Common Cold: What Actually Helps and What’s a Waste of Money

There’s still no cure for the common cold, but there are smart ways to feel better and avoid wasting money. Adults typically catch two or three colds a year, and young children even more. Most clear within a week to 10 days.

Imagine standing in the pharmacy with a streaming nose, staring at a wall of cold remedies, each promising to “fight” your cold. You spend a small fortune. Most of what actually helps costs far less: rest, fluids, a simple painkiller and patience.

What helps

• Rest and plenty of fluids
• Paracetamol or ibuprofen for aches, sore throat and fever
• Honey for coughs in adults and children over 1
• Saline nose drops or sprays for a blocked nose
• Decongestants for a few days in adults, if suitable; ask a pharmacist

What doesn’t help much

• Antibiotics: colds are viral, so antibiotics don’t work and can cause side effects and resistance
• Vitamin C and many herbal remedies: evidence for preventing or treating colds is weak in most people
• Cough and cold medicines for young children: not recommended for under-6s in many countries

But when is it more than a cold?

See a nurse or doctor if symptoms last more than three weeks, get worse after a week, or you have a high temperature that won’t settle, chest pain, breathlessness, or a severe headache. Babies under 3 months with a temperature of 38°C or higher need urgent assessment.

Sources: NHS (Common cold), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Common colds), Cochrane reviews on vitamin C and cold remedies. This guide is for general information and does not replace advice from your own nurse, doctor or pharmacist.