Upper Respiratory Infection & Bronchitis Treatment (symptom relief and inhaler as prescribed)

A provider may consider it if

• A cold that has moved into your chest — cough, congestion, a rattly or tight feeling — without the red flags below
• A cough that is keeping you up and over-the-counter remedies have not helped
• You want relief while it runs its course, and a provider to confirm nothing more serious is going on

It won’t be prescribed if

• Trouble breathing at rest, breathlessness that stops you speaking in sentences, chest pain, or blue lips — call 911 or go to an emergency department
• Coughing up blood, or a fever over 103°F, or fever with a productive cough and shortness of breath — pneumonia has to be ruled out by examination and possibly a chest X-ray, which a video visit cannot do
• A cough lasting more than three weeks, night sweats or weight loss — needs in-person evaluation
• An asthma or COPD flare — the plan belongs with the provider who manages your lungs
• Pregnancy — NSAIDs are avoided from 20 weeks and prednisone needs a case-by-case decision; tell the provider, who may route you to in-person care
• A known allergy to NSAIDs (including aspirin-sensitive asthma), to albuterol, to benzonatate or to prednisone — a hard stop for that medication
• Kidney disease, a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding, heart failure, or blood thinners — the anti-inflammatories may be off the table; the provider decides
• Under 18 — online treatment here is for adults

These are the same checks your provider runs in the visit. If one applies, they will tell you plainly — and the medication portion of what you paid comes back automatically.