There is a huge range of tablets, drinks and liquids on the market which claim to help relieve cold and flu symptoms.

~Boots Cold and Flu Relief Tablets~

Boots the chemist have their own range of cold and flu products including a powder drink, maximum strength capsules and day/night capsules. They also have regular cold and flu tablets which I will discuss here.

These tablets are suitable for those over the age of 12. They cannot be taken if pregnant, breastfeeding or if you have certain medical conditions - always check with your chemist to be on the safe side.

These tablets claim to be non-drowsy and are designed to provide relief from fever, headaches and general aches and pains associated with having the cold or flu. They also relieve a blocked nose and sinus pain.

The tablets contain 400mg of paracetamol, 50ml of Vitamin C, 30mg of caffeine and 5ml of phenylephrine hydrochloride.

~Packaging~

The tablets are presented in blister packs which are then popped into a green cardboard box. The box has Braille writing and has all the relevant product information and warnings.

~Dosage~

Two tablets should be washed down with some water initially. After this, you should only take one tablet and at least 4 hours after the first two. No more than 8 tablets should be taken in a 24 hour period.

~Price~

These tablets are available in packs of 16 from Boots. They are priced at £1.85.

~My Thoughts~

I can handle a runny nose but when it gets to the stage that I cannot sleep, eat or breathe because my nose is blocked, I usually take a medicinal approach to perking myself up. Last week I had been feeling a bit "blah" all week and when Friday night hit, I had came down with a full blown, rotten cold. My nose was blocked yet running (still don't understand how that happens), I had a minor headache and was feeling feverish and achy. I couldn't sleep due to being bunged up.

I normally take Asdas own cold and flu tablets but we had ran out and silly me had forgot to replenish our medicine cupboard with them. I popped into the small Boots in our street and asked what they had for my cold. I couldn't spend too much so Beechams and Lemsip were out the question. I didn't want any powder drinks as I think they are vile and I would much rather make up some hot diluting juice for warmth.

The lady suggested these cold and flu tablets and at £1.85, they weren't too expensive. These are available straight off the shelves and the only medical advice I was given was to ensure I didn't take them with any other paracetamoi products. The box offers some easy to follow information and I took the first dose when I got back in the house.

~Giving My Cold The Boot~

The tablets aren't the most pleasant things to swallow. They are flattened, capsule in shape, white and have a light, powdery texture. They are fairly big but almost smooth so are unlikely to cause any blockages. They do not taste good - they have a herbal sort of taste and if you don't swallow the tablet quick enough, it begins to dissolve in your mouth and simply tastes awful!

Once in my system, the two tablets were very quick to work and they did make me feel a bit perkier. There is caffeine and vitamin C present so these are not ideal for taking at night time. I opted for a hot drink, some Vicks Vaporub and some regular paracetamol before bed. These tablets did make my cold a bit more managable during the day and I found that after the 2nd day, my energy was boosted.

I would say the tablets are effective at reducing achiness. My fever reduced quickly and any pain I had around my head lessened. The discomfort from my sinus pain was reduced although my nose was still blocked. I could breathe a bit better though which was good and I generally felt a bit less congested after taking these tablets. The relief does last well though starts to lessen after a few hours.

I took these over 4 days and each day I felt a bit better. I found I only needed to take two tablets then another one around 6hours later. I would then take the regular paracetamol without the caffeine. After 4days my nose was no longer blocked and I didn't feel achy. I had and still do have a sniffly nose but nothing major. It is worth noting that side effects may including feeling sicky or dizzy though I didn't experience any of these effects. My fiance also took these tablets and they offered minimal relief from throat discomfort which he had.

~Conclusion~

I was pleased with how well these tablets performed. I kept warm and drank hot drinks but the tablets ultimately relieved discomfort for me and did so in a quick manner. I could get on with things instead of being lazy and generally feeling sorry for myself. The relief lasts well in my opinion and these tablets certainly give Beechams and other branded tablets some competition.

Overall 5/5

Thanks for reading!