I’m a pharmacist and keep these 8 things in my medicine cabinet for coughs and colds

Pharmacies are brimming with products to fight cold and flu symptoms, but what do the pharmacists themselves actually buy?

Licensed pharmacist share the essential meds she keeps in her own cabinet to combat symptoms during cold and flu season.

Among her must-haves are a combo she takes “when I’m down bad” and a “more potent nasal decongestant” than DayQuil.

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Cough suppressant

A cough is the body’s way of keeping the throat and airways clear.

There are several causes for a cough, cystic fibrosis.

“When I have a cough, I go for a cough suppressant,” said Forbes.

She recommends Delsym, Dextromethorphan and/or Robitussin to help with the hacking.

“It works really well.” Forbes noted that she only takes a half dose of these meds because she is a poor CYP2D6 metabolizer, meaning she doesn’t metabolize 2D6 substrates normally.”

Decongestants

For a stuffy or runny nose, Forbes opts for nasal sprays like Afrin, explaining that it contains oxymetazoline. This decongestant can relieve stuffiness and sinus pressure and lasts for up to twelve hours.

Experts note that Afrin should be used with caution: Taking it for longer than the recommended time on the packing can lead to dependency, meaning you’ll have trouble breathing out of your nose without it.

Forbes notes that pseudoephedrine is also effective at unblocking airways but should be used with caution as it can increase blood pressure and anxiety.

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Ibuprofen

Forbes relies on ibuprofen to alleviate a sore throat, headache, muscle aches, pains, and/or fever related to acute illnesses like the flu.

While effective, studies show that many adults who use ibuprofen and other so-called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs take too much, increasing their risk of serious side effects like internal bleeding and heart attacks, a new study suggests.

Chloraseptic/Cēpacol/Phenol

The pharmacist soothes her sore throat with a Chloraseptic-based spray medicine like Cēpacol, which contains the topical anesthetic benzocaine, available in mentholated and nonmentholated versions.

In the evening, Forbes opts for Phenol. “Throat spray is really only for when I’m trying to fall asleep in bed so I don’t fall asleep with a cough drop in and choke and die,” she told The Post.

Tylenol

To keep headaches at bay, Forbes takes the max dose of two 500mg capsules of Tylenol every six hours. She notes that Tylenol and ibuprofen can be taken together to fight fevers, a combo she knocks back “when I’m down bad.”

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Imodium

When the flu also comes with stomach problems, Forbes turns to Imodium, an over-the-counter medication used to reduce the frequency of diarrhea.

Loperamide, sold under the brand name Imodium, is in the same drug class as fentanyl, as both are derived from phenylpiperidine

She said that loperamide is a peripherally acting synthetic opioid, “so it doesn’t really get into the brain at normal doses.”

The FDA has warned about the dangers of loperamide and released guidelines to promote its safer use.

Those who purchase the drug over-the-counter should not take more than 8 mg a day, according to the agency. If a patient has a prescription, the maximum dosage advised is 16 mg per day.

“Patients and consumers should only take the dose of loperamide directed by your health care professionals or according to the [over-the-counter] Drug Facts label, as taking more than prescribed or listed on the label can cause severe heart rhythm problems or death,” the FDA said.

Pedialyte

For fluid and potassium loss caused by vomiting or diarrhea, Forbes stans for Pedialyte. She maintains that while Gatorade is superior in taste, Pedialyte is the superior choice for replenishment.

“Of course, I got Pedialyte in my box; it has sodium, potassium, and chloride in it; it actually has a little bit more potassium than Gatorade.”

Forbes told the Post that if she is going for the Gatorade, it’s blue and purple or bust.

Tylenol Cold + Flu Multi-Action

#pharmacy #flu #sick #symptoms #nose ♬ original sound – Dr. Kati Forbes, PharmD, RPh

While Forbes shies away from combo products to treat cold and flu symptoms, she keeps her cure kit stocked with a day/night Tylenol treatment.

“The day version is acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan and pseudoephedrine which is the nasal decongestant. This is basically DayQuil, but with pseudoephedrine instead of phenylephrine, it’s a more potent nasal decongestant.”

For the evening portion of the treatment, the pills contain chlorpheniramine, a first-generation antihistamine. “This is basically NyQuil but with pseudoephedrine instead of phenylephrine. It also has chlorpheniramine instead of doxylamine.”