Recently, American pharmacist John Hoeschen felt a cold coming on. He wasn't surprised, since his four kids were feeling under the weather. He immediately started drinking extra fluids and taking Echinacea.

Four days later he was symptom free no coughing, no congestion. Hoeschen's strategy to combat a cold is simple. Hit it hand, hit it early.

It can take a normal nasty cold down to minimal symptoms, says Hoeschen, of St. Paul "But by the time many people start thinking about a cold, they have a head full of snot."

When cold and flu season arrives so will the season for over the counter (OTC) medications. But just because these medicines are available without a prescription doesn't mean every one should for them.

A cold virus replicates in the cells in your nose or throat, either destroying or damaging them. That's why you get a sore throat.

"Most of the time, it's going to run its course, and then people will fine," say Dr. Robert Stroebel,, assistant professor of medicine at Mayo College of Medicine. "And they’ll save the co-pay visiting the doctor."

Typically, symptoms, last four to five days. OTC medicines essentially relieve symptoms, they don't cure the cold. The most common OTC medications are decongestants, antihistamines, cough suppressants and expectorants.

"If you start taking something you think it's working. But it's likely because your cold is getting better, "says Dr. Don Uden professor of pharmaceutical care and health systems at the University of Minnesota and a former member of the USFDA's nonprescription drug advisory committee.

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