The best flu and cold medications are inexpensive but effective. Effective medicines for flu and colds list What you can take for colds from tablets

Usually we say a cold, we mean any ailment associated with a viral disease. The disease most often begins after hypothermia. It can occur with or without a rise in temperature. To help your body cope with a viral infection in a timely manner, you need to know what exactly you can drink when you have a cold. Let's consider.

Sometimes people are in no hurry to see a doctor, assuming that they can take Antigrippin, Aspirin, or another medicine at night, and by the morning the disease will subside. This is dangerous because the symptoms of a cold are very similar to those of common bacterial infections, such as a sore throat.

When tonsillitis develops, antibiotics are urgently needed to destroy pathogenic microorganisms, preventing the formation of extensive lesions.

How to distinguish ARVI from a sore throat based on the symptoms to choose what would be better to drink for a cold in a particular case:

Initial signs of viral infections Symptoms of bacterial tonsillitis
Mild malaise, chills. Severe fatigue, feverish condition.
Sore throat, mild pain when swallowing food. The pain in the larynx is piercing and severe.
Runny nose, sinus congestion. Cough. The nose doesn't run. There is often no cough.
The redness of the pharynx is insignificant; there are no structural changes in the tissues in the throat. Swelling, hyperemia of the tonsils, the appearance of plaque, follicles, and purulent plugs on them.

Enlargement (hardening of lymph nodes).

There is no temperature or in the subfebrile range (37.5–38 degrees). After 3-4 days, it sometimes decreases on its own. A sharp increase in temperature (from 38.5 to 39 degrees more).

Lasts for a long period. It is impossible to reduce it without antibiotics.

Only the main distinguishing symptoms are listed so that you know when, due to a bacterial infection, you need to immediately consult a doctor. For a minor cold, what can you drink: antiviral agents purchased in pharmacies, or infusions of medicinal herbs recommended by traditional healers.

Important: medicinal drugs should be selected according to the main principles: safety of influence on the body, speed of action, high efficiency. Only a doctor can make a correct choice. Self-medication is harmful.

What is safe to drink for colds for children, as well as pregnant and lactating women?

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During pregnancy and after childbirth, women become especially susceptible to various infections. Children's immune defenses are also weakened. Therefore, they are all at risk. It is imperative to call a doctor without attempting self-medication, since only a qualified specialist can protect the patient from allergies and other side effects.

What to drink when you have a high temperature

The following medications are allowed only by prescription in situations of severe flu and colds:

  1. Antiviral drugs: Viferon, Arbidol, Anaferon, Oscillococcinum, Aflubin, Grippferon.
  2. To reduce temperature: Paracetamol, Panadol, Nurofen.
  3. To get rid of sore throat, use for gargling: Iodinol, Faringosept, Miramistin, Bioparox, Ingalipt, Chlorophyllipt, Hexoral.
  4. When a dry cough appears, what is recommended to take for a cold: Lazolvan, Prospan, Ambroxol, Bronchicum.
  5. Medicines for severe runny nose: Aqualor, saline solution, Aquamaris are used for sinus rinsing procedures. Nazivin, Grippferon, Pinosol, Vitaon are installed in the nose.
  6. Antihistamines: Loratadine, Claritin, Zyrtec.
  7. For children, antipyretic drugs are available in the form of suppositories: Viferon, Viburkol, Genferon, Nurofen.

The safest methods of cleansing the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract from pathogenic microbes are considered to be inhalation through a nebulizer with medications: Xylometazoline, Chlorophyllipt, saline solution. Using a nebulizer helps to get rid of a cough during a cold: Bronchicum, Lazolvan.

Attention: independent use of the listed drugs without a prescription during periods of breastfeeding, as well as pregnancy, is unacceptable. If the dosage and rules of use are followed, the medicine will not cause harm to the expectant mother and children.

What is best for a child and a pregnant woman to take for a cold without fever?

If the negative symptoms of a cold include only minor chills, a slight runny nose, coughing due to a sore throat, and mild pain, then you can cope with the ailment without medication:

  1. Carry out procedures for rinsing the larynx and mouth with infusions of calendula, chamomile, oregano, and eucalyptus.
  2. For coughs at the first symptoms of a cold (not pronounced), it is better to drink tea made from linden blossom, raspberries, rose hips, lingonberries, and cranberries.
  3. First aid is provided by a unique healing mixture: honey (one teaspoon) + lemon (10 drops). Take it 2 or 3 times throughout the day.
  4. Drops of aloe juice diluted with boiled, cooled water relieve nasal congestion.
    For children from 2 to 5 years old, dilution proportions: 5 parts water, 1 part juice. Frequency of instillation per day: 1 drop 3 times.
    From 5 years to 11: aloe juice – 1 tsp, water – 3 parts. How to use: 2 drops 3 times.
    For teenagers, pregnant women and nursing children, the mixture is made up of 1 part aloe and 2 parts water. 3 drops 3 times per day are recommended.
    Before instillation, the pipette with the medicine is heated in the palm of your hand.
  5. Another thing that always helps against colds is to infuse honey inside a scraped out large hole in black radish. Children – 1 tsp. 3 times. An adult woman can drink one tablespoon for cough.
  6. Boil onions in milk. How to take for cough per day: 2 tsp. 3 times for a child. Pregnant and lactating women can take 2 tbsp 3 times. l.

Traditional medicine advice is relevant in situations where it is necessary to activate the natural immune defense. Medicinal herbs do not cause as much harm as chemical compounds of tablets and drops, and in cases of minor symptoms of acute respiratory infections are more effective than pharmaceuticals. However, you first need to check whether there will be an allergic reaction to the ingredients.

Cold medications for acute respiratory viral infections due to high fever

The most important thing is to strengthen the immune system, so you should consume a large amount of fortified liquid: berry (fruit) smoothies, juices, cocktails, as well as compotes, infusions, herbal tea.

