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Over the counter cold cures

R

Richard303

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5
Type of diabetes
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Other
Hi, anyone got a view on over the counter flu remedies. I have gone down with a stinker, not quite man flu. thanks
 
Ask the pharmacist for something suitable for people with diabetes, when I last had flu I just took paracetamol and stayed in bed making sure to drink plenty. Hope your feeling better soon Richard.
 
Yep paracetamol and fluids is the best and cheapest way. Most of these expensive so called cures are mostly paracetamol anyway.
 
Since I've had the flu jab I've luckily not had much of a sniffle or any thing like it, I know it's not because of that but when I use to get a heavy cold and sore throat it was strong. Tea with one large teaspoon of honey and a bolus of 1unit of insulin and I'm already on paracetamol & codeine, also large amounts of water always managed to cope this way
 
I did check the cough lozenges and could not believe how HIGH they are in sugars grrrrrrrrr
 
Cough lozenges are about the same as ordinary boiled sweets IE 4 or 5 carbs each one.
 
You need to ask your pharmacist if you want anything other than paracetamol. My brother in law is also Type 2 and he decided to have a 'swig' or two of his wife's Benelyn when he had a cough - not a good idea as he ended up in A&E because they thought he was having a heart attack but it was the affects of the Benelyn.
 
I only ever take Night Nurse capsules (I've checked, and they are ok for diabetics, but the liquid isn't)
-can't beat a good night's sleep, eh?

All those Lemsip type things are full of sugar, or caffeine, I think. So. Wouldn't have them, but I know some people love 'em.

My staple cold treatments are:
Homeopathy, if I catch it in time (I honestly put more faith in them than in that flu jab, especially THIS year. Every year Helios create a blend specifically aimed at the particular viruses that are prominent that season)
Night Nurse caps
Vit C
Echinacea (tincture, capsules or tea)
Sambucol (with zinc), but watch the sugar content
Fluids
Garlic
Lip salve
Posh aloe Vera impregnated tissues
And rest.
 
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My pharmacist gives me robitussin cough syrup, suitable for diabetics as its sugar free and I must admit it does the trick. I've tried all manner of cough medicine (before diabetes) and they weren't much cop but I like this one, no horrible after taste and deffinately eases my symptoms
 
The only cough medicine I could take pre diabetes was Korvona because of my blood pressure pills - have not needed any since so will need to speak to the chemist again when I do! My husband is also on BP pills and Warfarin so between the two if us over the counter without advice is not really an option!
 
It might be too late to be of much help to you but most of what I used to recommend (I am a retired pharmacist) had to be taken at the very first signs or very early stages of a cold or flu. They were often less effective after the flu/cold has already gained a firm foothold.
Vitamin C
Vitamin D3
Sambucol
Zinc lozenges
Lots of fluids and rest

Although cough syrups, antihistamines, OTC cold preps and similar do provide temporary relief of some symptoms, all too often they also prolong the duration of the illness by suppressing the body’s natural reflex actions to eliminate foreign invaders via expectoration, runny noses, etc. The decision to take or not take such preps is left up to the patient who must weigh discomfort (but a shorter duration) against symptomatic relief (but a possible longer duration). As for sambucol, here’s what Dr. Bernstein had to say about it:

“I recommend that if anyone in your house, or who works next to you, develops the flu, that you take antiviral medications. Not just a single antiviral agent, but three of them. I got the idea of taking three, so I took Flumadine, Tamiflu, and Sambucol, (the first two are prescription meds). Sambucol is an extract of the black elderberry tree. I was on all three for about a week … it made my life much more bearable. I had a very mild case, and it only lasted a short time. My wife had it (flu) over a month, and it was far more severe.”

There is also a precaution when/if taking vitamin C in daily doses greater than 250mg. It has been shown that high levels of serum vitamin C can interfere with the enzyme used in test strips and yield inaccurate results (higher readings than normal). In an edition of the A.D.A.’s journal (Diabetes Care July 1999 22:7 1218-1219), an article entitled “High-dose vitamin C supplementation increases plasma glucose” also suggests that vitamin C itself can raise blood sugar levels. The article is secluded behind a subscription wall (US$25 access fee) so I can’t provide a meaningful URL other than the headline itself:
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/22/7/1218.full.pdf+html

I haven’t had the flu in over forty years. I attribute this to good hygiene (washing hands frequently among other things) and taking high dose vitamin D3 to maintain a serum level in the range of 80ng/ml (note: I get an annual 25-hydroxy-vitamin-D3 blood test annually to confirm/verify my D3 serum levels). The sunshine vitamin appears to bolster the entire immune system because it isn’t really a vitamin at all but a seco-steroid (hormone). Most cells throughout the body have vitamin D receptors so the benefits of ensuring that you are not vitamin D-deficient may provide you with better defenses against illness in general.
 
