Smiling JOe

Do any of you guys ever get tired of drinking too much cough syrup and eating too many cough drops when you have a cold? I think I've consumed more Robitussin than water during the last few days, and I am so over all the sugar and cherry flavor. Does anyone have an alternative suggestion to heal a sore throat. The gargling salt water, and drinking liquor with lemon and honey don't excite me. What else for someone who is tired of sugar and cherry flavoring?

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rapunzel

I had the same thing happen to me a couple of years ago, and I actually got so sick of it that it did make me sick, literally. Ever since, the mere smell of Robitussin has made me nauseous.

If you have what I have -- and it sounds the same, I'm taking Sudafed 12 hour and Mucinex DM. The Mucinex has the same active ingredients as Robitussin, and the Sudafed controls the post nasal drip that's causing the throat irritation.

Good luck...whatever this bug is, it sucks.

seacrestkristi

Someone on here suggested Vick's on your feet. Maybe chloraseptic spray to numb it, but its a little yucky at first. Delsym cough medicine is orange flavor. Don't forget good ole advil or tylenol for the sore throat too.

seacrestkristi

You can't take Vick's on your feet? advil or tylenol? Bless your heart literally, beach runner. What do you take for common aches and pains? Aspirin?

Bob

your winter companion

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Beach Runner

I can't take any of that stuff due to MVP and a long QT that wasn't diagnosed until I was almost 40. So I can't take any OTC meds with "D" in them, like Robitussin-D, etc. The complete website is at http://www.arizonacert.org/medical-p...drug-lists.htm.

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nowgirl

George's Triple Distilled Aloe Vera has almost no taste when chilled and works for me for sore throat (gargle a bit and drink some) as well as digestive problems such as reflux.
Locally available at For the Health of It.

jdarg

Toss the cough drops and cough syrup. Drink tea with honey, suck on sugarless hard candy. Christi is right- the Mucinex/Sudafed combo works. Cough syrups only help if they have something in them to just plain knock you out- like a narcotic- then you don't cough because you are mercifully asleep!

seaside2

WHAT????? A true Irish drinker!!!!!!!!!

Thought I was the only one in the world.

Prefer Bushmills Black, a little smoother

BeachSiO2

If I have to take any type of OTC cold medicine, I go straight to Zicam. It works great and usually cures my ills before they get full blown.

Smiling JOe

I haven't even taken the full recommended doses for the Robitussin and Ricola, and it is too sweet for me. I have done decaf tea with honey, and that helps only while I'm drinking it. I hate the idea of being passed out on narcotics.

I wonder if the sugarless candy is still sweet from artificial sweetners? If not, where the heck do you find sugarless hard candy? I really don't want to have to make some.

I did receive one suggestion of drinking Gatorade to help sooth the throat and hydrate. I'm also drinking some Cranberry juice and Grape Juice (even though it is sweet as candy) to get some vitamins.

I mentioned that I didn't want cherry flavored anything, b/c that is the flavor of the Robitussin, but I dislike the cherry, grape, and orange, because they all remind me of the medicines I took as a child. I'm sure that I'm not alone in that thought. I wish they made fun flavors for medicines, like Pear, Apple, Peach, Pumpkin Pie, etc. They really need to branch out a bit.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

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Smiling JOe

Most "sugar-free" products are made for diabetics or "health-conscious" people, but most still have plenty of sweetness. Local Pharmacy? ha, ha, ha. very funny. Its a 50 mile round trip.

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BeachSiO2

Gulf Place isn't that far from you. Santa Rosa Pharmacy used to be there, or is it closed

Smiling JOe

Okay, a 40 mile round trip, but their cough drops are still sweet. I am tired of sweets.

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Tsgtsgirl

Ya know good ole vitamin C and ecanatia work pretty good to get rid of a cold. Of course the sore throat may still be there but shouldn't take as long to get well.

Ocean Lover

I agree with JDarg and Punzy...everything in pill form. A decongestant and expectorant then along with that advil or tylenol to also help with the sore throat. Hope you feel better soon! I'm still fighting it too. I'm also still using the sinus rinse. It helps with the dryness in the air up here too. It just feels better afterward.

Minnie

The warm salt water, while not fun, definitely helps as it reduces swelling. As to the cough, nothing works for me but the hard stuff, Tuissionex Suspension, which is lemon based. Yum but it is prescription only and is heavy on the narcs.

If you want something over the counter that does not have the sweet taste, you can try Buckley's. It works but believe me it is the most awful tasting stuff ever. There is even You Tube's of the people trying it for the first time. I think it works because it tastes so bad, you don't want to repeat it.

Chicken soup is probably the best remedy of all.

scooterbug44

I am a big fan of hot soups, stews, applesauce, chocolate etc. that soothe and coat your throat instead of drops or cough meds. IMO those hard candies or drops can roughen up your throat and make you feel like you're rolling a marble around.

Lots of liquids & fresh fruits/juices, long hot bath, cozy pjs, huge dinner of comfort food, and sleep!

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"I hate to break it to you, but this year (and probably the next few) was going to suck even if Jesus himself was president. These problems were not created overnight and they aren't going away overnight." -Jdarg

Smiling JOe

NoHall suggested Gatorade, "not the substitutes," and I have to say that room-temp Gatorade has helped more than anything. Who knew? I sure didn't, but now I'm a believer.

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jdarg

It's going to be a beautiful and warm weekend- you have to feel better and get outside!

NoHall

Yay for NoHall's momma...

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LightWorker

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"I cannot tell you any spiritual truth that deep within you don't know already. All I can do is remind you of what you have forgotten" Eckhart Tolle

Lady D

Buy some Cold Eeze for when you feel you are getting a cold next time. You start using them upon the first sign of a cold and they head it off. Throat spray works well for my sore throats, but I tried hydrogen peroxide a few weeks back. You can use it full strength or mix a small amount in a cup with water to weaken it a little as it burns your throat but it did help also.

InletBchDweller

SJ,

Hope you are feeling better.

Smiling JOe

Thanks for the well-wishes and suggestions. I am feeling better, but not 100% yet. The Gatorade worked miracles.

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Scooter

Hey Beach Runner - I also have MVP and wasn't diagnosed until I was about 36. I've had problems with decongestants in the past and ever since I was diagnosed I can't have epinepherine in my dental shots. I had never heard of the long QT thing and read up on it. Very interesting since my mother dropped dead at 59 while in the hospital having some tests run. This was in 1982. Her death certificate said ventricular fibrillation. The autopsy found nothing else. I'm curious if it could have had something to do with the long QT thing. What heart doctor do you see here in Atlanta?

Franny

Go and soak up some rays....the best natural medication. Hope you feel better soon.

ShallowsNole

Glad to hear you're feeling better, SJ!!!

I have it now.

NoHall

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Smiling JOe

It wasn't because of me. I have purposefully stayed home, with the exception of one quick stop at the grocery store to collect some needed groceries. I hate it when sick people go around town spreading the bad germs. If you are sick, stay at HOME!!! Easier said than done, I know, and with employers not buying into that philosophy, we will continue to see sick people at work, spreading sickness.

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Smiling JOe

forgot to add, Hope you feel better soon. I highly recommend the gatorade.

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ShallowsNole

I have no issues with "gator"ade if it helps me feel better. This royally sucks.

But, everyone else in my family has been sick, everyone in my office has been sick, and I haven't been, until now, so I guess I'm due.

JUL

I always do lots of hot tea...no milk added and try the Ricola natural cough drops instead of the syrupy cherry kind....chicken soup and 7up....
get well soon!

NoHall

I hate climate-controlled buildings. They give me a headache and make my throat scratchy...

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