What is even better to take immediately for young and middle-aged adults when they have a cold:

Purpose of the drugs Names
Antiviral agents
  1. Antigrippin.
  2. Grippferon.
  3. Ergoferon.
  4. Viferon.
  5. Lavomax.
To reduce high fever and headaches
  1. Ibuprofen.
  2. Panadeine.
  3. Aspirin.
  4. Solpadeine.
To get rid of a runny nose
  1. Vibrocil.
  2. Pinosol.
  3. Phenylephrine.
  4. Sinuforte.
  5. Evamenol.
Against cough
  1. Sinekod.
  2. Lazolvan.
  3. Tusuprex.
  4. Bromhexine.
  5. Acetylcysteine.
  6. Libexin.
If you have a sore throat
  1. Strepsils.
  2. Lysobacter.
  3. Tantum Verde.
  4. Bioparox.
  5. Faringosept.
  6. Hexoral.

What medications can you take for a cold to relieve negative symptoms and lower your temperature?

Preparations in powders act quickly and very effectively:

  1. Coldrex.
  2. Pharmacitron.
  3. Rinza.
  4. Nimesil.
  5. Fervex.
  6. Theraflu.

The drugs are based on paracetamol. You cannot take it for a long time, so if the symptoms do not disappear after 3 days, you will have to go to a therapist.

Attention! Before using any of the medications, be sure to read the instructions. Compliance with the rules and dosage of use is especially important for children, women in an interesting situation, as well as persons burdened with serious chronic diseases.

Folk remedies for the working population

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What is in the initial stage of development of the disease, recipes.

What if the temperature gets high

Infusions (decoctions) of plants have unique antipyretic, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory abilities:

  • berries, raspberry branches;
  • linden inflorescences;
  • from willow bark.

Method of making decoctions: boiling the raw materials - 10 minutes, infusion - 15 minutes, filtering.

How to make infusions: put the crushed plant in a thermos, fill it with boiled 95-degree water, keep it covered for 10 minutes, filter.

Recipe: one tablespoon of raw material is taken per 500 ml of water.

When I'm tired of coughing

  1. Procedures for inhaling the vapors of boiled potatoes (to avoid burns to the mucous membranes, you must first cool them to 50 degrees) or the aromas of infusions of pine needles, linden blossom, and sage boiled for 5 minutes.
  2. When you have a cold, you can drink infusions of plants that ease breathing and reduce the intensity of cough: coltsfoot, plantain, marshmallow, mint, licorice.
    Proportions: 300 ml water/1 tsp. raw materials.
  3. Celery juice relieves spasms and prevents tissue swelling.
  4. The algae drink has powerful anti-inflammatory properties.

All of the above remedies help to cope with a runny nose.

If you suddenly have a sore throat

What to drink when you have a cold, and what to gargle when there is swelling and congestion in the throat:

  1. Infusions for internal use from chamomile, St. John's wort, birch buds, linden.
  2. Herbal decoctions for irrigating the throat and mouth: prepared from calendula, oregano, eucalyptus, elderberry, sage, meadowsweet, string.
  3. To quickly destroy pathogenic microflora, it is recommended to chew a small piece of propolis in the morning and before lunch.

You can rinse your larynx with saline solution purchased at a pharmacy or with a homemade aqueous solution of salt (1 tsp/liter of water).

Immunomodulatory vitamin drinks

The best medicine: a cup of tea with a slice of lemon and ½ teaspoon of fresh linden honey.

In addition, very drinks:

  • from rose hips;
  • lingonberries, blueberries, viburnum, sea buckthorn, cranberries, black currants;
  • drink made from pine buds or ginger;
  • Green tea increases resistance to viruses.

To quench your thirst, quickly destroy viruses, and remove toxins, you can consume any freshly prepared juices of vegetables, fruits of fruit trees and shrubs.

All types of onions and garlic have the most effective actions. It is enough to distribute the peeled and cut slices around the perimeter of the room, the air in the room will be instantly purified. Then the plant phytoncides penetrate the nasopharynx and instantly destroy all pathogenic flora in their path.

What else can you drink for a cold?

  1. Echinacea tea is the number one enemy of viruses.
  2. Melissa infusion is an equally powerful destroyer of pathogens.
  3. Tea with cinnamon - inactivates viruses in the shortest possible time.
  4. Pineapple juice - activates leukocytes that counteract various pathogenic microbes.
  5. An infusion of elecampane is a unique anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent.

In earlier times, a popular folk method was to drink a shot glass. You can’t do this: alcohol irritates the mucous membranes, the pepper burns. Pathogenic microbes immediately penetrate into the microcracks formed from such aggression, and extensive inflammatory processes occur. The state of the human immune system deteriorates significantly.

During treatment, it is important to protect the body from bad habits: smoking, drinking alcohol, since a large amount of vital energy is spent on regenerating cells damaged by toxic substances, and only a small part remains to fight infection. In addition, for a speedy recovery, it is necessary to reduce the consumption of meat foods and, conversely, increase the amount of vegetable dishes, fruit and berry juices in the diet.

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A cold always comes suddenly and when it is not needed at all. A person who often suffers from acute respiratory infections is familiar with the signs of the disease: the throat begins to hurt, the whole body feels weak, and now the nose is stuffy, constant sneezing, and one cannot do without a handkerchief. What to do? After all, going to work tomorrow and going on sick leave was not planned at all. For some, colds become a real disaster.

Here we will look at what means you can effectively and quickly cure your body of a cold, and also offer you ways to protect yourself from this disease in the future.

If a cold starts to attack. Effective treatments

Many people feel their illness at the very beginning. And for successful and quick treatment it is necessary to capture this very moment. What are the remedies to prevent colds?

If you are hypothermic. Raspberry jam will help you here. And also don’t forget about linden honey. In general, these valuable products should always be kept in the house. So, as soon as you are at home, immediately - hot tea with a spoonful of honey or raspberries. These are essential antipyretic natural remedies containing plant salicylic acid. Cover yourself with a blanket, relax and warm up for a couple of hours.

