You have a cold, and all you want is something to make you feel better. But the thought of the 4,000-plus products in the pharmacy aisle are enough to make you want to hide under the covers. Here's a simplified breakdown of what to look for.

There are four basic ingredients in cough and cold medications: antihistamine, decongestant, expectorant and cough suppressant.

ANTIHISTAMINE: Use when you have a runny nose, sneezing or itchy eyes.

SIDE EFFECTS: Can be very sedating

DECONGESTANT: Use for stuffiness, nasal congestion and pressure.

SIDE EFFECTS: Hyperactivity, palpitations and dizziness

EXPECTORANT: Use an expectorant when you have a productive cough - one with mucus. If mucus stays in the lungs pneumonia can develop.

WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR: If any of the mucus is green or yellow or contains blood, contact your physician.

SUPPRESSANT: A dry cough needs to be stopped because it can cause hoarseness and irritation. Nonproductive coughs need an antitussive such as dextromethorphan. Antitussives are also in throat lozenges.

Sources: www.drgreene.com; www.familydoctor.org; www.newsrecord.com.

TODAY

INTERNATIONAL CLUB: The Aiken International Club will meet at 7 p.m. in the Penland Administration Building, Room 106, at the University of South Carolina Aiken, 471 University Parkway. The guest speaker will be Dr. Niren Vyas. The meeting is free. Call 641-6875.

THURSDAY

FORUM ON MUSLIM RESPONSE TO DANISH CARTOONS: A forum to discuss the Muslim response to the cartoons and the tension between freedom of the press and the sensitivity to believers will be held from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in N126 Allgood Hall at Augusta State University, 2500 Walton Way. The forum is free and open to the public. Call 737-1735.

FRIDAY

PLAY SHOWN: Steel Magnolias will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Imperial Theatre, 745 Broad St. Ticket prices range from $12 to $40. For more information, call 826-4707 or visit www.augustaplayers.com.

THE GLORY OF ORGAN, BRASS AND CHOIR: The Augusta Choral Society, organist Keith Shaffer and the Five Points Brass will perform at 7:30 p.m. at St. John United Methodist Church, 104 Newberry St. N.W., Aiken. Tickets cost $21 for adults, $17 for seniors and students and $5 for children 12 and younger. Tickets are available at Sacred Heart Cultural Center, 1301 Greene St., or by calling 826-4713.

THE ADASKIN STRING TRIO: The trio, along with oboist Tom Gallant, will perform at 8 p.m. at Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre at Augusta State University, 2500 Walton Way, as part of the Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society Concerts program. A pre-concert program will be at 7:15 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $5 for school-age children and are free for ASU faculty, staff and students. No children ages 5 and younger will be admitted. For more information, call 790-9274.

PLANETARIUM SHOW: Blown Away: The Wild World of Weather will be shown at 7 and 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Dupont Planetarium, 471 University Parkway. Tickets cost $4.50 for adults, $3.50 for seniors and $2.50 for students. Call (803) 641-3769.

SATURDAY

MARDI GRAS EVENT: Our Lady of Peace School will hold its annual Mardi Gras Auction from 6 to 11 p.m. at North Augusta Community Center, 495 Brookside Drive. Attractions include Bourbon Street-inspired heavy hors d'oeuvres, beer, wine and silent and live auctions. Items up for bid include works of art, jewelry, beach vacations and a dinner party at Rae's Coastal Cafe in Augusta. Henry Wynn will provide entertainment. Tickets cost $30 in advance and $35 at the door. For more information, call (803) 279-8396.

SUNDAY

AUGUSTA CONCERT BAND: The band will perform at 3 p.m. at Curtis Baptist Church, 1326 Broad St. The concert is free. For more information, call 722-0077.