Your guide to winter OTC medications and more

Author: CenterWell Pharmacy
Date Posted: Jan. 31, 2025
Don’t let a cold or the flu keep you stuck in bed this winter. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications provide lower-cost ways to manage cold-weather health issues—all without a prescription from your doctor.
If you have a Humana Medicare Advantage part D plan (MAPD) or a Humana prescription drug plan (PDP), you can shop our OTC store for items to ease your symptoms. Many Humana MAPD plans come with an OTC allowance benefit, and Humana PDP members get 20% off each time they shop!
Our OTC store has hundreds of items—so where to start? Read on to see the CenterWell Pharmacy® guide to the OTC items everyone should have on hand during the winter months.
Essential OTC meds for winter months
Depending on your symptoms, different OTC medications for cough, colds and allergies can help.
Decongestants like pseudoephedrine (e.g. Sudafed PE) help relieve congestion by narrowing the blood vessels in your nose, reducing swelling and opening nasal passages.
Expectorants like guaifenesin (e.g. Mucinex® DM) help loosen mucus in the lungs, making it easier to cough up and clear from your airways.
Pain relievers (e.g. acetaminophen or ibuprofen) help reduce fever and lessen body aches or headaches from a cold or the flu.
Cough suppressants (e.g. dextromethorphan) work in your brain to decrease your urge to cough. Some OTC items, like Vicks NyQuil®, combine pain relievers and cough suppressants.¹
Lastly, antihistamines, like diphenhydramine (Benadryl), block histamine, a substance in the body that can cause allergy-like symptoms such as sneezing and runny nose, to provide relief.
What to know before you take new meds
- Talk to your healthcare provider. Your doctor or pharmacist should make sure the medication you want to take is appropriate for your condition and won't interact negatively with other medications you’re taking. They can also let you know about any potential side effects.
- Know your dose. Follow the recommended schedule, amount to take and frequency for your medication to avoid complications. You can find this information on the medication label—and if you have questions, your doctor or pharmacist can help.
- Know your medication label. Your OTC label will also offer important info about uses, warnings and active ingredients.² Many over-the-counter cold and flu medications contain multiple active ingredients. If you ever have questions about an OTC drug label, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- Check for age-specific formulas. Some medications are formulated specifically for seniors, designed to account for potential sensitivity to certain ingredients and interactions with chronic conditions.
- Consider any pre-existing health issues. Some drugs can cause issues for people with unrelated conditions. For example, because decongestants like pseudoephedrine tighten blood vessels, they can make your high blood pressure³ or glaucoma⁴ worse.
More winter OTC essentials
While medications are important, there’s more than one way to stay healthy during cold and flu season. Here are some other items you’ll want to keep in your medicine cabinet:
- Oral and forehead thermometers to let you know if you have a fever
- Saline nasal sprays and nasal rinse kits to help keep your sinuses clear
- Hand sanitizer wipes and cloth masks to keep contagious germs at bay
- Vitamins and supplements like vitamin C gummies and multivitamins for overall wellness
Getting your OTC products
If you have or a Humana MAPD plan or PDP, the easiest way to get your winter health essentials from CenterWell Pharmacy is to shop our online OTC store or use our mobile app. All OTC items ship free and ship to you in 5–7 days after your order has been processed.
When you get your new OTC items, don’t forget to toss any expired meds.
And if you have questions or need help, please don’t hesitate to find care at CenterWell®. You can also use the CenterWell Pharmacy live chat to speak with a real human Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern time.
Sources
- “NyQuil Cold and Flu,” Drugs.com, last accessed Jan. 14, 2025.
- “Over-the-Counter Medicines: What’s Right for You?” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, last accessed Jan. 14, 2025.
- “Don’t Let Decongestants Squeeze Your Heart,” Harvard Health Publishing, last accessed Jan. 14, 2025.
- “Why People With Glaucoma Should Avoid Allergy and Decongestant Medications,” Glaucoma Research Foundation, last accessed Jan. 14, 2025.
Disclaimer: Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries are committed to keeping humans in the loop. We used artificial intelligence (AI) to help write this. You should speak with a healthcare professional for your health needs, as this article is for informational purposes only.