Same-day cold and flu treatment online

To get a diagnosis for your cold or flu, you might need:

• Physical exam. Your healthcare provider can perform a physical exam and ask you about your current symptoms to determine if you have a cold or flu. During the physical exam, your provider can check for signs, including clear lungs, swollen lymph nodes in your neck, a stuffy nose, swelling in your nostrils, and a red, irritated throat.
• Other medical tests. A physical exam is usually enough to figure out if you have a common cold. Your provider will likely run other medical tests if they think you might have the flu or other health conditions, such as COVID-19. Your provider can run a nasal swab test to check for the flu, COVID-19, or other viruses. They can also give you a chest X-ray to rule out other medical conditions, such as pneumonia or bronchitis.

Getting all of this information can help your healthcare provider recommend the appropriate medication or treatment for you.

Before prescribing a medication, your healthcare provider will consider your medical history and potential medication side effects. Providers on Klarity Health only prescribe what’s appropriate based on your diagnosis.

Several different kinds of medications work to relieve cold and flu symptoms, including pain relievers, decongestants, antihistamines, cough suppressants, and expectorants. The most common medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the cold and flu include:

• Tylenol (acetaminophen)
• Advil (ibuprofen)
• Sudafed (pseudoephedrine)
• Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
• Robitussin (dextromethorphan)
• Mucinex (guaifenesin)
• Tamiflu (oseltamivir)
• Xofluza (baloxavir)
• Relenza (zanamivir)

Keep in mind that cold and flu medications might not work for everyone. Let your healthcare provider know if you feel like your medication isn’t working, and they can recommend another medication or treatment.