Nine Cold and Flu Season Essentials for a Better Prepared Medicine Cabinet

A useful cold and flu kit is built around likely symptoms and basic information for care, rather than a shelf of combination remedies. That approach can make it easier to find relief at home and give a clinician details that help guide next steps.

The suggestions below come from physicians and a pharmacist. Over-the-counter medicines can affect people differently, and some aren’t suitable for everyone. Adults with ongoing health conditions can ask a doctor or pharmacist which products fit their circumstances.

Options for common symptoms

Pain and fever relief: Acetaminophen and ibuprofen can help with fever, headache, sore throat and body aches. Having both available may be useful, but alternating them calls for careful attention to each product’s directions, timing and maximum daily amount. The source physician says they may sometimes be alternated three hours apart for a high or persistent fever causing significant discomfort, provided both are safe for the person. A pharmacist or clinician can help clarify whether that approach is appropriate.

Throat lozenges: Lozenges stimulate saliva, which may soothe a dry, irritated throat. Many contain menthol, which creates a cooling sensation; products with benzocaine can numb the sore area. A physician quoted in the source says lozenges may work well alongside a pain reliever.

Saline nasal spray: A simple salt-and-water spray can moisturize dry nasal passages and loosen mucus. It differs from medicated decongestant sprays, such as those containing oxymetazoline, and doesn’t carry the same decongestant side effects.

Cough medicine: Dextromethorphan can quiet a dry, hacking cough by reducing activity in the brain area that triggers coughing. It doesn’t address the underlying cause. For a cough that brings up phlegm, the pharmacist interviewed says suppressing it may not be helpful; drinking fluids can help thin mucus. He reports mixed patient experiences with guaifenesin, a medicine marketed to thin mucus.

Use decongestants selectively

When congestion is severe, oxymetazoline nasal spray or oral pseudoephedrine may offer temporary relief by reducing swelling in nasal passages. The source physician advises limiting oxymetazoline to no more than three days, since longer use can lead to rebound congestion. Pseudoephedrine can raise blood pressure or heart rate and disrupt sleep, so it isn’t suitable for everyone. A pharmacist can check for health conditions or other medicines that may affect whether either option is appropriate.

Tools that help guide care

Digital thermometer: A measured temperature, together with the time it was taken, gives a clinician more useful information than a general report of feeling feverish. The physician recommends a reliable thermometer used orally, which tends to be more accurate than ear or forehead models. Exact readings are especially useful for infants, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

COVID-19 or combination tests: At-home tests for COVID-19, including tests that also check for flu, can help people decide how to protect others and whether to contact a clinician promptly. That timing can matter for people at higher risk of complications: prescription treatments for flu and COVID-19 work best when started early. The source says these remedies generally need to begin within five to seven days after symptoms start to be effective. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorizes at-home COVID-19 and flu tests.

Reduce spread and ease irritation

Well-fitting masks: Masks can reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, flu, RSV and common colds. A mask should cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly, with no gaps at the sides. Disposable surgical masks offer more protection than cloth masks; KN95 and N95 respirators offer greater protection. Keeping masks at home can make them easier to use when someone is sick, when caring for a sick person, in crowded places such as an airplane, or during visits with someone at higher risk of severe illness. They may also be useful when respiratory illnesses are increasing in the community.

Cool mist humidifier: Adding moisture to dry air may ease throat and nasal irritation. Cleaning matters: a humidifier that isn’t maintained properly, or that uses nondistilled water, may increase infection risk, according to the infectious-diseases physician cited in the source. Following the device’s cleaning directions and using distilled water are key parts of using one safely.

A small, symptom-focused kit can make a sick day more manageable, while a thermometer and test can help inform decisions about care. For questions about medicine safety, persistent or concerning symptoms, or whether early treatment may be relevant, a doctor or pharmacist can offer guidance tailored to the person.