Tip of the day: Got a cold? Skip the multi-symptom remedies

Drugs that combine cold and flu remedies might seem like a sure-fire way to get relief, but those combo medications have multiple ingredients and can raise the risk of side effects and overdoses if you mix them with other drugs. Instead, choose over-the-counter medications by their active ingredients and buy single-symptom formulas.

For more on the best drugstore products to buy, read our report "Medicine cabinet dos and don'ts" (free). And check out our Treatment Ratings (subscribers only) for the common cold.