Cold, Cough, and Allergy Medications: Uses and Abuses

Abstract

Separately or in combination, antihistamines, decongestants, antitussives, and expectorants are used to treat the cough and rhinitis symptoms of the common cold and of allergies. Each year, Americans spend 1 to 2 billion dollars on cough and cold remedies and lose more than 26 million school days and 23 million work days because of rhinitis and associated symptoms. Studies have shown that antihistamines and decongestants are efficacious in the treatment of allergy symptoms, but the results of studies are mixed regarding their efficacy in the treatment of symptoms of the common cold, and studies show no effect in prevention or treatment of otitis media.Some review articles and consensus opinions do not recommend the use of these drugs in the common cold (especially in preschool children), although some studies have demonstrated symptomatic relief, and physicians continue to prescribe or recommend these drugs for respiratory illness more than 36 million times annually.The Common ColdMore than 200 million cases of acute upper respiratory infection (URI) occur each year in the United States, and more than 75 million are seen by physicians. URIs account for 23 million missed work days and 26 million missed school days. This is the second most common diagnosis made by office-based pediatricians, second only to otitis media.