What do you take for a cold

[Yumz199725]

I knew I was coming down with something I got caught in the cold on Monday then went to the gym yesterday and then got too cold in my flat today so now I have a cold 🥶. I'm gona get some Jackmans for my throat but I don't know what to take to get rid of it feel so rubbish. Hope everyone else is keeping well?

[Cat04]

Oh poor you, its miserable isn't it. I've been struggling with cough/cold/sore throat all this week 🤧 and been keeping fully dosed up with paracetamol and also drinking loads of hot blackcurrant cordial xx

[Yumz199725 in reply to Cat04]

Yeah it's awful my voice always goes aswell I can already hear it going lol well hard to talk, my throat so sore 💔. Will definitely get paracetamol x I've tried having hot black currant like lemsips and I always throw up. x

[Cat04 in reply to Yumz199725]

This is just vimto with added vit c & d squash (or ribena). No paracetamol unless you take your tablets with it 🤣Lots of soups too xx 🥰

[anke123]

Hi when I have a cold and cough I do use paracetamol, inhale steam with oilbas oil or menthol, I put some of the oil in a dish in the lounge as well. For a cough I take a small teaspoon of honey it seems to help more than the cough remedies that I am allowed to use and put it in ginger and lemon tea as well. Hope you soon feel better.

[Yumz199725 in reply to anke123]

Yeah I'm gona get some Jackmans and paracetamol. Thanks x

[anke123 in reply to Yumz199725]

When I went into a pharmacy once to buy lemsips I was asked if I was on any medication when I told them was told not to take it and yet I had been buying it in the supermarket,

[FrankWillbe in reply to anke123]

Supermarkets don't offer advice, a good pharmacy will inform you about what is safe to take with your medication. Also look at the info sheets that came with your medication, some of mine clearly highlight not to take what you find in lemsips.

[Maisie2014]

Hot lemon, honey and ginger. Honey is a natural antibiotic and helps to keep your throat moist. Paracetamol for you temperature and Vicks on your chest to help you breathe. These are my home remedies that got me through a few infections and Covid twice in the last few years. Take care.

[Happyrosie]

I always take echinacea at the first sign of a cold. Usually it stops it in its tracks - but not always.

While I’m having a cold I drink plenty of water, keep warm, always have a brisk walk and keep my nose clear with a suitable spray.

[theonethatgotaway1]

Black seed oil is great for prevention of ill health including colds and viruses. It's a cure all except death. Used for thousands of years. Actually really works well. Also helps shorten the length of sickness time with covid

[Cavalierrubie]

There is a horrible bug going around. Hope you soon feel better and it goes soon. Paracetamol, hot soup and if you can get it fresh lemon and honey. Rest and plenty of fluids. Keep warm xxxx

[Yumz199725 in reply to Cavalierrubie]

Thanks hun xx

[Sljp0000]

Don't forget Lemsips have paracetamol in them. I think hot water with lemon and honey (and a tiny glug of whisky/brandy if you like) always helps me. All the remedies in the shops are a waste of money and full of chemicals. A spoonful of honey is great for a sore throat. Make sure you drink plenty of water and rest. Paracetamol every 4 hours. Being cold can't cause a cold but being run down means you're more susceptible to viruses and bacterial infections. Hope you feel better soon xx

[Wellington19]

Echinacea is good and plenty of vitamin c, also garlic

[Spetses]

try nasal wash ( netti pot) as most sore throats originate from the nasal cavities/ post nasal space, vitD ,chicken soup lots of fluids & rest

[Letsallhope1]

same here! Sore throat and awful cold, feels like a tap has been open in my nose!

For me strepsils for my throat ans the best natural remedy: a lot of tea made with fresh ginger root (I normally smash it before infusing it), lemon and honey.

It is an old fashion remedy but I think it is soo effective, especially for boosting your immune system. If you can drink it, it will really help!

Take care

[mesally]

There have been quite a few articles comparing treatments and honey and lemon in hot/warm water comes out top. Mum and gran were right! I like to wrap up warm and hug a hot water bottle, too. Hope you feel better soon

[Hidden]

hello echinacea is great stuff and usually prefer to a cold taking hold.

I’ve also started once/twice a week dissolving a vitamin c tablet in a pint of water to boost things for the winter.

