It’s that time of year again: cold and flu season is starting—while your 2019 benefits period is likely coming to a close. If you have funds left in your Flexible Spending Account (FSA), remember that those remaining tax-free FSA dollars may be ‘use it or lose it’ funds.* That makes it the perfect time to think about spending down that money by arming yourself against cold and flu viruses.
Unfortunately, getting sick happens to the best of us. The average adult in the U.S. will contract two to three colds per year. When it comes to the flu, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, from 2017 to 2018, they recorded 49 million cases of influenza in the United States.
Luckily, you can spend your remaining FSA dollars on preventative measures like a flu shot, or, if it’s already too late, you can cover co-pays for doctor visits, prescription medications, and over-the-counter (OTC) medications that relieve cold and flu symptoms.
OTC Options for Cold and Flu Symptom Relief
We’ve created a list of common OTC medications, supplements, and devices to treat symptoms associated with cold and flu like body aches, fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, headaches, and more. To use your FSA dollars for OTC products, you may need your doctor to sign off on your medical need for these items, but to make life easier, you can check out the CYC Marketplace to buy qualified products for cold and flu symptom relief. There’s even coupons!
- 1. Fever reducers/pain relievers
If you have chills and cold sweats, it may be a fever (unless you’re nervous about a big presentation at work). Along with fatigue and body aches, fevers are a common early symptom of cold and flu viruses. Your body temperature rises as your body fights the virus, which is good because your immune system is on the attack, but it’s not a pleasant feeling. While grandma may still advise you to wrap yourself in blankets and sweat it out, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and naproxen are made available to provide immediate and lasting relief from body aches and fever. - 2. Cough medicines
Coughing is a common cold and flu symptom that can interfere with your daily activities, keep you up at night and, in some cases, be extremely painful. While coughing is your body’s way of getting rid of excess mucus in the lungs, sometimes you need a break, especially when you’re trying to get through a meeting at work or sleep through the night. There are expectorants that contain guaifenesin to help thin mucus for more productive coughs or use cough suppressants that contain dextromethorphan to lessen coughing. 3. Throat lozenges
Throat lozenges, also called cough drops, can help with coughing while also alleviating the pain of a sore, scratchy throat by prompting your body to produce more saliva, which lubricates and soothes throat tissue. Medicated lozenges containing zinc promote the ability to shorten the duration of colds by reinforcing your immune system’s natural virus-fighting capacity.4. Antihistamines
Histamine receptors in the body react to allergens and can cause inflammation in the sinuses and nasal passages, so antihistamines target these receptors to alleviate sniffling, sneezing, and postnasal drip. Medicines that contain antihistamine tend to cause drowsiness, but some formulas are designed for daytime symptom relief. That said, if your congestion or sinus pain is making it hard to sleep at night, this soporific effect of antihistamines may help you get some much-needed rest.5. Decongestants
Colds and flus can cause that stuffy nose feeling known as nasal congestion when the mucus membranes in the nasal passages become inflamed. Medicines containing pseudoephedrine constrict blood vessels in the nasal passages and sinuses, allowing for better air flow through the nostrils. Unlike antihistamines, pseudoephedrine may make you feel more alert, for daytime symptom relief.6. Nasal sprays
Nasal sprays are another option that may help with any symptoms related to the nose and upper respiratory passages. Nasal sprays may contain either antihistamine or a decongestant to relieve symptoms, although there are some non-medicated options like simple saline sprays that gently soothe and cleanse nasal passages.7. Nasal Rinsing
You may not be familiar with nasal rinsing, sometimes called nasal irrigation, but this is a home remedy that involves gently cleansing the nasal passages with a saline water solution. Nasal rinsing may not be comfortable at first, but it may reduce inflammation of the mucus membranes, relieve sinus pressure, and aid mucus flow.8. Steam Inhaler/Humidifier
Dry winter air combined with the drying effects produced by some OTC and prescription medications can make cold and flu symptoms even more unpleasant. Steam inhalers and humidifiers work by adding moisture into the air you breathe with water vapor, soothing nasal passages, the throat, and lungs. Some steam inhalers are portable for those who prefer taking it on the go, or you can keep a humidifier in your bedroom to add moisture to the air while you sleep.
*Be sure to check with your benefits administrator in case your funds roll over or if there is a grace period as part of your plan.
