There was a brief, seven-year period between getting my first cell phone and starting undergrad when my group chats were buzzing with fairly normal conversations. As I entered nursing school, my texts quickly went from, “Selena and Justin broke up,” to, “Should I get this mole checked out?” in the blink of an eye. And with six years of emergency nursing under my belt, I’ve forever solidified myself as the On-Call Nurse of the group chat.
My notifications always seem to double during cold and flu season, and thankfully, I’m well-versed in helping my pals feel better when common colds get them down. When summer comes to an end and fall comes knocking, CVS and I tend to bring our relationship from casual to committed, and my Extracare Card gets just as much action as my AMEX. From the moment I get my flu shot to the hours I spend perusing aisles during their Fall Wellness Event, I’m what you could call a frequent flyer. Now is the best time to stock up on meds, supplements, cough drops, humidifiers, and more—here are the over-the-counter items I always recommend that my friends have on hand during sick season:
Pain and fever meds
When headaches, fevers, aches, and pains strike, I always reach for Advil (AKA one of the common brand names for ibuprofen). Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory medicine that reduces pain caused by inflammation and reduces fevers, so I always have these on hand for everything from viral aches to period cramps and beyond (plus, these liquid gels are literally one of the easiest pills to swallow).
If I have a fever or pains that the Advil isn’t single-handedly tackling, I’m likely also leaning on Tylenol (AKA one of the brand names for acetaminophen) for support. While they both combat pain and fever, they work in different ways and are cleared by different parts of the body. Because of this, you can take them back-to-back, which is crucial if you’re feeling like crap and want to stay on top of breakthrough pain and fever. Since you can take Advil every six hours and Tylenol every six hours, I like to take my Advil dosage first, Tylenol three hours later, Advil three hours after that, and back to Tylenol three hours after that. With this method, you’re keeping up with your pain and fever relief but in a way that keeps your Tylenol-to-Tylenol and your Advil-to-Advil doses six hours apart from each other as recommended.
Pain Reliever Liquid Gels
Extra Strength Pain Reliever
An electrolyte replacement
I’m not the best at staying hydrated on a good day, but when sick symptoms are wreaking havoc on my spirits, I’m even worse. If you’re under the weather, are rocking a sore throat, and don’t have much of an appetite, you might find yourself unintentionally distancing from your emotional support water bottle. And if you also happen to have a fever (which generally presents with an increased respiratory rate and sweating), you’ll likely need electrolyte replacement. When I’m sick, water gives me the ick, but when I pop a packet of this in my bottle, I know that my water is putting in extra work for me.
Electrolyte Hydration Drink Mix
Immune support
As with almost all ailments in life, the best treatment is prevention, so come fall, I like to give my immune system the TLC it deserves. I always opt for something with vitamin C in it because it plays an important role in immune health, but I especially love this one from Airborne because it has 12 other vitamins and minerals, including Zinc, which helps to stimulate immune cells. These are also super easy to take on the go, which makes them great for travel or bringing on your morning commute.
Vitamin C Immune Support Supplement
A cough suppressant-expectorant combo
Even with my nursing expertise, I am no stranger to calling my mom in a desperate plea for a long-distance hug and a med rec when I’m feeling sorry for myself. My mom absolutely swears by Mucinex DM for when you’re in those awful early stages of being sick, and you need to call in reinforcements to get some of that… mucus… up and out (sorry, girls, there’s no demure way to say it). It eases those dry coughing fits that don’t scratch the surface of chest congestion and makes the coughs that you do have more productive. This one lasts for 12 hours and doesn’t have any sneaky acetaminophen or ibuprofen in it, so it’ll play nicely with your Advil-Tylenol regimen.
Extra Strength Cough Suppressant Tablets
Allergy meds
One of my favorite games to play when I wake up with an unexpected stuffy nose is “Is it the flu or is it just allergies?” For those of us who are sensitive to ragweed pollen, mold spores, and dust mites, fall can be a time for allergies and can make discerning your symptoms from illness harder than ever. To help control some of the stuffy-nosed, watery-eyed noise, I always recommend that my friends keep up with their allergy meds to help keep those autumnal allergies at bay.
Allergy Relief Tablets
Non Drowsy Allergy Relief Tablets
Allergy Relief Spray
Quick solutions for when you’re in the trenches
On those days when you’re down bad and need relief fast, you’ll want to call in some options that have a quick onset and can get you out of the trenches in no time. If you need a med that’s going to do it all, this fast-acting Alka-Seltzer Cold and Flu situation should do the trick. Because it carries a combination of four meds, it tackles the whole lot of cold and flu symptoms: nasal and sinus congestion, sneezing, runny nose, cough, sore throat, headache, body aches, and fevers thanks to it having acetaminophen in it. Just dissolve it in 4 ounces of water and let it do its thing.
And if congestion is the main culprit keeping you down, Afrin can be your secret weapon. This nasal spray delivers targeted, fast-acting relief right where you need it most, shrinking swollen nasal passages so you can actually breathe again. Even better? It works for up to 12 hours, meaning you’re not stuck constantly re-dosing when you just want to rest or get through a busy day.
Nasal Decongestant
Severe Cold & Flu Effervescent Tablets
Cough drops
There’s nothing worse than wrapping up a long day of hacking up a lung, only to be met with a night of tossing and turning as you try to ignore that incessant tickle in your throat. And while I’ll take any sort of cough drop when I’m in a state of sickly desperation, the truth is that all cough drops are not made equal. I like to opt for cough drops that double as a cough suppressant and oral anesthetic, like Ricola’s Natural Herb Cough Drops, which pack a punch. They are my best-kept secret for soothing a cough and relieving an itchy, sore throat during cold and flu season. You’ll find these in my medicine cabinet, in my work bag, and on my nightstand when I need to get things under control.
Original Herb Cough Drops
A cool-mist humidifier
For most of my life, I never paid any mind to cool mist humidifiers—that is, until I took my second nursing job in a pediatric emergency department. After reading hundreds upon hundreds of discharge instructions that encouraged parents to help manage the woes of cold and flu season with a cool mist humidifier, I finally broke down and said, “Fine, I’ll give this thing a try.” So many cold and flu symptoms are made worse by dry air. Runny noses turn into crusty noses, already dry mouths turn into chapped lips, and mouth breathing dry air can further irritate sore throats. By adding moisture back into the air while you sleep, a cool mist humidifier can help loosen congestion so it’s easier to clear and keep dry air from making things worse. Translation: fewer crusty noses, less irritation, and a little more comfort while you ride out cold and flu season.
Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Please consult a doctor or a health professional before beginning any treatments, supplements, or medications. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article.
Ashley Selleke, RN, Branded Content Managing Editor
After receiving her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing, Ashley first pursued a career as an emergency department nurse in Ann Arbor, Michigan. While she enjoyed the challenge that came with being on the frontlines of patient care in high-acuity settings, her passion for storytelling has fueled her editorial career at The Everygirl since 2019.
This post is sponsored by CVS Pharmacy but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.
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