Makes me drink water too which I always find harder I the winter.

[Carercmb]

There’s a rotten cold around and it continued for me for 3 months on and off.In the end I have had to take two weeks of antibiotics.

I mainly used honey, lemon and Echinaforce but at worst times Robitussin.

I am on my last day of antibiotics feel better but it’s not gone completely.I am going to boost my immune system with vitamin Cand D and hope it doesn’t return.

[Noodlesalad]

Oh the dreaded cold. I'm old so my go to is honey a fresh lemon half squeezed into hot water and sip. I think it's the honey that helps me. I'm not a honey fan don't like the consistency but melted in the glass with lemon it's ok. Try and stay warm too.Hope it passes soon.

[Deejay62]

Ahh get well soon. It’s that time of the year. I can’t give you anymore advice than what’s already been given.

All the best x

[Harefieldfan]

fresh grated ginger, lemon juice and honey in boiling water. I call it ‘the cure’. Wish you better soon!

[Shellac]

I've been rubbing vicks vapour rub on the soles of my feet every night and then put socks on, my granny swears by it. Yes it is actually working.

[Ardbeg28]

Before bed a very warm bath in steamy bathroom then rub Vick over chest, back and neck (never tried feet- interesting). Feel it working. HDrink hot water with honey, fresh lemon, ginger, whisky all good. Gargle with some paracetamol for sore throat and suck strepsils.For an annoying tickily cough Fishermen's Friend Original.

Get well soon. If it gets worse and into chest see Dr.

[Shabana1974]

My husbands Omani friend told him to take a pinch of Saffron and 1 tsp of Hunny in a cup of milk bring to a boil. Then drink.and it really does work (hubby is Allergic to Paracetamol) and Can't take ibuprofen due to previous stomach ulcer. Hope you feel better soonBest wishes Shabana

[MaggieSylvie in reply to Shabana1974]

known as Golden Milk.😊

[KIMMY60]

I can only use paracetamol, but make my own honey and lemon chop up a lemon desert spoon of honey and pour boiling water over about a litre jug. Leave to stand for a while stir then top up over the day with boiling water discard at the end of the day will get you better in know time

[Yumz199725]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, I feel so ill, and my nose keeps bleeding 🤒😭. I'm staying in bed all day x

[Cat04 in reply to Yumz199725]

Look after yourself, stay warm and drink lots of fluids 🥰 xx

[Manderson27]

If it is the runny nose bit that gets you, as it does me, I can highly recommend Otrivine. I always have a bottle in just in case. It clears your nose in minutes and it lasts for hours. So you can get a better nights sleep and during the day not have to keep blowing your nose and making it sore. Otherwise the usual, lemsip, paracetamol, night nurse, hot lemon and honey, strepsils or whatever is OK to take with your other meds.

[lawli56 in reply to Manderson27]

I don't get on with Otrivine. Whenever I've used it in the past I've ended up with severe sinisitus and needed antibiotics to treat it. The only nasal spray I can use is Beconase for my perennial allergies. Other than that I find sleeping in a more upright position helps and the humidifier on my CPAP machine (for obstructive sleep apnoea) also helps to keep my nasal passages clear at night. Before I had that I would often get up during the night for a steam inhalation to help clear my nose usually with olbas oil or menthol crystals. Also lemon and ginger tea with 1 tsp honey plus sugar free robitussin cough syrups and/or sugar free strepsils for cough and sore throat. For medical reasons I have to limit sugar intake (not diabetes).

[Manderson27 in reply to lawli56]

We are all different and although there are so many great suggestions here to help sooth the symptoms colds just have to run their course sadly.

[Survivor1952]

just had a stinker of a cold, not taken anything other than paracetamol and cough medicine being careful to check contents …

[dogsneedwalking]

Hello there, sorry to hear you are feeling under the weather. I am hopefully just recovering from a nasty chest infection/cough. I went to my local chemist after taking a 5 day course of antibiotics but they couldn't suggest anything so had to go back to Doctor. Long and short of it was I needed another 5 day course of antibiotics plus a 5 day course of 8 x 5 mg steroids per day to keep my airways open. I found sterimar great to help clear the gunk in my nose/chest and took strepsils to alleviate the dry throat. That's been over 3 weeks now since it all started. Keep an eye on yourself and take care. I am currently on 100mg Amiodarone, 1.25mg Bisoprolol, Levothyroxine, Metformin and Apixaban and so far have been ok taking the additional medications with no side effects.

