Pain, colds & allergies
Viral rhinitis and rhinosinusitis (common cold congestion)
Most colds run their course, but the miserable middle, blocked sinuses, facial pressure, nights of mouth-breathing, is now something an Ontario pharmacist can formally assess. At Murray Shore Pharmacy on Bathurst Street in North York, we sort viral congestion from the cases that need a physician, and match relief options to your health conditions and the medications you already take.
Common signs
- Blocked or runny nose with clear or coloured mucus
- Pressure or fullness around the cheeks, forehead, or eyes
- Post-nasal drip with throat clearing or cough
- Reduced sense of smell while congested
- Sneezing and mild sore throat early in the illness
- Symptoms that peak within a few days and then slowly improve
See a doctor instead if
- Symptoms lasting beyond 10 days without any improvement, or improving then sharply worsening again
- High fever with severe facial pain or swelling around an eye
- Severe headache with neck stiffness or confusion
- Shortness of breath, chest pain, or wheezing
- Recurrent sinus episodes several times a year, which deserve physician investigation
Any of these sound like you? Call 416-789-1800 and we will point you the right way — or reach Health811 (opens in a new tab) by calling 811.
How the assessment works
The pharmacist takes a timeline of your symptoms, because duration and the pattern of improvement versus worsening is the main clue separating a viral cold from bacterial sinusitis, and reviews your blood pressure history, other conditions, and current medications before recommending anything. Suitable relief options may be recommended or prescribed where appropriate, and cases suggesting bacterial infection or complications are referred. The assessment is OHIP covered.
Source 1Three ways to get started. Do it all from home, or come in.
Start online from your phone, call us, or walk in and ask for the pharmacist. No appointment is needed. When you start online, a pharmacist calls or messages you back to finish the assessment. Prefer email? Write to us.
Frequently asked questions
Plain answers from the pharmacy team. Tap a question to open it.
My mucus turned green. Does that mean I need antibiotics?
Not by itself. Mucus colour changes during a normal viral cold and is a poor indicator of bacterial infection. Duration and trajectory matter far more, and that is precisely what the assessment evaluates.
Why does the pharmacist need my full medication list for a stuffy nose?
Because several common congestion products interact with blood pressure conditions and specific medications. Checking your list first is how we choose an option that fits you rather than a generic suggestion off the shelf.
I have been using a decongestant nasal spray for two weeks and I am worse. Why?
Using those sprays beyond a few days can cause rebound congestion, where the nose blocks up as each dose wears off. Tell the pharmacist exactly what you have been using and for how long; unwinding rebound congestion is a common part of this assessment.
When is congestion a sinus infection instead of a cold?
The classic patterns are symptoms beyond 10 days with no improvement, or a cold that improves and then suddenly worsens with fever and facial pain. Those patterns get referred to a physician; everything else is usually viral.
Can I be assessed while I am contagious?
Yes. Come in with your OHIP card, and if you are actively coughing and prefer not to sit in the store, call 416-789-1800 and we will arrange the least contact possible, including delivery of anything you need.
What should I bring to the assessment?
Your health card and a complete list of your medications and health conditions, especially any blood pressure history. Bring or name any cold products you have already taken, including nasal sprays and how long you have used them.
Is the assessment covered by OHIP?
Yes, with a valid Ontario health card the assessment itself is free. Any products are a separate purchase.
Can seniors with blood pressure or heart conditions be assessed?
Yes, and this is precisely where the assessment earns its keep. Several common congestion products are unsuitable with certain conditions and medications, so the pharmacist screens your list before recommending anything.
Could my congestion be allergies rather than a cold?
If congestion drags on with sneezing and itchy eyes but no fever, and flares in certain seasons or rooms, allergies become more likely. Allergic rhinitis is a separate condition a pharmacist can assess; see our allergic rhinitis page.
How do I keep the rest of the household from catching it?
Wash hands often, cough into your sleeve, avoid sharing cups and towels, and wipe shared surfaces like door handles and phones. Most colds spread in the first few days, so extra care early counts most.
How long should a normal cold last?
Most colds peak within a few days and fade over a week to ten days. Symptoms beyond ten days without improvement, or a cold that improves and then sharply worsens, is the pattern that needs a physician, and the assessment screens for exactly that.
Sources & further reading
Numbered references, linked from the sections above.
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416-789-1800 Call nowPrefer not to call? Email info@murrayshore.com or visit us at Bathurst & Baycrest.