If you have a sore throat. Don't delay treatment. Start rinsing it with saline solution. Eucalyptus infusion is ideal for a sore throat. The healing property of eucalyptus lies in its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects.

At the first symptoms of a cold, your body will need maximum intake of vitamin C. Want to know a homemade vitamin remedy for colds? Drink regular tea with lemon more often. But if you have a sore throat, avoid strong boiling water.

What to do at high temperatures

Do not be afraid of elevated temperatures (at least up to 38C). After all, this is a sign that our body is resisting a cold and concentrating its forces to fight the invading viruses or bacteria. Therefore, taking medications to reduce fever in this case becomes unnecessary. The body's own strength can successfully overcome the disease. But at the same time, mandatory control is required on your part.

Antipyretic medications will only be needed if the temperature rises above 38C. It would be better if it was paracetamol. Although it should not be abused (it has a harmful effect on the liver).

Remember! When your temperature is high, your body needs rest and sleep. Many people prefer to endure a cold “on their feet.” Reconsider your attitude towards the disease. And, spend at least two days in bed and try to relax.

You can quickly bring down the temperature by rubbing your body with a mixture of vodka and water (to one part vodka and one part water).

Most people successfully use folk remedies to treat colds. For many, these “grandmother’s recipes” have long become a habit.

A tasty mixture prepared as follows will be a good antipyretic: take 1 tablespoon of raspberries, 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of butter. Add 30 grams of vodka or cognac to the mixture. You will need another glass of hot milk and half a teaspoon of soda. After mixing thoroughly, drink the product at night and warm up under the blanket.

How to treat a cough?

Cough is a constant accompaniment of most colds. At the beginning of the disease, it is dry, as it is caused by a sore throat. This cough is annoying and irritating. During this period, it is necessary to take mucolytics. These medications thin the mucus. These include ACC, Ambroxol, Bromhexine. The consequence of the use of such drugs is that the cough becomes expectorant and successfully removes the formed sputum from the pulmonary tract.

To treat coughs, the medicinal properties of herbal infusions such as chamomile, linden blossom have long been used, or they take special breast mixtures sold in pharmacies.

Black radish has long been considered a good remedy for colds and coughs. Cut out the middle of the fruit. Place honey in the resulting fruit cup and leave for 24 hours. Drink the resulting infusion on an empty stomach.

Do you know that one of the best remedies for colds is honey? It has effective bactericidal properties. True, when you have a cold, you should rely on linden honey. The methods of its use are varied:

  • For a glass of hot tea or milk you will need one tablespoon of honey.
  • Dilute the juice of one lemon and 100 grams of honey with 800 ml of warm boiled water. By drinking this drink throughout the day, it is possible to eliminate the symptoms of the disease.
  • You can mix honey with aloe juice. It will be better if you add some good dry wine to this mixture. Leave for 5-6 days. You need to take one teaspoon before meals.
  • Take one tablespoon of linden blossom and pour a glass of boiling water. Leave for 20 minutes. Strain the resulting infusion and add one tablespoon of honey to it. It is advisable to take half a glass of the product at night.

Remedies for runny nose

At the first signs of nasal congestion, start instilling special vasoconstrictor drugs (Galazolin, Naphthyzin, Sanorin). Their goal is to relieve swelling of the nasal mucosa and improve breathing. But these drops cannot be taken for more than a week.

Sprays Otrivin, Aquamaris, etc. are currently used quite successfully to cleanse the nose during colds. They help flush away mucus that forms. Thus, drops and sprays facilitate nasal breathing, but for the treatment of colds, they are powerless.

Home remedies are effective for treating a runny nose due to a cold. So, iodine tincture helps a lot. Add 6-7 drops of iodine to water (2 teaspoons of warm boiled water). Use instillation into sinuses at least twice daily.

Menthol oil will help soften the nasal mucosa and treat a runny nose. For instillation you need to take 3-5 drops. But it’s also good to lubricate with this oil, rubbing the skin of the face on the temples, nose and forehead.

Here is another good remedy for runny nose and colds: you need to take freshly prepared carrot juice and mix it with any vegetable oil (in equal proportions). Add 2 or 3 drops of garlic juice to this mixture. Use several times a day for nasal drops.

Aloe juice will successfully help you cure a runny nose. You can mix aloe juice with boiled water. Apply 3-5 drops of juice several times a day. The result will be better if you simultaneously massage the outside of the nasal cavity.

A severe runny nose can be relieved by rinsing the nose. Add one teaspoon of calendula or eucalyptus tincture to 0.5 liters of warm, slightly salted water. Using an enema, pour a stream of solution into one nostril, but so that it immediately comes out through the other.

What to do if a child gets sick?

First of all, make sure that your baby does not have a fever. Then you can use the following folk remedy for colds, which is good for young children: pour mustard powder into socks and let it sit for 2-3 days.

In children, the most common and long-lasting symptom of a cold is a runny nose. Therefore, pay all your attention to periodically removing mucus from the nose (after all, the baby does not yet know how to blow his nose on his own). Vasoconstrictor drops can be used for instillation into the nose of children. But don't use them for more than five days. Long-term use leads to some damage to the nasal mucosa. Breast milk can be instilled into infants.

There is no need to worry too much if green discharge appears from the baby’s nose without a rise in temperature. Usually, this happens in the final stage of the disease, when viscous sputum and mucus accumulated in the respiratory tract come out through the nose. The child needs to ease this moment by rinsing the nasal cavity.

This procedure can be carried out with an aqueous solution of salt (dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water). Using an ordinary enema, alternately direct a stream of solution through the nasal sinuses. But at the same time, do not allow the child to throw his head back too much.

The next sign of a childhood cold is a sore throat. Start teaching your baby to gargle. It’s good if for this you use herbal decoctions (chamomile, sage, eucalyptus).

