The Best Way to Treat a Cold

Ibuprofen may be powerless when it comes to treating the common cold.

A new British study found the popular pain reliever ineffective at treating symptoms like sore throat, cough, and sinus pain associated with respiratory tract infections, such as colds.

Doctors often recommend ibuprofen either alone or in combination with acetaminophen to relieve aches and reduce fever associated with the common cold. These results may change that advice, but there's still plenty you can do to feel better when a cold has you down.

Ibuprofen No Good at Cold Treatment

"I was a little surprised that ibuprofen didn’t help versus a placebo in reducing discomfort,” said Brian Oostman, DO, a family doctor with Dreyer Medical Clinic in Oswego, Ill. “It goes against what we say.”

The study, published in the British Medical Journal, looked at the effectiveness of ibuprofen, paracetamol (similar to acetaminophen), and steam inhalation at treating symptoms associated with respiratory infections in 889 people. The results showed no benefit in using ibuprofen in combination with or instead of paracetamol in relieving cold symptoms. Steam inhalation was also ineffective.

In fact, the study showed that return visits to the doctor for new or unresolved symptoms were more common among those who took ibuprofen than those who took acetaminophen (20 percent vs. 12 percent).

“I do think this changes how we should use ibuprofen for patients just simply for the pain aspect of treating for sore throat and ear pain,” Dr. Oostman said. However, he said ibuprofen still works for headaches associated with colds and for more complicated lung infections.

Easy Advice for Treating Colds

Regardless of the latest study’s findings, Oostman said the best advice for treating your cold symptoms remains simple.

Get plenty of rest. Getting a good night’s sleep helps your immune system fight off infection. “If you’re having a hard time sleeping, I always recommend adults use a product like NyQuil to help them recover faster and feel better during the day,” Oostman said.

Take it easy. Don’t work out on days when you feel ill, Oostman advised. First, this helps prevent the spread of illness. Second, such activity can affect your immune system and may make you feel sicker.

Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of fluids keeps you from becoming dehydrated and also loosens mucus. If you’re not well-hydrated, it’s harder to blow out the mucus. Oostman recommends using a nasal saline spray and gargling with warm saltwater to break up the mucus and keep things moving.

Best Over-the-Counter Medications for Colds

To ease common cold symptoms, there are a few key active ingredients to look for in cold medications.

To treat coughs, Oostman said his best advice is to look for cough medicines with dextromethorphan (one brand is Robitussin) or guaifenesin (such as Mucinex). Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant, which can help you rest, and guaifenesin helps break up the mucus.

If you have a fever, taking acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can help bring it down and reduce body aches and pain.

For sore throats, sucking on a lozenge or using a throat spray that contains an oral anesthetic like chloraseptic can soothe the pain.

For children or those who don’t want to take decongestants or are unable to because they have hypertension or heart disease, Oostman suggested a menthol-based topical rub applied to the chest to relieve nasal congestion. Decongestants contain pseudoephedrine, which constricts blood vessels and can increase blood pressure.

Many people swear by home remedies like eating chicken soup, drinking hot tea, or eating ice cream to relieve a sore throat or cold, and Oostman said it’s fine to do what makes you feel better. “But I think really the best home remedy is a good night’s sleep, rest during the day, and pushing fluids,” he said.