What medicine or measures are the most effective to kill a head cold quickly?
Like, say, the morning you wake up with a sore throat.
Zicam has worked for me but sometimes it doesn't, best thing to do from my experience is to take Triple Guard Echinacea it's a vitamin that works to up the immune system also available in liquid
19 Answers
I would use some Dayquil for the head cold, and hot tea with honey really helps with the sore throat and will help break up some congestion if you have any.
Chew a clove of garlic for 30 seconds and then swallow it, followed by two pints of orange juice.
Sleep for eight hours after that, and you should be much better in the morning.
Rest is one of the most important things.
a good OTC that treats the symptoms you have(Day/Nyquil, TheraFlu have always done me well) and watch out for drowsy formulas if you are not wanting to be sleepy.
Musinex D is a must if you are heavily congested.
Multi vitamins and vitamin C
Rest
Zicam works quite well, and there are actually studies showing that it works. The conclusion of Hirt et al states, "At study's end, the duration of symptoms was 2.3 days (+/-0.9)in the zinc group and 9.0 days (+/-2.5)in the control group--a statistically significant difference (p <0.05)."
Some people have problems with ZiCam affecting their sense of smell from the nasal applicators. There are new quick dissolve tablets that shouldn't affect your sniffer though.
Oh, and just to rebut Ebone, there should be no problems with generic versions of your favorite medications. They are made of the same chemical compositions and so they should work the exact same way.
if it's sore throat alone, put equal parts honey, lemon juice, and water in a coffee mug, heat for 80 seconds or so in a microwave. Alcohol should be avoided - it provides the illusion of relief, but will dry out the throat and lead to further irritation/soreness. if it's a sore throat resulting from sinus congestion/drainage, use the honey-lemon mix for the throat, and drink spicy, salty soups to fight the congestion. Ramen with a good amount of tabasco is fine. If you have to go to work, try bringing in some Nissin Cup Noodle or Maruchan Instant Lunch (they're nearly identical) to drink for lunch/breaks - the salt will help kill any infection in the throat.
I support the Zicam, but it tastes so incredibly awful I go for this:
Drink two Emergen-C Immune Defense multivitamins a day(one in the morning, one at night). Then drink a LOT
Nothing will kill a cold, but you can lessen its effects. If you have to function, i.e. go to work, etc., take Dayquil. Once you get home, hit the Nyquil hard. It must be the liquid Nyquil, and it must be the real deal, no generics, as some generics don't include the best part - the alcohol.
If you have the ability to stay home, hit the Nyquil immediately.