And, of course, cough. It seems like it will never end. Don't panic. Begin to treat the disease calmly and responsibly. It's good if you have a home inhaler. It is also seasoned with herbal decoctions. Using an inhaler successfully alleviates the treatment of childhood colds.

How to bring down a high temperature in a child? Antipyretics

If a child has a fever, a mandatory visit to the doctor is necessary. Only a specialist can correctly diagnose the disease and prescribe the necessary medications for treatment.

But, if the situation is such that there are still several hours before the doctor’s examination, and the temperature is too high, then it is urgent to alleviate the baby’s well-being by using antipyretic drugs. For babies, you can use antipyretic syrup. Rectal suppositories help a lot.

Clothes the baby wears at elevated temperatures should be light and cotton. Wipe your baby with a damp diaper. Place a damp cloth on the head. It is possible to rub the baby's body with vodka or a mixture of vodka and water. After rubbing, you need to leave him completely undressed for a few minutes. The evaporation of liquid will certainly lead to cooling of the body. During the period of activation of the disease, during fever, the child requires plenty of fluids. Alternate boiled water, compotes, herbal decoctions (St. John's wort, linden blossom, rose hips).

Colds in children are often of viral origin (ARVI). During a viral infection, antibiotics should never be taken! Here only antiviral drugs (for example, interferons) will help your baby.

But often, a viral infection is accompanied by a bacterial infection. It can be recognized by the following signs: the temperature rises again, intoxication is observed, the child becomes pale, and weakness appears. This is where antibiotics come to the rescue. But what and what doses of medicine are needed for a small organism can only be decided by a doctor.

After taking antibiotics, the baby needs biological products that will restore the natural intestinal flora (bifidumbacterin or Primadophilus).

What should a pregnant woman do if she has a cold?

After all, it turns out that most common medications have contraindications - pregnancy. And yet, among the medications for colds for pregnant women there are approved drugs. So you can use Panadol to reduce the temperature. For a runny nose without any harmful effects, use Aquamaris, Pinosol. Some Doctor Mom products can be used successfully for coughs.

But remember, before using any medications during pregnancy, as well as any other treatments, you should consult your doctor!

If you have a sore throat, gargle periodically. A solution of baking soda (one teaspoon of soda per glass of warm boiled water) with the addition of 2 or 3 drops of iodine kills viruses well. Also use a decoction of eucalyptus, sage, and chamomile for rinsing.

Do not forget that you cannot warm your feet during pregnancy. This may cause premature termination of pregnancy.

Remember the most important thing is that during pregnancy you are now responsible and caring not only for yourself, but also for your baby. Therefore, first of all, you need to protect yourself from colds during this period. When going outside or to crowded places, lubricate your nose with oxolinic ointment. Or use an invisible antiviral mask - Nazaval Plus spray. As soon as the first signs of a cold appear, begin treatment, and it is better if you use traditional medicine, which has far fewer contraindications than medicinal ones.

Make sure your cold doesn't cause complications!

Colds are dangerous because they can cause a number of more severe diseases (complications). Therefore, beware of the following symptoms appearing after a while:

  • If you experience difficulty breathing, wheezing, or wheezing, these may be signs of pneumonia.
  • If a cold lasts more than two weeks, and the nasal discharge and cough do not stop, and the temperature rises periodically, sinusitis may be suspected.
  • If the lymph nodes in your neck are enlarged, your throat is red and coated, and there is mucus in your throat, then you may have a streptococcal or viral throat infection.
  • If you have ear pain, sleep disturbances, or fever, then your cold may have led to serious ear infections (otitis media).

In any case, if you have suspicious symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor. But, in order to prevent such complications, try to correctly use all the recommendations for treating what appears to be a “common cold.” Take care of your health!

Prevention

Everyone knows that people most often fall ill with acute respiratory diseases in the fall or spring. It is at this time of year that there is the greatest likelihood of hypothermia. But notice that one of them had cold feet, and immediately a red throat or runny nose. And for the other, the body did not react at all, and there were no signs of a cold. I wonder why?

It's all about immunity! If you don’t want to get sick, start strengthening your body’s immune system:

  1. In the morning - exercise. Then - a contrast shower.
  2. Start playing sports. Let it be, at your discretion, swimming, skiing, running.
  3. Quit smoking.
  4. Try to eat the most fortified foods. Vitamin C is especially recommended. Your food should be as healthy as possible. Focus your lunchtime on fresh fruits and vegetables.
  5. If your immune system is failing you, immune-strengthening drugs such as Immunal or echinacea tincture will come to the rescue.
  6. In winter, and especially during epidemics, when leaving the house, lubricate the nasal cavity with oxolinic ointment. It is this that will protect your body from unwanted infections.
  7. Avoid drafts. They are especially dangerous in those moments when you are warmed up and sweating.
  8. Temper your throat. Just always keep water in the refrigerator and drink a sip of cold water in the morning.

Not a single cold season is complete without common colds and flu. We spend money on expensive medicines, trying to quickly get rid of all the unpleasant symptoms, forgetting about effective and inexpensive medicines. Meanwhile, there are tablets for colds that are several times cheaper than their advertised counterparts. The main thing is to understand the mechanism of action of drugs, use them competently and purposefully.

What pills to take for flu and colds

Medicines that help cope with colds, acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections, and influenza are divided into two groups. The first of them is intended for symptomatic treatment. Cold tablets of this group have antipyretic (aspirin), antihistamine (dibazol), analgesic, vasoconstrictor, phlegm thinning (acc) effects, and fight the following manifestations of the disease:

  • nasal congestion;
  • elevated temperature;
  • lacrimation;
  • muscle pain;
  • swelling of the mucous membranes.

The second group of drugs affects the immune system and the causative agent of the disease. They are prescribed only if the viral nature of the cold is detected. Tools in this category include:

  • interferon inducers;
  • viral protein blockers;
  • neuraminidase inhibitors.

