Are there any differences between instant cold powders?

Some powders include antiviral drugs: remantadine, tamiflu. The antiviral effectiveness of these drugs has been scientifically proven (although not high).

In principle, no, the composition is almost the same, varies slightly in milligrams, the active ingredient there is one - paracetamol. And there are so many types of powder, because everyone is trying to register their trademark and make a profit. Change the composition a little, register a brand, give a name and you can sell. In fact, there is no difference. Someone has phenylephrine as a vasoconstrictor, someone has a little aspirin, someone else has an antipyretic, but everyone has the same basis - paracetamol. Taste and color are added, but there is nothing more healing.

Terpinghydrate is a very old drug that was always used for coughing, but always in combination with something else. But even if this is the case, since this is a mixture, the active ingredient of terpene hydrate will be so small that it will not work. But in each packet of powder there is a lot of paracetamol.

I recommend not to self-medicate and not drink anything without a recommendation, medicines are all basically poison, a question of dosage. You cannot diagnose yourself: it seems to you that you have a cold, and this may turn out to be a serious viral infection. I perfectly understand the state of health care, but there is no alternative, self-medication is in any case a danger.

Yes, there are. These differences are called "composition" and are written on the packaging.

The simplest one presented in the question is Lemsip. This is simply paracetamol (antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent) and phenylephrine (the same mezatone that the media recently cried so much). Actually helps to relieve the symptoms of fever and mucosal edema. Paracetamol is contained in powder in a loading dose of 1000 mg, phenylephrine is also the most there - 12.5 mg. In total, the drug will act stronger and faster, but at the same time, the likelihood of side effects is higher.

In addition to the aforementioned paracetamol with phenylephrine, in terraflu, we find pheniramine (an antihistamine that is quite useful for large-scale inflammation), there is less paracetamol in teraflu even than the traditional single dose, there is a lot of phenylephrine (although not so much as in the previous remedy) , and pheniramine is never superfluous, but quite useful for colds. There is also ascorbic acid, the medicinal properties of which have not yet been proven by evidence-based medicine, but vitamins are generally good, but the main thing is not harmful (the maximum dose of ascorbic acid for non-pregnant people is much higher than you can eat in terraflu bags). Earlier, I remember, it was prescribed - paracetamol, diazolin (analog of pheniramine), naphthyzine (analog of phenylephrine) and ascorbin. And now here it is all at once in a pile. Complex treatment of colds.

Finally, Coldrex contains paracetamol 500 mg, phenylephrine hydrochloride 5 mg, caffeine 25 mg, terpine hydrate 20 mg, ascorbic acid 30 mg. As you can see, 500mg of paracetamol (just one pill is familiar), again ascorbic acid (people love ascorbic acid, the marketing advantage is the same), again phenylephrine (half less, so Coldrex is not for colds with a pronounced runny nose). There is no antihistamines, but there is an expectorant (terpinhydrate)! So coldrex for colds with cough! The caffeine in the composition not only enhances the anti-inflammatory effect, but also has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system, so if you want to go to work with fresh bronchitis, it is better to choose Coldrex, and not the forgetful (antihistamines have drowsiness as a side effect) terraflu.

BOOOOT. And you say "no difference".

Easier, just take paracetamol and that's it. The rest of the components of the powder do not give any healing effect.

Live long and do not get sick)

No, they all contain the same set of substances that relieve cold symptoms: sore throat, nasal congestion, headache, muscle weakness. May differ in additives / flavorings and brand.