Pharmacist advice
Common cold
A cold is a viral illness with a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and a mild sore throat or cough. Antibiotics do not treat a cold. This page does not start a prescription.
A pharmacist cannot prescribe for this from this page.
What usually helps
- Rest, fluids, and saline nose rinses or drops.
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can ease aches when a pharmacist confirms the dose for your age and other medicines.
- A cool-mist humidifier may ease a stuffy nose.
Talk to a pharmacist first
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- The person is under 12, unless the note below gives a different age.
- You take other medicines, or you have a long-term condition.
- Symptoms last more than 10 days or get worse after improving.
See a doctor or call 911
- Trouble breathing, chest pain, a stiff neck, or a rash with fever.
- A baby under 3 months with a fever.
- Call 911 for severe trouble breathing, blue lips, or a person who is hard to wake.
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Reviewed by a BC pharmacist.