{"id":629425,"date":"2024-09-05T09:30:05","date_gmt":"2024-09-05T13:30:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=629425"},"modified":"2025-09-28T12:11:49","modified_gmt":"2025-09-28T16:11:49","slug":"cold-cough-medication-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/cold-cough-medication-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Educating patients on cough and cold medications"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the fall season approaching, cooler weather, earlier sunsets, and children\u2019s return to school are on the horizon. The fall also marks the return of cold and flu season\u2014a period when respiratory viruses heavily circulate. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/cold-symptoms\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Colds<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are highly contagious and spread when cold viruses are transferred through touch or inhalation. In fact, adults average <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">two to four colds<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> per year, primarily between September and May.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Patients who are sick with a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/common-cold-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cold<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> often turn to over-the-counter (OTC) medications for fast relief. As a pharmacist, you have the opportunity to offer recommendations, whether people are seeking OTC medications or lifestyle changes. You may also identify situations when patients should be referred to a healthcare provider for evaluation. Read on to refresh your knowledge on how to educate patients on cough and cold products.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-is-the-common-cold\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the common cold?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">common cold is one of the most common illnesses<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and is defined as a mild infection of the upper respiratory tract, which consists of the nasal passages, throat, and windpipe. Colds are caused by viruses that spread from person to person through the air or direct contact. For example, a patient can contract a cold after they touch a faucet that has the cold virus on it and then touch their eyes. Most colds are caused by rhinovirus. According to MedlinePlus, symptoms typically start a few days after becoming infected and can last as long as 10 to 14 days. Symptoms of a common cold usually include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-a-stuffy-nose\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stuffy nose<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/how-to-stop-a-runny-nose\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Runny nose<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/sore-throat-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sore throat<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cough<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/types-of-headaches\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headache<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Muscle aches<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While cold symptoms will typically resolve on their own over time, patients may turn to OTC medications for fast relief.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-is-a-cough\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is a cough?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a form of protection against infection, a cough is a natural reflex designed to keep irritants and germs out of the airway. However, severe, frequent, or painful coughs can be bothersome and interfere with a patient\u2019s day-to-day life. This is when many people may seek OTC cough treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"cough-and-cold-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cough and cold medications<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fortunately, there are various types of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/best-cough-medicine\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cough and cold medications<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> available over the counter.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"antitussives\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antitussives<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antitussives are cough suppressants. They can help manage dry or non-productive coughs and work by blocking the cough reflex in the brain. Dextromethorphan (DM) is the most common OTC antitussive and is commonly found in OTC products, including <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/delsym\/what-is\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Delsym<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and Robitussin DM.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"cta-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/delsym\">Delsym coupons<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"expectorants\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Expectorants<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Expectorants are best for wet or productive coughs because they work by loosening or thinning mucus in the chest. This helps people cough up and clear mucus more easily. The most common OTC expectorant is guaifenesin and it can be found in many OTC products such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/mucinex\/what-is\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mucinex<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and Robitussin.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"cta-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/mucinex-cold-flu\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mucinex coupons<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"decongestants\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decongestants<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decongestants<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can help relieve congestion and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/postnasal-drip-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">postnasal drip<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which can cause coughing. They work by reducing swelling and narrowing blood vessels and tissues in the nose, allowing sinuses to drain and helping patients breathe more easily. Nevertheless, this can also increase blood pressure. Therefore, decongestants should generally be <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/high-blood-pressure\/expert-answers\/high-blood-pressure\/faq-20058281\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">avoided<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in patients with severe or uncontrolled hypertension. Decongestants are available as oral and intranasal medications. Examples of common decongestants are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Pseudoephedrine:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Pseudoephedrine\u2013which is commonly sold as its brand-name counterpart <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/what-is-sudafed\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sudafed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014is found behind the pharmacy counter due to its potential for misuse. While it can be an effective treatment option for congestion, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/drugs\/information-drug-class\/legal-requirements-sale-and-purchase-drug-products-containing-pseudoephedrine-ephedrine-and\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">limit<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on how much of the drug can be purchased per month because it can be used <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to produce methamphetamine illegally.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Phenylephrine: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Often referred to by its brand name Sudafed PE, phenylephrine works similarly to pseudoephrine. However, in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/drugs\/drug-safety-and-availability\/fda-clarifies-results-recent-advisory-committee-meeting-oral-phenylephrine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">September 2023<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the FDA concluded that oral phenylephrine isn\u2019t effective as a nasal decongestant. It\u2019s important to note that this finding doesn\u2019t apply to phenylephrine in the nasal spray form, as this form is still considered effective.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Oxymetazoline:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Oxymetazoline is marketed as the brand-name product <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/afrin-original\/what-is\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Afrin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a nasal decongestant spray used to treat stuffy noses and relieve sinus pressure. While oxymetazoline works well, using too much can cause <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/rebound-congestion-nasal-spray-addiction\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">rebound congestion<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a class=\"cta-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/sudafed-pe-cold-cough-child\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sudafed coupons<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> | <\/span><a class=\"cta-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/afrin-original\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Afrin coupons<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"antihistamines\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antihistamines<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Certain antihistamines <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">may be effective<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for those with a cough related to seasonal allergic rhinitis or atopic cough (a type of chronic cough). They work by blocking histamine, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/staying-healthy\/no-coughing-matter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">some older antihistamines<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> inhibit acetylcholine\u2014a neurotransmitter that causes mucus secretion and airway tightening. Examples of older antihistamines include brompheniramine and chlorpheniramine. However, how exactly these mechanisms are beneficial in the treatment of cough is unclear, and more studies are needed to confirm the role of antihistamines in the treatment of chronic (long-term) cough.