Zinc — you can suck on it.
I’m down with some sort of flu-thing at the moment (maybe regular flu, possibly swine flu, and I can’t totally rule out strep throat). The illness came on within 24 hours and left me a shivering mess. 200mg ibuprofen keeps the fever down for a few hours and gives me a window to feel like a regular human being (otherwise I’d be in bed right now, feeling extremely sorry for myself). This seems like a good as time as any to share my thoughts on various cold and flu remedies.
Disclaimer: I’m not a medical professional. Take my advice at your own risk.