What Cold Medicine Should I Take Quiz

My breathing feels normal apart from possible nasal stuffiness.

I notice mild breathlessness only with more exertion than usual.

Usual activity makes me unusually short of breath, or I have a new wheeze.

I am struggling to breathe at rest, cannot speak normally, or my lips look blue or gray.

I can drink normally, am urinating as usual, and feel mentally clear.

I am thirstier or drier than usual but can keep fluids down.

Vomiting or marked weakness makes it difficult to keep enough fluid down.

I am confused, have fainted, am extremely difficult to wake, or have barely urinated.

I take no regular medicines, or a pharmacist has checked the exact product against all of them.

I take one regular medicine and plan to verify compatibility before using the cold product.

I take several medicines and have not yet checked the cold product for interactions.

I use an MAOI now or used one within 14 days, or I was warned of a serious interaction with an ingredient.

I had no new or concerning reaction.

I noticed mild dry mouth, mild nausea, or slight restlessness.

I developed marked dizziness, strong palpitations, shaking, or unusual drowsiness.

I developed facial or throat swelling, trouble breathing, collapse, or another severe reaction.

I measured the dose correctly and recorded when I took it.

I have not taken it yet because one part of the directions needs clarification.

I took a dose but am uncertain about the time, measuring device, or product strength.

I may have taken more than the label allows, repeated a dose too soon, or used the wrong concentration.

I have no chest discomfort.

My chest muscles feel mildly sore only after repeated coughing.

I have persistent tightness or pain that becomes worse when I breathe deeply.

I have severe or sudden chest pain, crushing pressure, or pain with major breathing difficulty.

Swallowing liquids is normal, even if my throat is mildly scratchy.

Swallowing is uncomfortable, but I can drink and breathe normally.

It is difficult to swallow liquids, or there is marked one-sided throat swelling.

My tongue or throat is swelling, I am drooling because I cannot swallow, or breathing is affected.

I have no measured fever, and my symptoms are manageable or improving.

I have a mild feverish feeling that is improving with rest and fluids.

My fever is high, persistent, returning, or accompanied by clear overall worsening.

Fever occurs with a stiff neck, seizure, severe confusion, or a rapidly spreading unusual rash.

I compared every active ingredient and found no duplication.

I am using only one product but still need to confirm its active ingredients.

I am considering multiple products and have not finished comparing their ingredients.

I took products that may duplicate acetaminophen, a decongestant, an antihistamine, or a cough ingredient.

I have none of the conditions listed in the product warnings.

I have a stable condition, and a pharmacist or clinician has cleared this exact product for me.

I have high blood pressure, heart, liver, kidney, thyroid, prostate, or glaucoma concerns and have not checked the product.

My condition is unstable, or a clinician has previously told me to avoid an ingredient in this product.

A nonpregnant adult aged 18-64 who is not breastfeeding.

Someone aged 6-17 or 65 and older.

Someone who is pregnant or breastfeeding.

A child younger than 6 without product-specific advice from a clinician or pharmacist.

It is a single-ingredient product aimed at my one bothersome symptom.

It has several ingredients, and I have checked that each one addresses a symptom I currently have.

It contains an ingredient for a symptom I do not have, such as a cough suppressant when I am not coughing.

I chose it by brand, package color, or “maximum strength” wording without identifying the active ingredients.

I will not combine the medicine with sedating substances and do not need to drive while affected.

I may need to drive later, but I can postpone it until I know how the medicine affects me.

I have used alcohol, cannabis, a sleep aid, or another sedating substance and have not checked the combination.

I already feel substantially drowsy or impaired and may drive or operate machinery unless plans change.

I have no significant cough and am not selecting a cough ingredient.

I identified whether the cough is mainly dry or mucus-producing and checked what the ingredient is intended to do.

I am unsure what kind of cough I have or whether the ingredient suppresses coughing or loosens mucus.

The cough includes blood, major breathing difficulty, or significant chest pain, and I am considering only self-treatment.

I do not need a decongestant, or I checked the ingredient, directions, and relevant warnings.

I plan to ask a pharmacist whether an oral product or nasal product better fits my symptoms.

I have not checked decongestant warnings related to my conditions or other medicines.

Congestion occurs with severe one-sided facial or eye swelling, vision changes, or rapidly worsening pain.