By Dr Jonathan Brown | Head GP, Bupa Medical Centres
4 minute read
Published 29 March 2026
If you’re feeling under the weather, you might reach for cold and flu tablets so you can keep going.
They can help ease your symptoms. But they’re not a cure and it’s still important to give your body time to recover.
So, what do they actually do, and when should you use them?
Cold and flu tablets don’t treat the virus itself. Your immune system is doing the hard work behind the scenes to fight off the infection.
What these medications can do is help manage your symptoms so you feel more comfortable while you recover.
Most over-the-counter options contain a combination of:
Some products also contain caffeine, which can make you feel more alert during the day, but may affect your sleep if taken later.
The key thing to remember: Cold and flu tablets don’t shorten how long your illness lasts.¹
When it comes to recovery, the basics matter.
That means:
These are still the most effective ways to support your recovery and help your immune system do its job.1
Taking time to rest at home can also help reduce the spread of viruses like cold and flu to others.
If you do choose to take them, use them for short-term symptom relief only.
A few things to keep in mind:
If you’re unsure, check with your GP or pharmacist.
You should also speak to a healthcare professional before using them if you:
Bupa health insurance members can have prescriptions filled by local chemists and get them delivered to their door by registered couriers. You can also order over-the-counter goods. Delivery address must be within 8km of a participating pharmacy.
If you have influenza (the flu), prescription antiviral medicines may be recommended.
These can:
But timing is important, they work best if taken within 48 hours of symptoms developing.2
If you think you might have the flu, speak to your GP early. A rapid test from a pharmacy can be helpful but a respiratory swab through your GP is more accurate.
Cold and flu tablets can help you feel more comfortable, but they won’t make you better faster.
If your symptoms are severe, getting worse, or not improving, it’s important to check in with your GP.
Our health and wellbeing information is regularly reviewed and maintained by a team of healthcare experts, to ensure its relevancy and accuracy. Everyone's health journey is unique and health outcomes vary from person to person.
This content is not a replacement for personalised and specific medical, healthcare, or other professional advice. If you have concerns about your health, see your doctor or other health professional.
When a bad cold or the flu strikes, it can cause symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, body aches and fevers. Some chemist medications can help.
Cold and flu can cause debilitating symptoms. But when is the right time to see your GP? Learn more here about when to seek help and when to stay home.
Antibiotics are an incredibly effective way to fight bacterial infections but can be harmful if overused.
Flu symptoms can be debilitating, but an annual vaccination, certain medications and some tried and tested home remedies can help you get better faster.
1 NHS. (2023). Common cold. Healthdirect Australia. (2025).
