OT: Help with Head Cold

I just had a text message from a small group that is in route to my house and expects to arrive late this evening and stay until 1/2/2012. One of the party woke this morning with a bad cold.

I rarely have colds, when I do they are mild, and they go away in two days. So I have never taken medicine for colds or allergies.

The thought is to go to Walgreen's and stock up on something for the friend. What do you recommend? (He does not have sleep apnea as far as I know.)

It all depends on what symptoms he has. Cough, congestion, runny nose, sneezing, headache, fever, sinus trouble. Buy one of what seems appropriate. You don't want to overdose him. Hope he feels better. Stay well.

Mary, I just exchanged texts. He has nasal congestion and feels horrible. Asked for acetaminophen and a decongestant.

Should I ask the Walgreen's pharmacist? Should I buy a thermometer to check his temp?

I suggest humidity and something with Mucinex for thinning the phlegm. If you think you need a thermometer, you should probably take him to an minor emergency clinic.. if there's one in the area. A cheap vaporizer for the humidity would probably help everybody cope with the cold dry air.. Unless you're in middle of a steamy summer in southern hemisphere

Tylenol makes multiple cold and flu combination products that will address the symptoms. So look on the package and see what the added ingredients are supposed to fix.

For nighttime use...nasty green Nyquil has always worked the best for relieving the congestion and letting me get some sleep.. There is a daytime version that doesn't taste so nasty and doesn't cause as much drowsiness. Nyquil also comes in caplets so not so vile tasting.

For daytime symptoms I usually just use the Tylenol for Cold symptoms. Nyquil has always allowed me to sleep better at night though.

If your friend has high blood pressure....look for the products that are listed as safe for people with blood pressure problems. Some decongestants are less likely to elevate the BP than others.