Suggest Treatment For Cold, Sore Throat, White-coated Tongue And Loss Of Appetite

Brief Answer:
Some information

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

I'm sorry you've been sick for so long.

First, let's make sure you are not having any more concerning symptoms for which you should go in to be seen:

1. You mentioned you have a sore throat. If you also have a fever, then it would be wise to go in to have a throat swab for strep.

2. A cough that is productive of discolored mucus. It's ok if it is discolored when you get up in the morning, but should not be purulent all day.

3. Shortness of breath or chest discomfort.

Ok, providing it is an uncomplicated cold that is just hanging on too long, here are some suggestions:

1. I see you are using Mucinex. This has guaifenesin which is good for thinning the secretions (providing you drink a lot of water with it). This is good. Depending on which variety of Mucinex, check to see if it also has a decongestant such as phenylephrine. If it does not have phenylephrine, consider also taking a decongestant. For daytime, I recommend pseudoephedrine.

It is no longer possible to buy pseudoephedrine off the shelf because there is the risk of people buying large quantities of it and "cooking" it into illegal drugs. So you have to ask the pharmacist for it specifically as it is kept behind the pharmacy counter.

2. If there is a lot of sinus congestion, or you feel drainage going down the back of your throat, consider a steroid nasal spray such as Flonase. This can be bought without prescription. It takes a couple of days to start working well.

3. Salt water nasal/sinus irrigation a couple times a day. Don't do this within a half hour or so of the Flonase (before or after) as it will wash the medicine out. You can use a nettipot with prepared salt packet mixed with boiled or distilled water, or you can buy a prepared saline spray such as Simply Saline. This will help wash away some of the mucus and infection.

4. Rest! The more you take it easy, extra sleep or naps, or just scheduled time to totally relax, the more you are helping your immune system to take care of this problem.

I hope this information helps and that you are soon better. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.

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Brief Answer:
Coated tongue

Detailed Answer:
Usually a white coating is from having post nasal drainage. It may continue until you are fully over this current illness.

White patches on the tongue can be from yeast (thrush) but it's usually not an actual coating. And with yeast it is usually sore.

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