Do you have a case of the sniffles? Otherwise called the ‘common cold’, this particular condition occurs very frequently. On average, people develop a cold at least three times in a year, and while it doesn’t really threaten our health, it can be very inconvenient to deal with. Luckily, many cold medicines are available for us to choose from so we can find our ideal cure.
With so many different options, however, it can be hard to determine which cold medicine will really work best for you. If you’re tired of constantly making the wrong choice, it’s time to find out how to find the best cold medicine for you.
Follow this comprehensive buying guide and find out what you should look for to help you land the best choice.
Top 10 Cold Medicines Comparison Chart
| Picture | Name | Formulation | Price | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. OHCO Cold Snap 120 Capsules - Ease Cold and Flu Symptons - Herbal Medicine | Herbal | $$$$ | 4.8 |
 | 2. Kirkland Signature Day (2x60ct)/Night Time (48ct) Cold Multi-symptom, Rapid Release Gelcaps | Synthetic | $$$$ | 4.8 |
 | 3. TheraFlu Multi Symptom Severe Cold Cough, Green Tea and Honey Lemon, 12 Count | Herbal | $$ | 4.8 |
 | 4. Sambucol Cold and Flu Relief Tablets, Black Elderberry, 30 Count | Herbal | $$$ | 4.7 |
 | 5. Alka-seltzer Plus Day/Night Cold and Flu Liquid Gels, 40 Count | Synthetic | $$ | 4.6 |
 | 6. Contac Cold+Flu Day/Night Combo, 28 Count | Synthetic | $$ | 4.6 |
 | 7. Cold-Eeze Cold Eeze, Cold Remedy, All Natural Cherry Flavor, 18 Lozenges - 1 Pack | Synthetic | $ | 4.6 |
 | 8. Tylenol Cold and Flu Severe Caplets, 24 Count | Synthetic | $$ | 4.5 |
 | 9. Vicks NyQuil Severe Cold & Flu and DayQuil Severe Cold & Flu Caplets Convenience Pack 48 Count | Synthetic | $$$ | 4.1 |
 | 10. Hyland's Defend Cold Plus Mucus Relief Liquid, Natural Cold Expectorant and Decongestant Medicine | Herbal | $$ | 4.0 |
Buying Information for Cold Medicine
Visit any drugstore and you’re likely to find countless cold medicine choices that you can use to help relieve those annoying and often paralyzing symptoms; however, keep in mind that a wide variety of cold medicine means that there are some that will work well for you and others that won’t.
Simply plucking an option out from a shelf won’t guarantee relief – understanding your choice first will help ensure that the product you purchase is really the best for you. Considering these three main factors before making a purchase will help you determine whether you’ve got a good product before you buy it.
- Active Ingredients. Synthetic medications are composed of several different components that allow them to provide relief to users. These are clinically developed, tested, and proven ingredients that are commonly seen in a wide variety of different medications. Your relief depends on the different active ingredients in your chosen cold medicine and what specific symptoms they target.
- Phenylephrine HCL. Because dilated blood vessels can cause congestion, this active ingredient constricts the blood vessels in the nasal passages. For many cold medicines, this is one of the main active ingredients because stuffy nose is a very common symptom of the common cold.
- Dextromethorphan. Cough is another common symptom of colds, and this particular ingredient aims to target that. Considered the safest cough suppressant available today, dextromethorphan can be found in numerous medicines for coughs, colds, and flu.
- Acetaminophen. The pain killer acetaminophen is also known for its ability to reduce fevers, which is why it’s included in some cold medicine formulas. What’s more, acetaminophen also helps relieve headaches that may be caused by sinus congestion.
- Guaifenesin. Because mucus production will be at an all time high during a cold, it’s important that you expel the accumulated mucus to bring down congestion. Guaifenesin works as an expectorant, encouraging the body to cough up mucus to clear out the breathing passageways.
- Herbal Formulation. It’s not uncommon these days to find different herbal cold medicines that are marketed as effective alternatives to medicated options. While they can be very effective on some people, it pays to keep in mind that herbal formulas may or may not provide results depending on how well your body responds to the treatment and active ingredients in the formula.
The main factor that puts herbal treatments at par with medicated options is that they rarely ever cause side effects, which can make the entire healing and recovery process much more comfortable for users.
- Delivery Method. Cold medicines can come in many different forms, including tablets, capsules, caplets, syrups, effervescent tablets, and even as tea. As a general rule, solid forms are much slower to take effect. This is because once they reach the stomach, they must first be melted and metabolized in order for our bodies to absorb the ingredients they contain.
