• Taking cold medication unnecessarily can result in side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, high blood pressure, acid reflux, and negative drug interactions.
• Certain things like hot tea with lemon, hot showers, honey, and plenty of water can help you feel better and relieve mild cold symptoms.
• If your symptoms continue to worsen, follow a doctor’s instructions regarding cold medication practices.

Before you reach for the cold medication, take a minute to assess whether or not you really need it.

In a post-pandemic world, something as minor as a sniffle may feel like a much bigger deal—or at the very least, requiring an explanation.

General cold symptoms may lead people to take cold medications preemptively, but ultimately, this could do more harm than good for your health.

Taking cold medications unnecessarily can open you up to a variety of undesirable side effects.

“Oftentimes cold medicine will make people drowsy,” Eric Ascher, DO, a family medicine physician at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital, told Health. “This is not ideal if people have long drives to work, are caretakers, or need to make important decisions.” 

Additionally, Ascher explained that cold medicine can make people dizzy, cause high blood pressure, or worsen acid reflux.

Aside from those negative side effects, cold medication also has the potential to mix poorly with a different medication someone may already be taking.

That’s why it’s always important to check the ingredients and side effects listed on the packaging of any over-the-counter medication.

“The packaging will mention potential interactions with other medications and the recommended dose,” Joaquin Villegas, MD, a family medicine physician with UTHealth Houston, told Health.

“For example, decongestants like pseudoephedrine can cause palpitations or increase blood pressure,” he said. “Antihistamines like diphenhydramine can affect older patients and cause confusion and even urinary retention.”

Even medications like acetaminophen can be deadly if you consume too much of it. Acetaminophen is processed by the liver, so overuse of it can lead to liver damage and even lead to severe reactions.

If you have any questions, talk to a doctor or the pharmacist you’re picking a medication up from before taking it, Villegas said.

If you are feeling ill, take proper precautions before going to an event—take at-home tests, wear a mask, and constantly wash your hands to prevent spreading germs to those around you,” Ascher added.

If there is any question if you should go to the event, chances are you should sit it out to prevent infecting someone else.

When You Should Take Cold Medication

If your symptoms don’t clear up with home remedies, it may be time to consider taking cold medicine.

According to Ascher, these are signs it’s appropriate to take medication:

• Fevers/chills/night sweats  
• Body aches
• Extreme fatigue
• Cough that keeps you up at night or causes shortness of breath
• Sneezing that causes headaches or facial pressure
• Illness that gets worse over a few days

It’s also important to recognize when cold medications aren’t enough, and further actions are needed to prioritize your well-being.

“Over-the-counter medications are great to help relieve symptoms,” Villegas said, “but if you start developing a fever that does not improve with medications, or shortness of breath that is not improving, do not hesitate to go to your doctor or an urgent care for evaluation.”