How to choose cold medicine? Don’t just know about Sina Weibo and Ibuprofen!

Influenza is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza virus , which usually causes many people to be infected in a certain season or time period, and has obvious seasonality. According to the World Health Organization, seasonal epidemics of influenza virus can lead to an average of 3 million to 5 million severe cases and 290,000 to 650,000 deaths related to respiratory diseases worldwide each year.

When we face a cold, we often think of familiar medicines such as Sinatra and Ibuprofen. However, there are many more options for cold medicines. Understanding the different types of cold medicines and their mechanisms of action can help us fight colds more effectively.

In the "treasure box" of cold medicines, we have the following "weapons":

1. Antipyretic and analgesic drugs

Typical examples include acetaminophen (paracetamol) and ibuprofen, which are effective in relieving symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle aches. Their mechanism of action is mainly to inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandins in the body, thereby reducing the excitability of the temperature regulation center, lowering body temperature, and reducing the stimulation of inflammatory mediators on nerve endings, thereby relieving pain.

2. Antihistamines

Such as chlorpheniramine maleate (chlorpheniramine), diphenhydramine hydrochloride, etc., are mainly used to relieve allergy-like symptoms such as sneezing and runny nose. They bind to histamine receptors and prevent histamine from interacting with receptors, thereby reducing nasal mucosal congestion and edema and reducing the production of secretions.

3. Antitussives

Including dextromethorphan, benproperine, etc., the role of antitussive drugs is to inhibit the cough reflex and relieve cough symptoms. Dextromethorphan is a central antitussive drug that works by inhibiting the medullary cough center; benproperine has both central and peripheral antitussive effects, which can not only inhibit the cough center but also reduce the sensitivity of respiratory receptors.

4. Expectorant

Ambroxol and acetylcysteine ​​belong to this category. Their function is to help dilute sputum, reduce the viscosity of sputum, and make it easier to cough up. Ambroxol can promote the secretion of serous glands in the respiratory mucosa and reduce the secretion of mucous glands, thereby diluting sputum; acetylcysteine ​​can break the disulfide bonds of mucin in sputum and decompose sputum.

5. Compound preparations

Such as Syncontac and Tylenol, these compound preparations contain multiple ingredients mentioned above and can relieve multiple cold symptoms at the same time. For example, the ingredients in Syncontac can relieve symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing and fever at the same time, providing patients with comprehensive symptom relief.

How to choose cold medicine

1. Symptom-oriented

The basic principle is to choose medicine according to the main symptoms you show. If fever and headache are prominent, antipyretic analgesics should be the first choice; if nasal congestion and runny nose seriously affect your life, antihistamines are more appropriate. If the cough is severe, you can consider using cough suppressants; if the sputum is thick and difficult to cough up, expectorants are indispensable.

2. Component Analysis

It is important to read the drug instructions carefully to understand the ingredients and mechanism of action. This can effectively avoid duplication of medication and prevent adverse reactions caused by excessive intake of certain drug ingredients. For example, taking multiple drugs containing acetaminophen at the same time may lead to drug overdose and damage to organs such as the liver.

3. Personal considerations

For patients with special diseases (such as high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.), certain cold medicines may have an impact on their condition. For example, medicines containing pseudoephedrine may increase blood pressure, and diabetic patients should be cautious when choosing drug preparations containing sugar. In addition, people who are allergic to specific drugs must avoid drugs containing corresponding allergic ingredients when choosing cold medicines. For example, those who are allergic to aspirin should avoid using compound preparations containing aspirin.

4. Age and weight factors

There are significant differences between children and adults in drug selection and dosage. Children's organs are not fully developed, and their metabolism and tolerance of drugs are different from those of adults. Therefore, when children use cold medicines, they must strictly follow the doctor's advice and accurately calculate the drug dosage based on age, weight and other factors to ensure safe and effective use of the medicine.

5. Special circumstances during pregnancy and lactation

Pregnant and breastfeeding women need to be extra cautious when using cold medicines. The medicine may be passed to the fetus or baby through the placenta or breast milk, which may have a potential impact on its growth and development. Therefore, during this special period, it is best to use cold medicines under the professional guidance of a doctor, weighing the benefits and potential risks of drug treatment.

The choice of cold medicine is a comprehensive process based on personal symptoms and physical condition. Before using any cold medicine, consulting a doctor or pharmacist is a key step to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the medicine, especially for special groups such as children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women. It is worth noting that cold medicine only relieves cold symptoms and cannot cure colds fundamentally. Therefore, maintaining good living habits, such as ensuring adequate rest, adequate water intake, and maintaining a balanced diet, also plays an important role in enhancing the body's immunity and promoting recovery from colds. These lifestyle adjustments combined with rational medication can better cope with the common disease of colds.