Cough, Cold and Flu Range at Blooms The Chemist
A cold is a viral infection affecting the nose and throat. Symptoms such as a sore throat, sneezing, and a blocked or runny nose usually settle on their own within 7 to 10 days, and there is no cure. Over-the-counter products are designed to relieve symptoms while you recover. [Source: Healthdirect Australia] The flu is caused by a different virus, usually brings fever and chills, and is more serious than a cold.
Combination cold and flu tablets and capsules come in day, night and day-and-night packs, and sore throat medicine covers lozenges, sprays and gargles. For a blocked nose there are saline nasal sprays for adults, children and babies, decongestant sprays and inhalers, sinus rinse kits, vapour rubs and steam inhalants.
How to choose a cold and flu product
- Match the product to your symptoms: Pain relief such as paracetamol and ibuprofen may ease headache, fever, muscle aches, sore throat and sinus pain, while decongestants reduce swelling in the nose to clear congestion.
- Dry or chesty cough: Cough suppressants may be used for a dry cough, while bromhexine is used for a chesty cough to help break up phlegm. Liquid cough medicine is available for both types.
- Day or night formula: Some products are made for night-time use and may contain ingredients that can make you drowsy, so check the label if you need to stay alert or drive.
- Who it is for: Cough and cold medicines should not be given to children younger than 6 years, and children aged 6 to 11 should only take them on a doctor's or pharmacist's advice. Age-appropriate options are listed under children's cold and flu.
Using cold and flu medicines safely
Follow the dose and timing on the pack. Many combination cold and flu tablets contain paracetamol, so avoid using more than one paracetamol-containing product at once and ask a Blooms The Chemist Pharmacist which medicines can be taken together. Nasal decongestant sprays should not be used for more than 5 days in a row. [Source: Healthdirect Australia]
Rest and drinking plenty of water help with mild cold and flu symptoms. See your GP if symptoms are not improving or are getting worse, if phlegm turns yellow, green or bloody, or if a cough lasts more than 3 weeks. Seek medical advice promptly if you are short of breath. Trouble breathing is a medical emergency: call triple zero (000). [Source: Healthdirect Australia]
Frequently Asked Questions
What do cold and flu tablets do?
Cold and flu tablets are combination medicines that contain a few types of medicine in one tablet to relieve several symptoms at once. They commonly combine pain relief for fever, headache, and sore throat with a decongestant for a blocked nose, and some also include a cough ingredient or an antihistamine. They relieve symptoms rather than curing the infection, because colds and flu are caused by viruses.
Can you take cough medicine with cold and flu tablets?
Sometimes, but check both labels first, because many cold and flu tablets already contain a cough ingredient or paracetamol. Do not use more than one product containing paracetamol at the same time, and discuss combination products with a pharmacist or doctor before starting them. A Blooms The Chemist Pharmacist can confirm what is safe to take together.
Which cold and flu medicines are non-drowsy?
Products labelled "day" or "non-drowsy" are formulated for use when you need to stay alert, while night formulas may contain ingredients that can make you drowsy. Always check the active ingredients on the pack, as cough suppressants and some antihistamines can also cause drowsiness, and avoid driving or operating machinery if you feel drowsy.
Where can I buy cold and flu medicine near me?
Cold and flu medicines are available at your local Blooms The Chemist or online with delivery Australia-wide. Use the store locator on the Blooms The Chemist website to find your nearest store.