Antiviral agents

Antiviral cold medicines are not antibiotics. Their task is not to destroy the pathogen, but to destroy its protein shell, which blocks the development of the virus in the body. Antibiotics for colds are prescribed only when bacterial complications occur. Popular effective antiviral drugs:

  1. "Tamiflu"– a drug based on oseltamivir (azintomivir, aziltomirin). Suitable for adults and children.
  2. "Grippferon"– a complex drug based on interferon alpha-2b.
  3. "Relenza". The main active ingredient of the drug is zanamivir. Prescribed for the treatment of influenza A, B.
  4. "Ingavirin"– an effective cure for swine flu, ARVI.
  5. "Amiksin". An analogue of the drug is “Tiloron”, “Lavomax”.
  6. "Arbidol"– a drug for the treatment of influenza A, B, subtypes H1N1, H2N2, H3N2 and H5N1.
  7. "Acyclovir"– an antiviral drug based on thymidine nucleoside.
  8. "Cycloferon"– a medicine containing methylglucamine acridone acetate.

Immunomodulators

This type of medicine includes homeopathic and synthetic medicines. For colds, thymus preparations, interferons, and cytokines are prescribed:

  • "Imunofan";
  • "Betaleikin";
  • "Timogen";
  • "Amiksin";
  • "Aflubin";
  • "Ronkoleukin";
  • “Kipferon;
  • "Ribomunil";
  • "Bronchomunal";
  • "Pyrogenal";
  • "Galavit";
  • "Diucifon".

It should be remembered that you cannot take synthetic immune modulators on your own. When prescribing them, the doctor must take into account the patient’s age, the degree of weakening of the body’s defenses, and the type of disease. In some cases, stimulation of the immune system is limited to taking vitamins or medications of natural origin (tincture of echinacea, eleutherococcus, ginger, lungwort, chicory, etc.).

List of the best drugs for treating colds in adults and children

Modern combination cold medications for simultaneous symptomatic treatment:

  • "Anaferon";
  • "Arbidol";
  • "Baralgetas"
  • "Antigrippin";
  • "Grammidin";
  • "Coldrex";
  • "Kagocel";
  • "Remantadine";
  • "Rinza";
  • "Rinicold";
  • "Sinupret";

Tablets that help quickly get rid of cough:

  • "Butamirat";
  • "Glaucin";
  • "Mukaltin";
  • "Dextromethorphan";
  • "Levodropropizine";
  • "Prenoxdiazine."

For sore throat:

  • "Strepsils";
  • "Trachisan";
  • "Linkas";
  • "Grammidin";
  • "Septefril";
  • "Faringosept";
  • "Lisobakt".

Homeopathic medicines:

  • "Oscillococcinum";
  • "Aflubin";
  • "Engystol";
  • "Aconite".

What can pregnant and nursing mothers drink?

Antivirals for acute respiratory viral infections are mostly contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so the main task of women becomes the prevention of colds. If you fail to protect yourself from the disease, then you have to choose safe medications that help reduce high fever, cope with cough, and have an anti-inflammatory effect. For fever, it is best to take paracetamol. This medicine has both antipyretic and analgesic effects. Analogues of Paracetamol - Panadol, Efferalgan.

Tablets based on lysozyme (a natural enzyme) - “Laripront”, “Lizobact” - will be safe (according to the instructions!) for pregnant and lactating mothers for sore throat medications. Tablets for colds accompanied by a severe cough will be “Lazolvan”, “ACC” (powder), “Coldrex broncho” (syrup). Homeopathic Oscillococcinum, Anaferon, Aflubin are also allowed. In any case, taking medications must be coordinated with a doctor, who will make a final verdict in favor or prohibition of any medication.

What medicines are inexpensive but effective for preventing colds?

Pharmaceutical companies offer a huge range of cold tablets, for which it is easy to find cheap analogues. For example, most combination drugs for symptomatic treatment include paracetamol, which tops the rating of cold tablets. You can take it at the beginning of the disease. Fast-acting effervescent aspirin can be successfully replaced by inexpensive acetylsalicylic acid, and interferon, which is included in antiviral drugs, can easily be found in pharmacies as an independent medicine for the prevention of influenza.

For this purpose, it is worth using oxolinic ointment, an inexpensive tincture of Eleutherococcus or Rhodiola rosea, and ascorbic acid. The expensive "Immunal" will be replaced by echinacea tincture, "Nurofen" - "Ibuprofen", "Lazolvan" and "Ambrobene" - "Ambroxol", "Mukaltin", cough tablets. Gargling with furatsilin tablets will help, like Strepsils or Grammidin.

Find out what they are for adults and children.

Every autumn, in Russia, we usually have a boom in colds, which lasts all winter and ends only by April. Vitamin deficiency, fatigue, stress, hypothermia, as well as being in public places during flu quarantine - all this can trigger the development of acute respiratory infections in a person. And in our time, being sick is very, very unprofitable. Not only will you have to take sick leave, due to which your monthly salary will be significantly reduced. Also, medicines are now so expensive that many people simply cannot afford them. But there is a way out of every situation! In this article we will provide an overview of the most effective and at the same time cheap, or at least affordable, medications that can help cope with such unpleasant diseases as acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, colds and flu.

How can I replace Antigrippin and why do I relieve the symptoms of flu and colds?