AcrossThePond said:
It might be too late to be of much help to you but most of what I used to recommend (I am a retired pharmacist) had to be taken at the very first signs or very early stages of a cold or flu. They were often less effective after the flu/cold has already gained a firm foothold.
Vitamin C
Vitamin D3
Sambucol
Zinc lozenges
Lots of fluids and rest

Although cough syrups, antihistamines, OTC cold preps and similar do provide temporary relief of some symptoms, all too often they also prolong the duration of the illness by suppressing the body’s natural reflex actions to eliminate foreign invaders via expectoration, runny noses, etc. The decision to take or not take such preps is left up to the patient who must weigh discomfort (but a shorter duration) against symptomatic relief (but a possible longer duration). As for sambucol, here’s what Dr. Bernstein had to say about it:

“I recommend that if anyone in your house, or who works next to you, develops the flu, that you take antiviral medications. Not just a single antiviral agent, but three of them. I got the idea of taking three, so I took Flumadine, Tamiflu, and Sambucol, (the first two are prescription meds). Sambucol is an extract of the black elderberry tree. I was on all three for about a week … it made my life much more bearable. I had a very mild case, and it only lasted a short time. My wife had it (flu) over a month, and it was far more severe.”

There is also a precaution when/if taking vitamin C in daily doses greater than 250mg. It has been shown that high levels of serum vitamin C can interfere with the enzyme used in test strips and yield inaccurate results (higher readings than normal). In an edition of the A.D.A.’s journal (Diabetes Care July 1999 22:7 1218-1219), an article entitled “High-dose vitamin C supplementation increases plasma glucose” also suggests that vitamin C itself can raise blood sugar levels. The article is secluded behind a subscription wall (US$25 access fee) so I can’t provide a meaningful URL other than the headline itself:
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/22/7/1218.full.pdf+html

I haven’t had the flu in over forty years. I attribute this to good hygiene (washing hands frequently among other things) and taking high dose vitamin D3 to maintain a serum level in the range of 80ng/ml (note: I get an annual 25-hydroxy-vitamin-D3 blood test annually to confirm/verify my D3 serum levels). The sunshine vitamin appears to bolster the entire immune system because it isn’t really a vitamin at all but a seco-steroid (hormone). Most cells throughout the body have vitamin D receptors so the benefits of ensuring that you are not vitamin D-deficient may provide you with better defenses against illness in general.
Click to expand...

Thank you!
 
I only ever take Paracetamol.not just for the price,but if you read the lable,other remadies that cost a lot more have the same ingredients.
I think if you need anything stronger you should see your doctor
 
I only ever take Paracetamol and drink hot water with fresh lemon juice and a spoonful of honey, my GP recommended this saying it's as good if not better than over the counter remedies which are expensive
 
Many thanks for the Night Nurse capsules hint. I will make sure I keep them in stock. I rarely get colds or flu - and was jabbed this year - but came down with flu about 10 days ago and am still suffering some effects. The pharmacist basically talked me out of most of my old favourites - Lemsip topping that list - and sold me a sugarless cough mixture and cocodemol. They work, but you aren't supposed to take them for longer than 3 days and this virus ain't going nowhere that quick.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. I stuck with paracetamol and fluids and rest. Three days later felt so much better although nose was very sore.
 
I've had a cold for 2 weeks and in the beginning when it was all sneezes and a sore throat I got some Fishermen's Friend blackcurrant sweets (no sugar) and a menthol stick (which works better if you take the cap off first :facepalm:) I drank more than usual, fruit tea & hot water with lemon. When the night cough started I got Pholcodine (no sugar) for night-time only. All the time I have been eating lots and keeping the fat intake up.
I accept it's going to drag on so my daily routine is just the same as normal with allowances for being not quite so energetic. I'm looking forward to what @Brunneria describes as the moment I suddenly feel better. Always welcome.
Hope you get that moment soon.
 
Did you drink drink drink and sleep sleep sleep as She Lucy who must be obeyed instructed you? That's what I'm doing now with a horrible painful cough cold. Hurts :-(
 
:D I tried but it's sleep-cough-sleep-cough-sleep at the moment thank you.
Hope yours is better soon.
 
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