[Trishe]

I usually have Boots dual defence nasal spray at the ready, it's brilliant, and cheaper than the vicks one.

[Elsabounre]

The Gym always gets me sick at this time of year..there are simply others who are sneezing and coughing..they should not be allowed into the gym when sick..my friend is also now sick..from the people in the gym..I stopped going...clearly..other well populated places like groceries are risky too..but less as there is more space..hope you recover soon

[MaggieSylvie]

First Defence is very good at the start of a cold and some good if it has progressed. It's a nasal spray from the chemist and if you're going abroad, spray before you meet the crowds. It's very effective.

[Rustylove]

Hi Yumz sorry to hear you’re suffering a nasty cold I always make a mixture of garlic ginger red onion and honey , I boil all the ingredients except for the honey for around 30 mins then I add the honey as much as it takes to sweeten it , It sounds disgusting but trust me it’s nice my son loves it garlic is especially good for a sore throat , hope you feel better soon xxx p.s drink it hot

[Classof1988]

So sorry to hear this! Probably repeating some of the advice but here goes - to get through the cold, plenty of fluids, honey and lemon, squeeze some oranges and drink the juice, and (groan, because this doesn't taste great 😥but is good for you) Ginger tea. Take some fresh ginger, wash it, then grate it. Put the grated ginger into a saucepan, full with enough water to cover it and produce a couple of cupfuls of tea, bring to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Strain into a cup, drink and enjoy 😅😥. It tastes better cold, but loses some of its potency. Olbas oil is good to clear the nose too. Once you are over the cold, a teaspoon full of manuka honey is a good way to boost your immune system to be ready to successfully combat future colds! Combine that with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Cod liver oil and malt is also a good health supplement Good luck with the tea, whenever one of us is unwell my son's mantra is Ginger tea! He has even taught me how to make it, and so far, with my daily routine of manuka honey, black seeds oil and vitamin C (Grapefruit for me, which sadly you can't take with statins), I don't often get ordered to drink it myself 😅. Hope you enjoy reading this post, and get well soon.

[Weetabixie]

I take plenty of fluids and paracetamol. No to lemsip with certain medications eg antidepressants like venlefaxine. I always read the leaflets. I do hope you're feeling better asap 🤞

[C66t]

Hope you are feeling better, I take 1000mg buffered vit c 3 a day for 2/3days and sambucol max dose. Lots of warm water too.😀

[Jerrahem]

good question! Waiting for an answer too since I most of us already on aspirin

[Smitty1956]

Hi, Yumz199725,

I didn’t see this post earlier, but I wanted to add one small piece of advice. Please do not go to a pharmacy and just buy any over-the-counter medications. There are so many cold medicines out there to buy—-but some can dangerously raise your blood pressure or harm your heart.

I would suggest checking with your pharmacist or doctor. They both have access to the medications that you currently take, and they can check for any possible interactions or health concerns.

On the other hand, a hot cup of tea with honey can soothe some symptoms of a cold. I like to use Vicks Vaporub to open airways for easier breathing. I keep a box of ice lollies for when I have a fever. Someone else suggested using a small piece of peppermint candy to soothe your stomach. Plus, saltine crackers and flat ginger ale can be good to begin eating again if you have been having stomach flu. A doctor once recommended those for me when I was pregnant and had had a mild case of food poisoning.

I hope that you soon feel much better! ❤️

[Yumz199725 in reply to Smitty1956]

Thanks hun x i couldn't even go to a pharmacy if I wanted too anyway been in bed since yesterday. Im very careful when it comes to taking cold medicine I don't unless it's safe to take all I been having is paracetamol.

[Smitty1956]

I’m sorry that you are still feeling poorly. It takes forever to get over these things. Resting in bed sounds like a good idea right now!

I am also very careful now about all over-the-counter medicines. I am probably a bother now to my pharmacist, but I always ask before taking anything other than my prescribed meds. He is a nice young man though, and he is always patient and kind.

Wishing you a speedy recovery ❤️‍🩹!

[Yumz199725 in reply to Smitty1956]

Thanks hun x i was able to eat today yay.