Nowadays it is fashionable, already at the first symptoms of flu and colds, slight malaise, to start taking such “anti-flu” (in quotes) drugs, such as Antigrippin and the like, without thinking at all about its composition and effect on the body. Although, as a rule, all these drugs do not cure, but only relieve the symptoms of the disease, roughly speaking, pain relief. Such preparations usually contain a standard set of active ingredients, namely: antipyretics (paracetamol, aspirin), Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and a decongestant that eliminates allergic symptoms. So, having taken such a magic pill, a person begins to feel much better, as if he were not sick, but all this is a mirage, because by temporarily stopping the pain, you will not stop the development of the disease. Feeling healthy, a person begins to lead an active lifestyle, while his body should have, on the contrary, reduced physical activity, directing all its strength to fight developing viruses and pathogenic flora. So, instead of helping yourself to recover, by taking an Antigrippin tablet for no real reason, you will force your body to work with all its strength. Of course, there are such “accidental” situations when a person has to cope with the symptoms of a cold because he needs to finish his work day, go to an exam... But even in this case, it is not necessary to spend money on expensive drugs. The average price for Antigrippin is 260 rubles, but it can be easily replaced with a combination of conventional antipyretic tablets (price from 2.70 rubles) and ascorbic acid (price from 5 rubles). Antipyretics will relieve cold symptoms, such as pain and fever, and ascorbic acid will activate the immune system.

Antipyretics available to any pocket. Is it necessary to lower the temperature?

In general, an antipyretic is designed to bring down the temperature.

Antipyretic - first aid for fever more than 38 degrees. As you know, it is not recommended to reduce the temperature below 38 degrees, since an increase in body temperature is a protective reaction of the immune system, due to which a number of specific processes are launched in the body, such as an increase in the production of interferons, antibodies, and activation of macrophages. All this creates an unfavorable environment for the life of bacteria and viruses in the body. Of course, everything should be within reasonable limits, and it is important to remember that, if body temperature exceeds 38 degrees, human health is at serious risk. So, with prolonged heat, convulsions may occur, and a person may become delirious. In addition, there is a high probability of developing heart disease and shortness of breath. In general, at high temperatures, the load on all organs is great. Such conditions are especially dangerous for people with chronic diseases. That is why it is so important to “bring down” a high temperature in time by drinking an antipyretic medicine.

List of antipyretic tablets:

  • Ibuprofen 200 mg No. 20. Price 15 rubles. This is an analogue of the popular and more expensive drug Nurofen. It has a pronounced analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory effect.

The following can also help as an antipyretic:

  • Paracetamol 500 mg tab. No. 10 2.70 rub. Indicated for pain of mild to moderate intensity, as well as fever and colds.
  • Aspirin(acetylsalicylic acid) 500 mg tab. No. 10 3.40 rub. Indications for aspirin include symptoms such as “fever in infectious and inflammatory diseases”, as well as “pain syndrome of weak and moderate intensity of various origins.”
  • Citramon P tab. No. 10 6.70 rub. It has a weak antipyretic and moderate analgesic effect. A Citramon P tablet should be taken, for example, if the temperature is low, but there is a headache.

Inexpensive means for gargling for acute respiratory infections, ARVI and sore throat

If you experience discomfort in your throat, soreness, dryness, pain, then you definitely need to start gargling for disinfection at least 3-5 times a day. A rinse solution can be prepared by dissolving a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water. It is also useful to gargle with decoctions of chamomile, calendula, and sage. We will offer the following inexpensive pharmaceutical products:

  • Rotokan 50ml extra liquid, internal, local No. 1 fl. 47.60 rub. The Latin name of this drug is Rotocanum® (made in Russia). The solution contains extracts of calendula officinalis flowers, chamomile flowers and yarrow herb. Has a local antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect. Dilute a teaspoon of the solution in a glass of warm water and rinse the mouth and throat 3-5 times throughout the day.

  • Furacilin 20 mg tablet No. 10 56.50 rub. Local antimicrobial agent. A furatsilin tablet is diluted in a glass of water and rinsed in the mouth for one minute.

Nasal decongestants

  • Rhinostop 0.1% 10ml drops called. Price 29.40 rub. The active ingredient is xylometazoline. Drops are indicated for acute infectious and allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, otitis media as part of complex therapy. Xylometazoline helps reduce swelling of the nasopharyngeal mucosa.
  • Naphthyzin 0.1% 10ml drops called. 20.70 rub. Active ingredient - naphazoline. The drops have a vasoconstrictor effect and are also used to relieve swelling of the nasopharyngeal mucosa.

Cough medicines

  • Bromhexine 8 mg tab. No. 28 56.50 rub. Mucolytic (secretolytic) agent, has an expectorant and weak antitussive effect. Reduces the viscosity of sputum; activates the ciliated epithelium, increases volume and improves sputum discharge. Adults take 1-2 tablets 3-4 times a day. The effect appears within 2-5 days from the start of treatment. The drug is approved for use in children over 2 years of age.

  • Mukaltin 50 mg tablet No. 20 49.00 rub. Herbal medicine based on the herb extract of medicinal marshmallow. It has secretolytic and expectorant effects. In particular, it is indicated for dry coughs and coughs with difficult to separate sputum of high viscosity. Adults should take 1-2 tablets 2-3 times a day before meals. The course of treatment is from 7 to 14 days. Contraindicated in children under 12 years of age. Approved for use by pregnant and nursing mothers on the recommendation of a doctor.

  • Ambroxol 30 mg tab. No. 20 26.70 rub. Ambroxol tablets are indicated for respiratory diseases accompanied by the formation of viscous sputum. They have a secretolytic effect and a stimulating effect on the motor function of the respiratory tract. Adults are prescribed 1 tablet 3 times a day for 4-5 days.

  • Acc 200 mg granules No. 20 pack. Orange RUB 127.70 According to doctors, ACC is a very effective drug, especially for wet coughs with a lot of sputum. The active ingredient, acetylcysteine, has a mucolytic effect and also facilitates the discharge of sputum. The drug is produced in granules packaged in sachets, as well as in effervescent soluble tablets, but the price for soluble tablets is twice as high. Granules, similar to tablets, are dissolved in a glass of water. The solution is taken three times a day. The effect of taking “ACC” will be noticeable the next day. The general course of treatment usually does not exceed 5-7 days.

Antiviral drugs

On the Russian pharmaceutical market, antiviral drugs occupy a far from low price category. Of course, there are medications such as Remantadine or Amantadine, the cost of which does not exceed 70 rubles per package, but after analyzing the opinions of specialists and consumers about the effectiveness of these drugs, we decided to refrain from recommending them. Here are a few of the most effective drugs that boast a fairly budget price among their analogues.

