Looks like when I land in Madrid on Monday morning I will have a nasty cold. Can anyone suggest a good cold medication?

In the US, up until a year ago, the Tylenol/Actifed cold pills worked for me, but now that they have reformulated to get away from pseudoephedrine, it doesn't work well for me.

Does anyone know the Spanish word for pseudoephedrine?

Thanks.

You can still buy pseudoephedrine over the counter here in the U.S., and taking it separately from the Tylenol (acetominophen) will be every bit as effective. Pseudoephedrine is now kept behind the pharmacy counter, though, so you'll have to ask for it.

Don't wait until you get to Madrid to start treating your cold, and you'll almost certainly regret flying without taking the pseudoephedrine to treat the congestion.

Thanks, Therese,

Yes, I know about getting pseudoephedrine, but it is such a bother where I live. In Missouri, I have to stand in line at the pharmacy, show ID, fill out a register, and still only get two boxes, max. It has taken me over a half hour sometimes to do this. I am taking pills now.

I know there are medications available over the counter in Europe that we can't get here and was wondering if anyone found something that is good with a cold.

Barbara

Zicam. Zicam. Zicam. I can't rave enough about the stuff. It's otc, side-effect-free, and it absolutely works.

I prefer the swabs, but the inhaler-thing is good, too. I can't begin to tell you how many people I've recommended this to, only to find out they're already sold on the stuff!

oops, I didn't read your op as carefully as I should have. I honestly don't know if Zicam is sold in Spain, but you can take it on the plane over, no?

I'd get the meds now (I've never tried Zicam), something to at least cover part of your trip.

Have you taken your temperature?

Re: Zicam
you can buy it at Walgreens, Longs, etc. as well as drugstore.com.

FYI:
http://www.newstarget.com/007044.html
excerpted from above:

<i>The product is marketed as homeopathic, but the active ingredient is actual zinc, not the extremely diluted zinc typically associated with homeopathic remedies. The zinc in Zicam is labeled as “zincum gluconicum,” which is another name for zinc gluconate, a common form of zinc present in dietary supplements. Additionally, zinc gluconate is also found in lozenges that have been touted for cold and sore throat relief.

Having inadequate dietary zinc can be a problem in regards to susceptibility to colds. That’s because this mineral is an essential part of one of the key enzymes that works with the immune system, the body’s internal security force that helps determine how often we get sick and how long it will take us to recover. …

One of the interesting things with zinc administered as a gel or lozenge is that it is not the zinc absorbed into the body that appears to cause the desired effect. Rather, it is the ability of the zinc in the nose and throat to bind with receptors that line these passages. The nose and throat are key portals by which cold viruses invade, and when zinc is there those troublemakers have a harder time making themselves at home.

I recall there was considerable interest when zinc lozenges first came out. There were a number of controlled studies investigating whether they could reduce the severity of colds and sore throats. Some studies were positive, but many were not, so the results were mixed at best.

Now we have the zinc gluconate in a nasal gel product. Similar to how the lozenges bathed the throat with zinc, the gel form allows the product to stay in contact with the zinc receptors in the nose. Studies report a significant shortening of the duration of colds, and a general lessening of symptoms. … it appeared to be the physical presence of the zinc that was responsible.</i>

Ingredients:
Active Ingredients: Acetaminophen (1000 mg) (Pain Reliever/Reducer), Dextromethorphan HBr (30 mg) (Cough Suppressant), Doxylamine Succinate (12.5 mg) (Antihistamine)

Inactive Ingredients: Citric Acid, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyethylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Purified Water, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose, Sucralose

I ended up with something called Ivaco when I had to buy cold medicine in Spain. It worked well enough. I would recommend that you take the American packaging with you so that you can point to the ingredient you're looking for on the label. This has worked for me before in other countries, albeit with somewhat more familiar ingredients. By the way, ibuprofen in Turkey is a great deal. I bought a package of 30 400 mg tablets for a euro ...

Thanks everyone.

I seem to be holding the cold at bay with Vit. C and gargaling with vinegar.

I wanted to find out if there was some neat med available in Spain that we don't have here. I might stop at the drugstore on the way to the airport (in 2 hours - can't wait!!!!!!).

GB, I hope you also take Airborne while flying. I take it when flying even when I'm not getting a cold.

One of the best things for a sore throat is gargling with warm salt water. Gargle every two to three hours as soon as you feel the first sign. I'm an RN and we use Normal Saline on wounds and it works great.For a cough, drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. It liquifies the tight mucuous in the chest so you can cough it up.