Flu/cold remedies, eg Lemsip. The devil's work?

[supersop60]

I've been suffering for 4 days with this nasty cold virus - constantly dripping nose, and an old man's cough.
I had to go out earlier so I took some Lemsip. Yes, the symptoms eased, and at 5 30am they're back with a vengeance.
Any tried and trusted remedies out there? I feel like shit.

Not clear on devil's work...

I always know I'm getting better when I can't stand the sight of lemsip. But it's not for everyone. Make your own honey hot water and lemon and take a paracetamol and decongestant. Or put your head over a bowl of water with eucalyptus and keep up drinking the fluids. And paracetamol.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cleaner-Irrigation-Packets-Sticker-Thermometer/dp/B07ZCNG2X7/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1OISVOB7Z85KA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.J8SlAoH2GqoLVBzJ9KlSlCinielicQptaSlWZCCxmMMXwMxCTy7jyZ_MhJo70WRKZEWpbjq2SX9QTtYMvTpvvtKhSbQsMS7gzg9RzbDl47zZRAcSDuKIYYq7CEnvoHR5Irw2D26JiRZAUGxhZCtem1tR4fp95ksukjdYWotBEfGcCwUZHsDGXsjCrE7gQCbK2LQPHItbvyvzXzqga637M60wZRdckO1jArNC3tQ6Kdgr_UlvP1lspIdRbOXSe-JZ2ZLo3YKZ0KXJuh0PgJCxDeSBQXKK77Xkfeb1CbHPh9w.xaqlrUbMv2Qouaj5HkyjIC1lbpNsOLImTSQAyKrTJQo&dib_tag=se&keywords=nasal%2Bflush&qid=1734161297&sprefix=nasal%2Bfl%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

Get this if you suffer from sinus issues. Tasting the stuff in your mouth is gross but as someone said to me its good shit.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Medisure-Healthcare-Inhaler-Inhalation-Blocked/dp/B072YVPLH5/ref=sr_1_1_pp?crid=3HBZNTAS698C9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1q0ewV9eT7hUzDw_oyzyspYTvn10AKlvj7K43oCEYcddcWt5FwYQy14nW0v76a_V2XfJoKeDBkV4Wnfnctcdmb17sG0Pip1V8XOKYtDR1cqY

I struggle with the bowl of steamed water over my face due to my eye condition. Put Olbas Oil, a bit of Vick, a menthol crystal etc..

Bar the whisky (if your Granny is Scottish she'll thank me for correcting you there), the honey and cloves, that's what Lemsip is. Cloves only work as a pain killer when directly applied in a concentrated form, e.g. oil of cloves on a painful tooth. I put honey in my Lemsip anyway if I've got a cough. Lemsip is just a convenient way to take my mother's old remedy of lemon juice, honey and a painkiller.

If you haven't taken night nurse before do not take the whole 20ml dose, it would knock out a rhino.
I take 5ml if I'm ill and even that does the job.

Take the 20! The first time is the best time 😂

Why would it delay recovery? It soothes the symptoms for a few hours until it wears off Feb then you take it again to soothe the symptoms again. You can get blackcurrant flavour if you don't like the lemon.

Or you can not take it and feel the full force of the symptoms.

I had it last weekend.

Ibuprofen 400mg x3 in 24 hrs
Paracetamol 1g x4 in 24 hrs

Repeat every day until well.

I did above for 4 days, dropped the ibuprofen for a couple then stopped.

A week later (today) it seems to have returned so back on the paras.

Nothing you can do but sit it out.

I never use Lemsip, firstly because it tastes grim and secondly because I find it better to take paracetamol and then use other things for other symptoms - throat sweets, Olbas oil to clear nose etc. The heavy-duty Lemsips with strong decongestants etc make my heart race, which is a bit alarming.

Oh god this cold/flu/virus thing is utterly awful. Week three and still feel utterly awful. Blocked head, body aches feeling totally shit

I find that taking vitamin C and echinacea tablets in combination is really powerful in reducing the length and severity of a cold or flu.

Why would it delay recovery? It's just paracetamol and decongestant. It relieves symptoms for a bit, that's all - the same as if you'd taken paracetamol and a different decongestant.

Personally I quite like the taste and I find it fairly effective, whereas I hate the taste of honey so don't do the natural remedy. (Also I'm more likely to have some Lemsip in the house than a fresh lemon.)

If you feel really dreadful and need to get some sleep take Night Nurse instead. It will knock you out though so don't take it if you need to go to work the next day. Obvs don't mix two sources of paracetamol.

@SnapdragonToadflax Lemon juice (cooking one) is the one I have

Based on my friends and family. The ones who have colds prolong forever are fussy eaters. They rarely eat F&V.

I’m also in week three, cold symptoms have generally gone but my throat feels like it’s permanently closing up. Youngest nose looks like he liquidised Shrek, has had an ear infection and now D and V. Worst cold/winter virus I've known, think our immune systems are utterly shot after lockdown.

Honestly op, all you can do is take the cold and flu remedies in time and ride it out. It’s going to be a long winter for bugs.

Vitamin D is a good immune booster.

Not me. I eat just about everything!

Phenylephidrine is not very effective. See here. You might find the form of Sudafed with pseudoephedrine better (note you are not supposed to take this with other decongestants, so not at the same time as Lemsip). I'm just getting over a cold-cough, which for me very quickly turned into a chest infection and needed hospital treatment. I found nasal sprays like Otrivine helpful.

Your head feels sore, moving your hair makes the follicles in your scalp hurt. Can be hormonal. I get it associated with migraines.

This is what I'm talking about. I made these recently but added sliced fresh ginger and a couple of cardamom pods as well (2 shots of bourbon 🤣). Delicious and made me sleep

I love Lemsips and they wear off every 4 hours.

Thanks for all the replies. I've been pretty much asleep for the last day or so, and this morning I feel human again.
All home remedies and other suggestions duly noted.
Stay well everyone.

Sympathy all round. Thought I was feeling better but just drove to the local shops and have now had to get back into bed with more painkillers

Well one dose won't last forever!
Recently had a cold/fluey thing - couple of days of cold remedy stuff. Ran out and took Ibuprofen - the aches and shivery stuff stopped pretty quickly after that.
I think it depends exactly what you have as to what works best.

Coughing fits and chest infection continued until I took antibiotics, but I do have a tendency to get bronchitis.

I do wish the night and day varieties of cold remedy had 50/50 night tablets - or that you could buy them separately and choose the dosage of each.
I don't like lemsip type stuff - prefer fresh lemon & ginger with local honey or manuka.