  • Anaferon(for adults) No. 20 tab. 187 rub. Made in Russia. Composition: affinity-purified antibodies to human interferon gamma (water-alcohol mixture containing the active substance no more than 10-15 ng/g) 3 mg in 1 tablet. Anaferon has immunomodulatory and antiviral effects. Effective against influenza viruses (including avian influenza), parainfluenza, various herpes viruses, enteroviruses, tick-borne encephalitis virus, rotavirus, coronavirus, calicivirus, adenovirus, MS. An original antiviral drug with proven clinical effectiveness in the protection and treatment of ARVI and influenza. Has no side effects. It is taken at the first symptoms of colds and flu according to a special regimen specified in the instructions for the drug.

  • Cycloferon 150 mg. tab. No. 10 Made in Russia. 184 rub. According to doctors, as well as customer reviews, cycloferon can quickly help cope with an incipient disease. The active ingredient, meglumine acridone acetate, is an immunostimulant that induces interferon. The main interferon-producing cells after the administration of Cycloferon are macrophages, T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, fibroblasts, and epithelial cells. Depending on the type of infection, one or another part of the immune system is activated. Cycloferon is effective against tick-borne encephalitis viruses, influenza, hepatitis, herpes, cytomegalovirus, human immunodeficiency virus, papilloma virus and other viruses, as well as in the complex therapy of bacterial and fungal infections.

  • Interferon human leukocyte 1000 IU/ml ampoules called. No. 10 - 90.40 rub. The active ingredient, interferon alpha, is an antiviral agent that is active against many viruses and not active against HIV. The ampoules contain powder, which should be diluted in 2 ml of boiled water. The solution is used as antiviral nasal drops and is considered an effective means for the prevention and treatment of acute respiratory infections and influenza, especially in children.

Antibiotics

The most popular antibiotic prescribed for acute respiratory diseases is Amoxicillin (more expensive analogues are Flemoxin and Amoxiclav). Biseptol is also used for complications of respiratory tract disease, and less commonly, azithromycin. All of these antibiotics have an effect on a wide range of bacteria and are prescribed by a doctor for inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract. In general, it is undesirable to start taking antibiotics on your own without consulting a specialist, because if the drug is chosen incorrectly or the dosage is incorrect, there is a high risk of developing a superinfection, when the number of pathogenic bacteria in the body increases sharply, and not necessarily those that initially caused the disease. As a result, the severity of the disease will increase and more complex treatment will be required to overcome it. This is why it is so dangerous to self-medicate with antibiotics. Here we provide a list, as well as prices, of the most affordable and effective antibiotics prescribed for colds:

  • Amoxicillin 500 mg tab. No. 20 - 54.10r

  • Biseptol 480 mg tab. No. 28 - 92.70 rub.

  • Azithromycin 500 mg caps. No. 3 - 78.70 rub.

List of lozenges that help with sore throat

  • Pectusin 10 tab. Price 34.70. Pectusin is a combined preparation based on plant components (active ingredient - eucalyptus leaf oil + Racementol) with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects.

  • Faringomed tab.d/rass. No. 20. Price 85.20 rub. Reduces swelling, redness, sore throat and sore throat, and facilitates nasal breathing.

  • Faringosept 10 mg tab.d/sol. No. 10 lemon. Price 90.90 rubles The active ingredient ambazon has an antiseptic, antimicrobial effect, cocoa powder softens the throat, eliminates soreness and dryness

Thank you for your attention, dear readers! Be healthy!

A cold can strike each of us when it is completely unacceptable to get sick. When you need to be as focused and full of energy as possible, your nose suddenly starts running and your throat feels sore. They are followed by sneezing and coughing, accompanied by weakness and high fever. In this situation, urgent measures are required. A quick-acting cold remedy will get you back on your feet in time.

How to quickly cure a cold at home

The key to quick healing is to take all necessary measures at the first alarm bell. If the illness occurs for an obvious reason, due to inattention to the immune system or hypothermia, and the symptoms are not a manifestation of the influenza virus, then you can use the following home treatment tips and quick-acting cold remedies.

  1. Take your temperature. If the mark on the scale has not reached 38 degrees, then you should not take antipyretics for a cold.
  2. Vitamin C. At the beginning of the disease, a large dose of ascorbic acid will effectively help the body with a cold for a speedy recovery. The best option would be an effervescent vitamin - it is absorbed faster and warms. Five oranges a day will be a natural alternative to pills or capsules and will help treat colds.
  3. Drink a lot of water, tea, compotes, fruit drinks. They must be warm, this will help remove toxins, which is important for colds.
  4. Get as much sleep as possible. After drinking a warm drink and crawling under the covers, wearing warm socks and clothes, get as much sleep as possible. Sweating while sleeping is an important part of recovering from a cold. It is better to observe bed rest while in hospital.
  5. If it is not possible to maintain bed rest during illness, you have to deal with weakness, and effective work and concentration are out of the question. To avoid such a situation, you should pay attention to anti-cold medications, which are effective not only against symptoms, but also against general weakness. For example, the modern anti-cold drug Influnet helps to get rid of the symptoms of ARVI, but also, due to the succinic acid included in its composition, helps to cope with lethargy and loss of strength.
  6. The room should be frequently ventilated.
  7. Stay warm. If there is no high temperature, then you can steam your feet and take a hot shower.
  8. Take your vitamins. Such support will be useful for the body during colds. It is best if he gets it from fruits, but if this is not possible, they should be replaced with pills from the pharmacy.
  9. Medicines to treat colds. Quick-acting cold remedies sold in the form of diluted teas and powders that should be poured into hot water are suitable. It is permissible to consume three or four of these sachets during the day, but the course should not last more than three days. Powders for colds with Paracetamol reduce fever, eliminate chills, and have an anti-inflammatory effect. Immunostimulating medications will help in treatment. Antiviral medications for colds and flu help kill the infection. If the disease drags on, switch to antibiotic injections.
  10. Remedies for runny nose, cough and sore throat. If your palate hurts, you can choose either lollipops or mixtures, rinses and sprays. Drops will help you cope with a runny nose, among which it is better to choose not powerful vasoconstrictors, but medicines containing herbs. A sea salt solution will be useful for rinsing the nose. A cold often does not produce sputum, so regular cough suppressants will suffice. If phlegm does appear in the bronchi, you should use a means to remove it.
  11. Fluid intake. Warm tea, compote or juice promotes sweating and recovery, while removing toxins that prevent the body from fighting a cold. Plain water will not be the best remedy, and carbonated drinks will not help your recovery. You should drink as much as you feel necessary, without overpowering yourself.
  12. Vodka. Alcohol should be warmed up a little and rubbed all over the body. This remedy will help quickly relieve high fever.

