Cough, cold and flu symptom relief. Most upper respiratory infections are viral and self-limiting — paracetamol for fever and aches, hydration, rest, and time fix the majority. The two situations where medication helps are (a) influenza specifically, where an antiviral can shorten illness if started early, and (b) bacterial complications (sinusitis, otitis, pneumonia) that follow an upper respiratory infection and need an antibiotic.
What we currently stock in this category:
Antiflu (oseltamivir 75 mg) — the only neuraminidase inhibitor we stock. Effective against influenza A and B if started within 48 hours of symptom onset. Five-day course (75 mg twice daily for adults). Reduces symptom duration by 1-1.5 days and lowers risk of complications in high-risk groups (elderly, COPD, diabetes, immunocompromised, pregnancy). Not effective against the common cold (rhinovirus, coronavirus, RSV) — those are different viruses.
If your symptoms point at bacterial complications — purulent green-yellow sinus discharge after 10+ days of cold symptoms, ear pain with hearing loss, productive cough with fever and chest pain, sore throat with high fever and lymph nodes — see our Antibiotics category. Common first-line agents: Augmentin (amoxiclav, sinusitis/otitis/CAP), Althrocin (erythromycin, penicillin-allergic streptococcal pharyngitis or atypical pneumonia), Synclar (clarithromycin, atypical or H. pylori adjuncts).
What this category will look like soon. True symptomatic-relief products — decongestants (pseudoephedrine, oxymetazoline nasal spray), antitussives (dextromethorphan, codeine for productive cough), expectorants (guaifenesin, ambroxol, bromhexine), throat lozenges, antihistamines for runny-nose colds (loratadine, cetirizine), combination cold/flu syrups — are being sourced. Most are already commonly stocked at WHO-GMP-certified generic manufacturers; we expect to expand this category significantly in the next 4-6 weeks.
Self-care that works for the common cold (no medication needed): hydration (water, soup, herbal tea), saline nasal irrigation or saline drops, honey for cough (children over 1 year), zinc lozenges in the first 24 hours (Cochrane data — modest benefit if started immediately), throat gargling with warm salt water. Vitamin C and echinacea have weak-to-no evidence in trials. Steam inhalation feels good but does not shorten illness.
When to seek urgent care. Difficulty breathing or chest pain, persistent high fever ( > 39 °C / 102 °F for 3+ days), confusion or lethargy, dehydration, symptoms returning after 5-7 days of improvement (suggests bacterial superinfection), severe headache with stiff neck, persistent vomiting. Children, the elderly, and pregnant women should have a lower threshold for review.
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