Yet attitudes toward cold medicine vary greatly. Some people habitually take one or two extra doses even after symptoms disappear, claiming it "consolidates the effect" and prevents recurrence. Others stop medication as soon as they feel better, believing "all medicine has some toxicity" and preferring to minimize intake.So which approach is correct?
Wang Youzhen, Deputy Chief Pharmacist at the Pharmacy Department of the Air Force General Hospital, explains that common colds are typically caused by viruses. The illness usually lasts 5 to 7 days. If bacterial infection complicates the symptoms, the recovery period may extend.In the latter case, antibiotics are necessary, and the treatment duration must be adequate. However, some patients stop taking medication as soon as they feel better, fearing side effects and adopting a "stop at the first sign of improvement" approach. This is inadvisable. While symptoms may seem to have subsided, discontinuing medication at this point allows surviving bacteria to multiply. This not only risks developing antibiotic resistance but can also worsen complications.
Regarding patients who continue medication after recovering from a cold, Dr. Wang explains that the natural course of a cold typically lasts about 7 days. Medication is generally sufficient for 5 to 7 days, with antibiotics usually prescribed for around 5 days.For instance, if a medication's prescribed course is five days, the required dosage is achieved within that period. The drug has already fulfilled its bactericidal function in the body. Continuing the medication beyond this point merely increases the dosage, often killing beneficial bacteria as well. This can lead to adverse side effects, making such "consolidation therapy" unscientific.
Therefore, once symptoms like headache, runny nose, and cough have completely subsided and body temperature has returned to normal, cold medication should be discontinued.