How do other cough/cold combos work?
Other cough/cold combos include different combinations of medications that are used in the treatment of common conditions such as cough, cold, flu, sinus congestion, and headaches. Each medication in the combo works in unique ways to relieve congestion, fever, headache, and other minor aches and pains.
Other cough/cold combos are formulations of analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), expectorants, and decongestants in various combinations. Other cough/cold combos may combine two or more of the following medications:
- Acetaminophen: Acetaminophen is an analgesic that relieves pain by blocking the synthesis of prostaglandin in the central nervous system (CNS). Prostaglandin is a fatty compound in the body that has many functions including initiation of inflammation. Acetaminophen reduces fever by inhibiting the hypothalamus, the heat-regulating center in the brain.
- Guaifenesin: Guaifenesin is an expectorant that increases the volume of fluid in the respiratory tract secretions, reducing the viscosity of phlegm and making it easier to cough it up.
- NSAIDs: NSAIDs control inflammation by inhibiting the activity of enzymes known as cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2), essential for the biosynthesis of prostaglandin. NSAIDs may also inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory chemicals (cytokines) and the movement and aggregation of immune cells. NSAIDs used in other cough/cold combos include:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
- Phenylephrine: Phenylephrine is a decongestant that relieves symptoms of upper respiratory tract irritation. Phenylephrine constricts blood vessels and reduces excessive blood flow into the irritated tissue, shrinks swollen mucus membranes, and reduces nasal congestion.
- Pseudoephedrine: Pseudoephedrine is an adrenergic agonist that reduces nasal and sinus congestion and relieves symptoms of cold, flu, and sinus headache. Pseudoephedrine stimulates alpha and beta receptors, protein molecules that regulate the contraction of smooth muscles of the bronchial passage and blood vessels, which results in vasoconstriction and bronchodilation.
Other cough/cold combos commonly available include the following:
- Acetaminophen/guaifenesin
- Acetaminophen/phenylephrine
- Acetaminophen/pseudoephedrine
- Acetaminophen/phenylephrine/guaifenesin
- Acetaminophen/pseudoephedrine/guaifenesin
- Phenylephrine/guaifenesin
- Guaifenesin/pseudoephedrine
- Ibuprofen/phenylephrine
- Ibuprofen/pseudoephedrine
- Naproxen/pseudoephedrine
What are the uses of other cough/cold combos?
Other cough/cold combos are available over the counter in different strengths and formulations in the form of oral tablets, capsules, caplets, solutions, liquids, and syrups. Cough/cold combos may be used to treat the following:
- Cough
- Fever
- Headache
- Minor aches and pains
- Flu symptoms
- Nasal congestion
- Sinus congestion and headaches
- Congestion with mucus
- Allergic cold
What are side effects of other cough/cold combos?
Side effects of other cough/cold combos may vary with each type of drug. Side effects may include:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Gastrointestinal upset
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Gastrointestinal perforation, ulcers, and bleeding
- Skin rash
- Exfoliative dermatitis (redness and peeling of the skin)
- Blood disorders with low blood cell count such as:
- Anemia (low red blood cells)
- Aplastic anemia (anemia due to reduced red cell production)
- Hemolytic anemia (anemia from rapid destruction of red cells)
- Neutropenia (low count of neutrophils, a type of immune cells)
- Leukopenia (low count of leukocytes, a type of immune cells)
- Pancytopenia (low count of all types of blood cells)
- Hepatotoxicity (toxicity to the liver)
- Increase in bilirubin level
- Increase in alkaline phosphatase
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Palpitations
- Reflex tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)
- Arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythm)
- Atrial fibrillations (irregular heartbeat in the atrium)
- Premature ventricular beats
- Cardiovascular collapse with hypotension (low blood pressure)
- Congestive heart failure (CHF)
- Respiratory difficulty
- Bronchospasm
- Severe peripheral and visceral vasoconstriction
- Thromboembolism (blood vessel block due to blood clot)
- Pallor
- Tremor
- Weakness
- Excitability
- Restlessness
- Nervousness
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Hallucinations
- Convulsions
- Depression or stimulation of the central nervous system (CNS)
- Dysuria (painful urination)
Information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.
What are names of some of the other cough/cold combos?
Generic and brand names of some of the other cough/cold combos include:
- acetaminophen/guaifenesin
- acetaminophen/phenylephrine
- acetaminophen/phenylephrine/guaifenesin
- acetaminophen/pseudoephedrine
- acetaminophen/pseudoephedrine/guaifenesin
- Advil Cold and Sinus
- Advil Congestion Relief
- Aleve-D Sinus & Headache
- Allerest Allergy and Sinus Relief
- Children's Tylenol Cold Daytime
- Comtrex Deep Chest Cold Non-Drowsy
- Congestac
- Excedrin Sinus Headache
- Genatap Sinus Maximum Strength
- guaifenesin/pseudoephedrine
- Guaifenex PSE
- ibuprofen/phenylephrine
- ibuprofen/pseudoephedrine
- Mapap Sinus Maximum Strength
- Medi-Synal
- Mucinex D
- Mucinex Fast-Max Cold & Sinus
- naproxen/pseudoephedrine
- Omex
- Oranyl Plus
- phenylephrine/guaifenesin
- QlearQuil Daytime Sinus & Congestion Relief
- Refenesen Plus
- Robitussin Peak Cold Nasal Relief
- Sine-Off Non-Drowsy Maximum Strength Tablets
- Sinus-Relief
- Sinutab Non-Drying
- Sinutab Sinus Maximum Strength Tablets
- Sudafed PE Non-Drying Sinus Caplets
- Sudafed PE Sinus Headache
- Sudafed PE Triple Action
- Sudafed Triple Action
- Theraflu Warming Relief Cold & Chest Congestion
- Tylenol Chest Congestion
- Tylenol Chest Congestion Daytime Non-Drowsy
- Tylenol Cold Daytime
- Tylenol Infants Drops Plus Cold
- Tylenol Sinus Congestion & Pain Daytime
- Tylenol Sinus Congestion & Pain Severe
- Tylenol Sinus Daytime
- Tylenol Sinus Severe Congestion Daytime
- Vicks DayQuil Sinus
