I am sick as all get out with that stupid cold going around and horrible chest congestion and pain when coughing. What cold meds can be taken that will not increase the dry mouth? I have finally gotten used to it and am dealing well with it, but I have noticed some cold meds make my mouth dryer. I am not sure which ones will not increase dry mouth. Mucinex??

Angelia

Today's Washington Post had an article on avoiding colds as well as what to do once you get one
Cold & Flu season
Here is an excerpt validating my suggestion: CHICKEN SOUP
[quote]You can�t cure a cold,� Dimond said. It just has to run its course.

So by no means, he emphazised, should you take antibiotics for a cold. �Antibiotics do not work,� he said. �If you take those drugs for those viruses, you build up antibiotic resistance, and if it is something else, you create a bigger health problem down the line.�

He recommends an over-the-counter antihistamine and pain relievers for aches and head congestion. �Everybody has his or her own medication of choice,� he said. �One person told me to put Vicks VaporRub on the bottom of your feet and wear socks to bed. I have no idea if that works.�

And it turns out, your grandmother was right about chicken soup and gargling. Both use a fair amount of salt, which works as an anti-inflammatory and mucus-thinning agent.

�You feel better with more salt, and your blood pressure feels better,� Rixinger said. �Chicken soup is a good source of sodium, and it goes down easily.�

Otherwise, you just need to wait it out. And when you get back to work with the remnants of a cough, please, cover your mouth. [/quote]
Hope you feel better soon
charm

Oh not sure if you have a stuffy nose... but try a nettie pot - it apparently helps I own one but haven't had need to use it yet - thank heavens.

Hope you feel better soon... cold and flu season is NO FUN...

hugs.

Well, I had to google that one - wikipedia describes a neti pot as a device used to "flush out the nasal cavities by using gravity to draw the flow of saline." Several varieties were listed for sale on my search results.

Best wishes with your miserable cold, Angelia. If you can tolerate warm/hot tea with lemon, it is soothing and may help open your sinuses a bit.

Oops, I forgot the netti pot(it looks like a genie lamp) which I have been using for years before the cancer and I still use regularly. My ENT endorses it highly and since you circulate the salt directly thru the nasal cavities, it really helps avoid a cold. It's easy to use and almost as magical as it looks.
Charm

I don't think there are any decongestants that don't cause some degree of dry mouth. Antihistamines certainly do. Talk to the MO for suggestions.

They gave me Guaifen (Gen-Duratuss) for congestion while I was in treatment.

Your pharmacist will know, essentially you are looking for something that does not have an anti-cholinergic effect which is what causes the dryness.

there are different cough medicines - ones that promote coughing by thinning the congestion making it easier to cough up and and ones that act to stop the cough all together. I personally go for the ones that help me cough during the day and ones that stop me coughing during the night. Can I remember which ones have the anti-cholinergic effect? Nup. But if I had to guess, I would think the ones that thin the mucous and help you cough would be least likely to give you dry mouth. Could have it completely round the wrong way though....