Apparently a lot of the cold medicine you’re buying is the same stuff in a different box.

The cold medicine aisle makes it look like you need a different product for every symptom. DayQuil, NyQuil, Theraflu, Mucinex, Tylenol Cold, and about twenty versions of each. But a lot of them are combinations of the same handful of ingredients. You’re often paying for a different box, not some completely different medicine.

One thing people might want to check is phenylephrine. It’s still found in plenty of oral cold medicines, but the FDA reviewed the evidence and proposed taking it out of OTC products because it doesn’t work for nasal congestion when taken by mouth at the recommended dose. So you could be buying a medicine for a stuffy nose and getting an ingredient that doesn’t do the job.

Pseudoephedrine is different. That’s the decongestant you have to ask the pharmacist for. No prescription needed, but you do need ID. It can raise blood pressure, so it’s not right for everyone.

Also, watch the acetaminophen. A cold medicine may already contain it, so taking regular Tylenol on top of it can mean you’re doubling up without realizing it.

I would at least start comparing the active ingredients before paying extra for a brand name. The labels tell you more than the front of the box.

This is not medical advice. Check the labels and ask a pharmacist if you’re unsure what you can safely combine.