Syrups, drinks, and other liquid formulas on the other hand, are much more readily absorbed by our bodies. They’re also much more effective at providing instant relief against sore throat and coughs, because they often leave a lingering sensation throughout the throat which works to soothe raw tissues. The only downside is that they can be a bit of a hassle to prepare and drink when you’re out and about.
Top 5 Best Cold Medicine Reviews
1. OHCO Cold Snap Ease Cold and Flu Symptons
Containing 20 different herbs, OHCO Cold Snap Capsules has been rated by users as the best cold medicine available today. This all-natural and organic product guarantees to relieve the symptoms of colds and boost immunity at the same time, thus encouraging the body to fight off virus and bacteria.
OHCO Cold Snap Capsules is particularly ideal for people who want long-lasting relief against colds without risking the chances for side effects or adverse reactions. The herbal formulation is very mild on the system, and very aggressive against virus and bacteria that could cause a cold.
Finally, OHCO Cold Snap Capsules are also very easy on the pocket. So if you’re looking for an affordable, effective, and safe remedy for your cold, this particular product should fit your preference.
2. Kirkland Signature Rapid Release Gelcaps
Kirkland is the brand that many people choose if they want to cut back on costs. However, the Kirkland Signature Day and Night Time Cold Multi-Symptom Relief Gelcaps prove to be more than just an affordable cold medicine alternative.
Ranked by users as the second best cold medicine, Kirkland Signature is an effective multi-symptom targeting remedy that effectively relieves colds after just a few minutes of taking a dosage. The product combines acetaminophen, phenylepherine HCl, and dextromethorphan as its three main active ingredients. For many, these three components do more than enough to soothe the symptoms of a cold, but others complain that the lack of an expectorant and a sore throat reliever make it ideal only for mild cases of colds.
Regardless of this however, the affordable cost of Kirkland Signature Day and Night Time Cold Multi-Symptom Relief Gelcaps and their effectiveness on the most common symptoms of cold excluding sore throat and mucus make it a viable choice as the best over the counter cold medicine available on the market.
3. TheraFlu Multi Symptom Severe Cold Cough
One of the most unique cold medicines available on the market is TheraFlu Multi-Symptom Relief Severe Cold, Cough. Made in partnership with the Lipton brand, this cold medicine from Theraflu aims to relieve coughs, congestion, and fever. It also has some properties that soothe and numb tired and overworked throat tissues.
This medicine is prepared much like any powdered drinks, requiring only that it’s consumed 10-15 minutes after preparation, while it’s still hot. This ensures that the active ingredients will take maximum effect. It tastes much like any other tea drink from Lipton, which makes it an ideal remedy for people who don’t like the process of taking bitter medication.
Despite being a palatable and effective remedy, the product can be tedious to prepare especially for people who need relief while they’re away from home. If you have the time to sit down and prepare a glass of medicated tea, then it may be a good choice. However, if you’re chasing after deadlines in the office or if you’re constantly having to move around, then it can be troubling to take a dosage.
4. Sambucol Cold and Flu Relief Tablets
These elderberry flavored cold tablets provide multi-symptom relief against the many different symptoms of cold, including fever, headaches, sneezing, runny nose, coughing, sore throat, and congestion. It’s an all-natural product that uses only organic ingredients to achieve complete relief.
Sambucol Cold and Flu Relief Tablets are dissolved underneath the tongue, so users don’t need to have any water in tote to take a dosage. This can be particularly ideal for people who need to take in a cold relief tablet while they’re on their way to work or simply running errands. The formulation does not cause any side effects and is completely safe for use on all individuals. It does not react with other medications, which means that even those who take maintenance medications can take a dosage without worry.
The only point of concern with this product is that it has a reputation of working on some and being ineffective on others. Depending on how well your body responds to the herbal formulation, you can experience a different degree of relief compared to other users. Purchasing a small amount first and then seeing how it take effect on your system will tell you whether you should continue to use the product or search for something that will provide greater relief.
5. Alka-seltzer Plus Day/Night Cold and Flu Liquid Gels
This combination of day and night medication is the perfect solution for people who want whole day relief. The two medicines are specially formulated to provide the necessary symptomatic resolve that you might require during specific times of the day.
The Alka-Seltzer Day formula targets all of the symptoms of colds as well as any body pain and sinus pressure that you might experience during the day. The Night formula on the other hand is formulated to produce a drowsy effect, to help you fall asleep better throughout the night. By providing you a better sleep experience, you’re then more likely to wake up feeling better than the day before.
The gels are easily metabolized by the body, offering fast acting effects against the different symptoms of cold. The only problem that some people have is that the day time medicine can cause drowsiness in some users. Be sure to test the product first and find out how your body takes to it before using it as your cold relief staple.