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"analgesics\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Analgesics<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Analgesics are pain relievers that can help with muscle aches and fevers, headaches, and sore throats. Common examples include <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/tylenol\/what-is\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tylenol<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/acetaminophen\/what-is\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">acetaminophen<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/advil\/what-is\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advil<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/ibuprofen\/what-is\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ibuprofen<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), and aspirin. It\u2019s important to note that children and teens should not take aspirin due to the risk of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/reyes-syndrome\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reye\u2019s syndrome<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a rare but serious condition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"cta-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/tylenol\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tylenol coupons<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> | <\/span><a class=\"cta-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/advil\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advil coupons<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"combination-products\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Combination products<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many OTC cough and cold products contain a combination of ingredients and are marketed to treat multiple symptoms at once. A common example is DayQuil Cold and Flu, which contains acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, and phenylephrine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Combination products can certainly be helpful for those with multiple symptoms; however, it\u2019s important to consider each component\u2019s potential side effects, interactions, and warnings. In most cases, patients should only take combination products if each ingredient is needed based on their symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another concern with OTC combination products is the risk of inadvertent overdose of a drug or drug class when combining drugs with the same ingredient. For example, coupling DayQuil Cold and Flu (acetaminophen\/dextromethorphan\/phenylephrine) with Tylenol (acetaminophen) can be problematic as both contain acetaminophen. Taking more than 4,000 mg of acetaminophen total per day can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/consumers\/consumer-updates\/dont-overuse-acetaminophen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">increase the risk<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of serious liver damage, and the likelihood of overdosing is higher if patients double up on acetaminophen-containing drugs. Emphasizing the importance of reading drug facts and labels on OTC products to ensure patients aren\u2019t doubling up on ingredients is key.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\t\t<div class=\"singlecare-dynamic-newsletter-wrapper sin-newsletter-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"heading\">Get our wellness newsletter<\/span>\n\t\t\t<form class=\"form-wrapper\" data-newsletter-form=\"1\" data-subsource=\"Wellness Newsletter\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"input-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"dynamic-email\">Email<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"email\" id=\"dynamic-email\" class=\"email\" required>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"input-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<input class=\"submit-form-btn\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Click to sign up\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"success-message\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"important-considerations-for-children\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Important considerations for children<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the American Lung Association, young children have an average of six to eight colds every year. However, when it comes to treating coughs and colds in children, the options are limited. Colds will typically clear up on their own without medical treatment, and in most cases, healthcare providers recommend home remedies rather than medications for young children. In fact, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/kidshealth.org\/en\/parents\/cold.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">many experts believe<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> there\u2019s no reason to give OTC decongestants or antihistamines to any child younger than 6 years of age due to the risk of serious side effects, including hallucinations and irregular heartbeats.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthychildren.org\/English\/health-issues\/conditions\/chest-lungs\/Pages\/Coughs-and-Colds-Medicines-or-Home-Remedies.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HealthyChildren.org<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, oral OTC cough and cold medications have serious risks for young children. The following is the recommendation for cough and cold medications in young children.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Younger than 4:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> OTC cough and cold medications are not recommended.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ages 4 to 6 years:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Certain cough medications can be used if approved by your child\u2019s pediatrician.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Older than age 6:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Cough medications are safe for use. Follow the instructions on the drug facts label on the package to ensure the right amount is given to your child.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As discussed above, aspirin should never be given to children or teens as doing so can cause a serious and life-threatening condition called Reye\u2019s syndrome.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"when-to-refer-patients-to-a-healthcare-provider\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When to refer patients to a healthcare provider<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While most colds can be managed at home with OTC medications or home remedies, some cases warrant medical evaluation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The following are examples of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/commoncold.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">situations<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that warrant a referral to a healthcare professional:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shortness of breath or wheezing associated with a cough<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coughing up blood or discolored mucus<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulty breathing or fast breathing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fever that lasts longer than four days<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Worsening symptoms<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Symptoms that last longer than 10 days<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As frontline healthcare providers, pharmacists can educate patients about when they should seek evaluation from their doctor.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With the fall season approaching, cooler weather, earlier sunsets, and children\u2019s return to school are on the horizon. The fall also marks the return of cold and flu season\u2014a period when respiratory viruses heavily circulate. Colds are highly contagious and spread when cold viruses are transferred through touch or inhalation. In fact, adults average two [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":135,"featured_media":629590,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9340],"tags":[11169,743],"coauthors":[20969],"class_list":["post-629425","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-checkout","tag-cold-flu","tag-pharmacies","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Educating patients on cold and cough medications<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Help your paints learn how to choose the right cold meds. Learn how to help them understand differences and relieve cold and flu symptoms effectively.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/cold-cough-medication-education\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Get ready for cold season!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Use these tips to answer patient questions on treating coughs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/cold-cough-medication-education\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Checkup\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/singlecare\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-09-05T13:30:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-28T16:11:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Blog_090524_Educating_patients_on_cold_cough_products_revy.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ashley Wong, Pharm. 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