New Advice on Common Cold Treatments

Clinical evidence has evaluated the treatments for the common cold and categorised them according to the evidence on their benefits and harms.

Treatments likely to be beneficial are:

* Decongestants (norephedrine, oxymetazoline, or pseudoephedrine) provided short-term (three to 10-hour) relief of congestive symptoms.

* Antihistamines (may reduce runny nose and sneezing, no significant difference in overall symptoms).

Treatments of unknown effectiveness are:

* Vitamin C.

* Zinc (intranasal gel or lozenges).

* Echinacea.

* Steam inhalation.

* Decongestants (longer term [> 10 hours] effects on congestive symptoms).

* Analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs.

Treatments likely to be ineffective or harmful

* Antibiotics.

(Arroll Bruce. Respiratory disorders (acute) Common cold. Clinical Evidence 2004; 12: 1-2).

Clinical papers was compiled by June Thompson

Copyright TG Scott & Son Ltd. Jan 2005