List of the best new generation flu and cold medicines

  1. “Theraflu”, “Coldrex”, “Fervex”, “Antigrippin”, “Grippferon”, “Anvimax”, “Influnet” (antipyretics and sore throat relievers, against influenza and ARVI)
  2. "Acetylcysteine", "Ambroxol", "Bromhexine", "Carbocysteine" (expectorants)
  3. “Butamirate”, “Glaucin”, “Prenoxdiazine”, “Levodropropizine” (drugs for dry cough).
  4. Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Aspirin (antipyretics).
  5. Drops based on xylometazoline, naphazoline (vasoconstrictor for a runny nose).

Review of fast-acting remedies for colds on the lips

Colds that occur on the lips are often herpes - the Herpes Simplex virus, which affects 95 percent of the world's population. Once in the body, it exists unnoticed and “turns on” when the human body is weakened by hypothermia, lack of vitamins, nutrients or other diseases. There are many effective ointments to combat herpes. These products should be applied to areas of the lips affected by colds several times a day, the course should not exceed 5 days.

You should not use your fingers when applying the product due to the risk of transferring the virus to another place. Among the common names of ointments for colds, the best ones include “Acyclovir”, “Gerpferon”, “Zovirax”, “Gerpevir”. The main active substance in them is acyclovir, which prevents the multiplication of the virus. Tromantadine-based ointments are available, such as Viru-Merz.

What antiviral drugs can children take?

If a child exhibits symptoms of ARVI and if for some reason a doctor is unavailable, measures should be taken to combat the disease in order to prevent complications. If, after all the simple remedies have been tried, the disease does not recede, you will have to resort to antiviral drugs, but only those that are specifically intended for children. Tamiflu, Remantadine, Relenza, Amantadine are considered acceptable.

If bronchitis occurs in infants, then Ribavirin will help, and if the child’s body is weakened or has heart problems, Synagis will be the best choice. Tamiflu is acceptable for use by children over the age of one year, and Arbidol flu tablets can be given from three years of age. “Interferon” for solution is used at any age, as well as homeopathic drugs such as “Aflubin”, “Anaferon”, “Oscillococcinum”. To lower body temperature, Paracetamol or Nurofen and Ibuprofen syrups are suitable.

Effective folk remedies and herbs

  1. Grind dried blackberry leaves (1 tbsp), pour boiling water over them, strain after a couple of hours. Drink 30 minutes before eating. A good cough suppressant.
  2. Herbs (cough remedy). One tablespoon of wild strawberry leaves, raspberries, three tablespoons of blackberry leaves, dry crushed tricolor violet (1 tsp). All this needs to be mixed, use a tablespoon of the composition per glass of boiling water, let it brew covered for half an hour, strain. Reception: a glass a couple of times a day.
  3. Potato. This vegetable will help bring down the temperature. Grate two raw potatoes and mix with a tablespoon of vinegar (apple vinegar). Use the mixture to make compresses on the forehead.
  4. Viburnum and honey. A mild remedy for colds and runny nose. Mix one tablespoon of viburnum juice and honey, take half an hour before meals.
  5. Nettle, sage and lemongrass. The herbal tea is good for colds and flu. Mix dry crushed nettle leaves (3 tbsp), the same amount of schisandra chinensis shoots and sage (1 tbsp). Pour a teaspoon of the composition into a glass of boiling water, strain after a couple of hours. Reception: one glass in the morning and evening. If desired, you can add honey.

What is an inexpensive and effective remedy for preventing colds?

Very often, a cold in an adult occurs as a result of a weakened immune system. Exposure to external factors, poor nutrition, and lack of vitamins can lead to a loss of effectiveness of the immune system and increase the likelihood of infections entering the body. To avoid this, interferon inducers can be used. They will ensure the production of natural defenses by the body, which will allow it to successfully resist colds. This type of drugs includes:

  • "Arbidol";
  • "Cycloferon";
  • "Amiksin".

At the first sign of a cold and flu, you need to take Oscillococcinum as soon as possible. With timely use, the drug activates the immune system and allows you to painlessly cope with infectious and viral diseases.

Why Oscillococcinum? It's simple: it is suitable for children, it is easy to use, acts quickly and has a pleasant taste. Do you need any more reasons?

The body needs vitamin support. To prevent colds, Vetoron, Gerimax, and Aevit will help. Preparations that help cope with the effects of the external environment - adaptogens - include extracts of lemongrass, eleutherococcus, and leuzea. Immunomodulators, such as Bioaron S, Immunal, Likopid, will help restore the strength of the immune system and will be useful for the prevention of colds and flu.

Antiviral medications used to prevent colds will help give the body additional strength in the fight against pathogens. The best are “Grippferon”, “Viferon”, “Arbidol”, “Amiksin”. Don't forget about honey and vitamin C - they will prevent the development of a cold. Echinacea is a cheap, simple preventative. Get more rest, give up cigarettes and don’t forget to take seasonal vitamins.