PUBLISHED 12/06/2005
Your sprint to the finish line wasn't fueled by personal-record ambitions or competitive fire. Instead, it was last night's curry chicken. Your next event: a dash to the drugstore. But once you're there, confusion postpones relief. You reach for the pink stuff. Wait. What about the pill you saw on TV? Or could an antacid do the trick?
It's difficult to choose these days. According to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, more than 100,000 over-the-counter products are sold in the United States. Whether it's a case of GI distress, a throbbing headache, or a runny nose, runners want fast fixes that won't slow them down. With the help of several physicians and pharmacists, we compiled a list of the best runner-friendly over-the-counter products. Because runners have no time for sickness.
Your nose is more congested than a marathon starting line
Treat stuffiness with a nasal spray containing oxymetazoline. "It acts immediately, so you could use it just before you run," says Michigan-based pharmacist and runner Christie Verran. Don't use for more than five days, or the drug can cause "rebound congestion"--overuse can make the inside of your nose swell, blocking the nasal passage.
Your Fix: Several nasal sprays contain oxymetazoline, including Afrin, Zicam, and generic brands.
Extra Tip: Breathe Right nasal strips can provide relief while you sleep or run. The strips lift the sides of your nose to improve your ability to breathe.
You have a full-blown cold--sneezing, coughing, runny nose
A Detroit Medical Center study found that zinc lozenges cut the common cold's duration by more than three days. Participants took one lozenge containing 12.8 milligrams of zinc acetate every two to three hours while awake.
Your Fix: Lozenges containing zinc acetate, such as Quantum Thera Zinc.
Extra Tip: For the fastest recovery possible, Lewis Maharam, M.D., medical director for the New York City Marathon, recommends avoiding common cold relievers such as Sudafed. "You'll get over a cold faster by letting your body fight it off," he says. Coughing, for example, helps your body clear itself of germs.
