Efficacy and safety of over‐the‐counter analgesics in the treatment of common cold and flu

@article{Eccles2006EfficacyAS,
  title={Efficacy and safety of over‐the‐counter analgesics in the treatment of common cold and flu},
  author={Ronald Eccles},
  journal={Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics},
  year={2006},
  volume={31}
}
  • R. Eccles
  • Published 1 August 2006
  • Medicine
  • Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics
Rationale:  Common cold and flu are the most common human illnesses, and over‐the‐counter (OTC) analgesics are widely used to treat the pain and fever symptoms. Despite the every day use of these analgesic there is little information available in the literature on the efficacy and safety of these medicines in treating colds and flu symptoms. The aim of this review was to determine the safety and efficacy of the analgesics, aspirin, paracetamol and aspirin for the treatment of colds and flu. 
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89 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
2
Background Citations
31
Methods Citations
3

89 Citations

Over the counter medicines for colds
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This chapter examines the efficacy of the different groups of medicines for the relief of common cold symptoms (analgesics, decongestants, antihistamines, antitussives, methol, expectorants and mucolytics, throat lozenges and sprays, multisymptom products, and hot drinks).
Management of Common Cold Symptoms with Over-the-Counter Medications: Clearing the Confusion
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The need to educate health care professionals and patients on the safe and effective use of OTC medications is addressed, and a guide for the management of symptoms that appear during the timeline of a typical common cold is offered.
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BACKGROUND Although combination formulas containing antihistamines, decongestants, and/or analgesics are sold over-the-counter in large quantities for the common cold, the evidence for their…
Oral antihistamine/decongestant/analgesic combinations for the common cold.
TLDR
Combination cold medications, including antihistamine/ decongestant/analgesic, antihistamines/decongestants, and analgesic/decockestant formulations, provide modest symptom relief in adults and older children, but are not effective in young children.
Ibuprofen: pharmacology, efficacy and safety
TLDR
Paediatric use of ibuprofen is reviewed and the main results are that the drug is relatively safe and effective as a treatment of acute pain and fever, and is probably more effective than paracetamol as an antipyretic.
Oral antihistamine-decongestant-analgesic combinations for the common cold.
TLDR
A large number of trials investigating the effectiveness of antihistamine-decongestant-analgesic combinations compared with placebo, other active treatment or no treatment in children and adults with the common cold found no beneficial effect.
Usage of Over-the-Counter and Herbal Products in Common Cold in Poland: Findings from Consumer Survey
TLDR
It is demonstrated that oral synthetic products were used by 76 % of respondents, while herbal products by 30 %, and synthetic products against common cold are perceived as more effective.
Update on the pathophysiology and treatment of rhinogenic headache: focus on the ibuprofen/pseudoephedrine combination
  • A. Chiarugi, A. Camaioni
  • Medicine, Biology
    Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Societa italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale
  • 2019
TLDR
The pathophysiology of rhinogenic headache is reviewed in detail and the rationale for treatment of this condition with a fixed-dose ibuprofen/pseudoephedrine combination is discussed.
Mechanisms of symptoms of common cold and flu
TLDR
This chapter studies the mechanisms that cause local symptoms associated with local inflammation of the airway (sore throat, sneezing, rhinorrhoea and purulent nasal discharge, nasal congestion, sinus pain, watery eyes and cough), and the mechanisms That cause systemic symptoms associatedwith release of cytokines from leukocytes (headache, chilliness and fever, psychological effects, malaise and mood changes, loss of appetite, and muscle aches and pains).
Analgesic and Decongestant Efficacy of the Combination of Aspirin with Pseudoephedrine in Patients With Symptoms of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
TLDR
It is demonstrated that a combination therapy of ASA plus PSE provides safe and effective relief of both common cold pain related symptoms and nasal congestion.
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