 . Rest : Getting plenty of rest can help your body fight off the in fection . \n 8 . St ay ing hyd r ated : Dr inking plenty of flu ids can help thin m uc us and prevent de h yd r ation . \n It ' s important to note that these medic ations may have side effects , so it ' s essential to follow the instructions and pre ca utions on the label . If your sympt oms persist or w ors en , or if you experience difficulty breath ing , ch est pain , or a fe ver over 1 0 2 ° F , seek medical attention . \n Rem ember , the best way to prevent col ds is to practice good h yg iene , such as was hing your hands frequently , avoid ing close contact with people who are sick , and avoid ing sharing personal items like to w els or ut ens ils . </s>