How to Distinguish Cough and Colds

In pharmacies sell different types of cough medicine. There are for dry cough, cough with phlegm, cough and cold, and so on. The extent to which the effectiveness of each drug? Are there any side effects when I cough up phlegm, but cough and cold medication? "(Virginia Hapsari, Jakarta)

According to Dr Siddiqa Alyya, SpFK, clinical pharmacology specialist and lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Sharif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, Jakarta, cold medicines over the counter consists of several types:

A cold medication, one that contains an antihistamine (reduces sneezing and runny nose) and nasal decongestants (to reduce symptoms of nasal congestion). Generic Name: chlorpheniramine Maleas, while nasal decongestants: pseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine. Some cold medicines in combination with fever and pain reliever, the paracetamol.

Cough medicine there are two types of cough with phlegm and dry cough. The former contains mucolytics to thin the sputum or phlegm expectorant to ease spending. Dry cough medicines containing dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant). This drug is not recommended for those with phlegm as sputum may complicate spending.

Cough and cold medication, a combination of cough and cold medicines.

Symptomatic drugs aimed at addressing the symptoms, so take it exactly the symptoms are felt. If it's just a cold, drink a cold remedy. In general, the more drugs consumed, the greater the risk of side effects. Cold medicine tends to thicken mucus / phlegm. And cold medicines with antihistamines can cause drowsiness side effects.
..