By Dr Jonathan Brown Head GP, Bupa Medical Centres
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Key takeaways
- Cold and flu tablets help manage symptoms, not the virus itself.
- Most contain a mix of pain relief, decongestants and antihistamines.
- Rest, hydration and sleep are still the most important parts of recovery.
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?
If you're under the weather, you might reach for cold and flu tablets to help you keep going.
These may help relieve your symptoms, but it's also important to rest up and take it easy so you can recover.
Cold and flu tablets don't cure the virus. Your immune system does the heavy lifting to help your body recover.
What these medications can do is help manage the symptoms.
Most over the counter cold and flu tablets contain paracetamol or ibuprofen for fever, aches and pains, decongestants for a blocked nose, antihistamine for runny nose or sneezing and in night medication, they may also help you sleep.
It's always important to read the label as some can also contain caffeine which can keep you awake. If in doubt, please check with your local GP or pharmacist.
These medications can make you feel more comfortable while your body fights the infection, but they don't shorten how long the illness lasts.
Because tablets reduce symptoms, you might feel like you want to push through without pausing to recover. But listen to your body rest, stay hydrated, and get good sleep. This is still the best medicine.
Slowing down and staying at home also reduces the chance of spreading the virus to others.
If you do take cold and flu tablets, please follow the dosing instructions carefully and only use them as long as you need symptom relief. That's usually no more than a few days.
If you're pregnant, breastfeeding or taking any prescription medication, including blood pressure medication, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist because these medications may not be safe for you.
If you have influenza, prescription antiviral medication may be recommended by your GP. These can reduce severity and duration of symptoms, especially for people at high risk of complications.
They must be started within 48 hours if your symptoms starting, so please speak to your GP early if you suspect you got the flu.
Getting a pharmacy RAT test can be helpful, but your GP can perform a respiratory swab which is more accurate in diagnosing influenza and viruses.
Remember, cold and flu tablets may help manage your symptoms, but they won't make you feel better. Take time to rest and recuperate and listen to your body.
If your symptoms are severe, if you're getting worse or you need advice, please reach out to your GP. We're here to help.
See you next time.
What cold and flu tablets actually do
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:
- Paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce fever, aches and pains
- Decongestants to relieve a blocked nose
- Antihistamines to help with a runny nose or sneezing (and sometimes help you sleep)
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
What actually helps you recover
When it comes to recovery, the basics matter.
That means:
- Rest
- Hydration
- Sleep
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.
How to use cold and flu tablets safely
If you do choose to take them, use them for short-term symptom relief only.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Follow the dosing instructions carefully
- Don’t take them for longer than needed (usually a few days)
- Avoid doubling up on similar ingredients (for example, paracetamol in multiple products)
If you’re unsure, check with your GP or pharmacist.
You should also speak to a healthcare professional before using them if you:
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Take prescription medications (including for blood pressure)3
Get chemist delivery
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.
What about antivirals?
If you have influenza (the flu), prescription antiviral medicines may be recommended.
These can:
- Reduce how severe your symptoms are
- Shorten how long the illness lasts2
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.
Help stop the flu before it starts
A vaccination is your best defence this flu season.
Dr Jonathan Brown Head GP, Bupa Medical Centres
At Bupa, trust is everything
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.
1 NHS. (2023). Common cold. Healthdirect Australia. (2025).
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