Getting Ahead Cold

Today was the day I was going to do a few things I've been saving for a day off.  Instead I never got dressed and I barely changed loads of laundry that I had started last evening.  I took two Day-quil equivalents at lunch time and I spent the entire afternoon on the couch.  What would Ny-quil do to me?  And why are cold medications so complicated?  Runny nose and itchy eyes.   Fever and cough suppressant.  My favorite:  cough suppressant and expectorant.  How exactly does that work?  So far all I have is nasal congestion.  And various side effects from my meds.  If I manage to breath through the night, tomorrow I am going to try Kleenex.