Cold, also known as upper respiratory tract infection, is a common disease. Many people will self medicate after experiencing symptoms of a cold. However, if medication is used improperly, it not only fails to achieve therapeutic effects, but may also delay the optimal treatment timing. How to take medication after catching a cold? The author has summarized some knowledge related to cold medication and shared it with everyone. Traditional Chinese medicine divides colds into three categories: wind cold colds, wind heat colds, and summer dampness colds. Different types of colds have different symptoms. Wind cold is mainly caused by external wind cold, which often occurs in autumn and winter. The main symptoms include clear mucus, itching of the throat, and mild fever. Wind heat cold is mainly caused by feeling wind heat, which often occurs in spring and summer. The main symptoms include yellow runny nose, swollen throat, fever, and chills. Heat dampness and cold are mostly caused by the body being stimulated by cold and heat, and are more common in summer. The main symptoms include fever, nasal congestion and runny nose, dizziness, headache, nausea and vomiting, etc. Prolonged exposure to air conditioning and excessive consumption of cold drinks during summer can lead to heatstroke, dampness, and colds. It should be noted that heat stroke and heat dampness cold are different diseases. Heat stroke generally has symptoms of fever, but no symptoms of cold such as nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, etc. If suffering from a cold, the type of cold can be determined based on the symptoms and treated accordingly. The treatment of wind cold is mainly focused on relieving external heat and promoting lung circulation to dispel cold. Commonly used drugs include Wind Cold Cold Cold Cold Granules, Ge Gen Tang Granules, San Ao Tablets, etc. In addition, patients with wind cold can also take ginger brown sugar water, ginger shredded radish soup, etc. appropriately to dispel wind and cold. The treatment of wind hot colds mainly focuses on clearing heat, detoxifying, and dispersing wind and heat. Commonly used drugs include Lianhua Qingwen Capsules, antiviral granules, Shuanghuanglian Oral Liquid, etc. Patients with summer dampness and cold can take drugs such as Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, Shushi Ning Granules, Xiangju Cold Granules, etc. In addition, if a cold patient experiences symptoms such as headache, high fever and chills, limb soreness and fatigue, compound aminophenamine capsules, ibuprofen, acetaminophen and other antipyretic and analgesic drugs can be used. If symptoms such as cough and phlegm appear, cough syrup, Chuanbei Pipa Lu, and compound licorice tablets can also be used. After catching a cold, it is not only necessary to take timely and symptomatic medication, but also to pay attention to the dosage and ingredients of the medication. It is recommended that cold patients pay attention to the following points when taking medication. Do not overdose. Some patients believe that taking medication in moderation or over dosage is more effective. The recommended dosage of cold medicine is summarized through long-term clinical trials, balancing efficacy and safety. If the dosage is blindly increased without the guidance of a doctor, it may have side effects. For example, for drugs such as acetaminophen, amiodarone tablets, and ibuprofen, it is generally recommended to take them no more than 4 times within 24 hours. If the dosage or frequency of medication is increased, it may cause adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting. Avoid mixing multiple medications. Cold medicine is mostly composed of compound ingredients, usually consisting of two or more medicinal ingredients. If the same ingredient of medication is taken repeatedly, it may cause adverse reactions due to excessive use, which can affect physical health. For example, although acetaminophen and ibuprofen have different names, they are both non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If used simultaneously, it can cause damage to the liver. Lianhua Qingwen Capsules and Shuanghuanglian Oral Liquid both contain components such as Forsythia suspensa and Lonicera japonica, and their combined use may damage the gastrointestinal tract. Caution