Common Cold: Get Better Quicker

• For each condition, we performed a literature review to find a recent widely cited expert group guideline published in the leading specialty-specific peer-reviewed journal or top general medical journal.

• Based on the recommendations in the publication, we identify recommended active ingredients and devices that are available over-the-counter per FDA regulations.

Levels of evidence considered:

• Tier 1 (Safe and Definitely Effective): Professional field consensus or multiple randomized controlled clinical trials showing the same conclusion. Wherever possible, we use Tier 1 evidence for "first-line" recommendations.

• Tier 2 (Safe and Probably Effective): Individual clinical trials which may be discordant or large-scale observational experience. Tier 2 evidence may inform "first-line", "second-line", or "supplement" recommendations.

• Tier 3 (Safe and Maybe Effective): Mechanistic plausibility without high-quality clinical evidence of efficacy but high-quality evidence of safety. Tier 3 evidence may inform "second-line" or "supplement" recommendations.
  

• Based on the top clinical recommendation, we evaluate products containing the recommended active agent with FDA-approved dosage based on price, average customer reviews, how often it is purchased, and how quickly it will ship to home. 

• We provide public documentation of the active ingredients in our recommendations, using all 32 FDA monographs, Prescription-to-Nonprescription (Rx-to-OTC) Switches, as well as New Drug Application (NDA) approvals.

• Based on the top clinical recommendation, we evaluate devices that are FDA-cleared or comply with other medical guidelines (if not a FDA-regulated category) by reputability, price, and average customer reviews.

• We provide public documentation of supporting evidence for each device.  

Browse topic list here:

• Acne

• Acid Reflux

• Allergies (Nasal)

• Allergies (Itchy Eyes)

• Allergic Skin Rash

• Ankle Sprain

• Arthritis (Osteoarthritis)

• Athlete's Foot

• Back Pain (Lower Back)

• Bedbugs

• Birth Control

• Bloating and Gas

• Bronchitis

• Bug and Insect Bites

• Callus

• Carpal Tunnel

• Common Cold

• Constipation

• Constipation (Severe)

• Contact Dermatitis

• Corns

• Cough (Chronic Dry Cough)

• Dandruff

• Diarrhea

• Dry Eyes

• Earwax

• Eczema

• GERD

• Glue Ear

• Gum Bleeding (Gingivitis)

• Hair Loss

• Hay Fever

• Headache (Tension Headache)

• Hearing Loss

• Hemorrhoids

• High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

• Hives

• Insomnia

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

• Lice (Head Lice)

• Migraines

• Morning Sickness (Pregnancy)

• Motion Sickness

• Nailbed Infection (Acute)

• Nailbed Infection (Chronic)

• Nasal Allergies

• Orthostatic Hypotension

• Period Pain

• Peripheral Neuropathy

• Pinworm

• Post-Nasal Drip

• POTS

• Pregnancy

• Psoriasis

• Ringworm

• Sinusitis

• Skin Tags

• Sore Throat

• Swimmer's Ear

• Tooth Sensitivity

• Urinary Incontinence

• Urinary Tract Infections

• Urticaria

• Varicose Veins

• Venous Insufficiency

• Vertigo (BPPV)

• Warts

• Wrist Pain and Tingling

• Yeast Infection (Vaginal)

You can view all of our published OTC guides here.