(WXYZ) - Cold and flu season is nothing to sneeze at! But hitting the drugstore for relief is enough to leave many of us dazed and confused. There are so many choices. It's easy to reach for a one-size-fits all remedy…but is that always best? Now, with flu fears on the rise, a renowned pharmacist is speaking out. What's the best way to soothe your symptoms and stay safe when you’re under the weather?
Alexis Fabricant is no stranger to sore throats and stuffy noses. "I definitely come down with a cold at least once a year, sometimes twice a year."
But when she hits the drugstore for over-the-counter relief, it's enough to make her dizzy. That's because the shelves are stocked with everything from pills to syrups to sprays…some with just one active ingredient, some with more than three!
Alexis isn't the only consumer left breathless at the drugstore.
Dr. Steven Pray is a renowned expert on non-prescription products. He says it's common for pharmacists to see confused shoppers during cold and flu season, but fears this year will be even worse. He says, "This year will be unique because of the regular flu, but then the great scare about swine flu. People are going to be grabbing everything they can grab."
Dr. Pray says many shoppers simply reach for a multi-symptom pack...but those three or four ingredients listed are not always needed.
Dr. Jan Engle is with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. She says confused shoppers may also be overmedicating. "You may take a product that's multi-symptom for colds and then also take another product, say, for headaches, and both products contain acetaminophen, as an example."
According to Dr. Engle, patients also risk overmedication by taking more than the recommended dose.
Alexis admits this is something she has done. "I feel like I'm not feeling well. I end up taking another spoonful of cough syrup, or I end up taking an extra multi-purpose tablet, because I'm not really sure and I want to feel better."
Our experts say overdosing on cold and flu products can have serious side effects…like increased drowsiness, high blood pressure, mental confusion, even liver damage and hallucinations in severe cases.
So read all labels thoroughly. Also, only buy a multi-symptom medication if you truly have all of the symptoms listed on the box.
Otherwise, our experts recommend buying medications individually based on your ailments.
One important thing to remember: ask your pharmacist and doctor questions. Over the counter drugs can interact with other medicines and pre-existing conditions.
Alexis says next time she shops, she'll be armed with the info she needs to make a healthy decision. "I would rather take something that was going to treat my symptom, rather than taking way too much medication."
Another thing to remember? According to the CDC these medications may make you feel better…but they don't make you less infectious.
