I am a 46 year old male, who is trying to sort out which items to keep in the medicine cabinet, for whenever I have cold/flu symptoms in the future. Of course, no one wants to go out and buy anything when they are already sick, so I am trying to plan ahead.

I am trying to make a high-quality post to address cold and flu symptoms we all unfortunately experience throughout our lives. Even if you may feel that I am asking "stupid" questions, please consider that I am putting a lot of time and effort in to learn, while helping to share all of this with others. Some people may feel that I am making this all way too complicated. While this may be true, I still feel there is a lot for us to learn here. Thank you in advance to everyone who takes time to read this post, as well as those who also take time to respond.

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I assume most people just have one or two pain relievers at home. However, is it worth having most or all of these?

After spending many hours of Google searches, here is my new understanding of the pros and cons of the main options.

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Acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Ease pain and lower fever, but won’t reduce swelling or inflammation. Best for headache/fever, toothache, back pain, colds. Mild to moderate pain.

Least likely to cause an upset stomach. Be careful not to double dose with cold/flu medicine. Take every 4-6 hours.

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Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin, Bayer).

Reduce fever, pain, and inflammation. Best for headaches, toothaches, colds, fever. Mild to moderate pain.

Can be difficult on the stomach. Take every 4-6 hours.

Slows blood clots, lowers chance of heart attack/stroke.

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Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) - Does it make sense to have both Ibuprofen and Advil?

Reduce fever, pain, and inflammation. Best for headaches, toothaches, back pain, muscle strains, colds. Mild to moderate pain

Can be difficult on the stomach. Take every 4-6 hours.

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Naproxen (Aleve).

Reduce fever, pain, and inflammation. Best for headaches, toothaches, back pain, colds. Mild to moderate pain.

Can be worse on the stomach. Lasts longer in the body. Take every 8-12 hours.

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In each of the four above categories, should a person just always go with the cheapest generic, or under which circumstances should a person pay more for a trusted name brand?  It seems the active ingredients are the same for all generic vs name brands. 

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My takeaways from this, if my understanding is right is that

1. Aleve, or a generic version, is a must have for when pain is expected to last longer (8-12 hours or more). Also helps with inflammation.
2. Ibuprofen, or a generic version, is also a must have for pain with inflammation. This works faster than Aleve, but also does not last as long (4-8 hours).
3. Tylenol, or a generic version, is a must have for pain without inflammation, or when you need something easier on your stomach. 
4. Aspirin/Beyer, or a generic version, is a must have for blood clots, and lowers the chance of a heart attack/stroke. If in good health, when do you know if you should take this daily?

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Cough Suppressants are also important. When does a person know when to use each of these? I assume a person may not need to own all of these

Dextromethorphan (Delsym).

Dextromethorphan (Robitussin).

Menthol Cough Drops.

Vicks Vapor Rub.

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Expectorants should also be considered.

Guaifenesin (Mucinex).

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Decongestants.

Pseudoephedrine.

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Nasal Decongestants.

Oxymetazoline (Afrin).

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Antihistamines also help.

I personally prefer Cetirizine (Zyrtec) over Diphenhydramine (Benadryl), Loratadine (Claritin), and Fexofenadine (Allegra).

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Anti-Inflammatory for sneezing, stuffy, runny, or itchy nose.

Fluticasone propionate (Flonase).

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Sinus infection, allergies.

Neil-Med bottles and packets for nasal irrigation. I prefer this over Neti-Pot.

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Sore throat.

Warm salt water gargle is highly suggested.

Which of the following three should also be kept on-hand?

-Herb Pharm Soothing Throat Spray Herbal Formula with Echinacea and Propolis. 

-Chloraseptic Sore Throat Spray, Menthol.

-Propolis Throat Spray by Beekeeper's Naturals.

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Can Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) help to reduce nausea when sick, or is it really just for motion sickness?

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Eyes - dry, red, itch, burn - 

Genteal Tears Preservative Free Eye Drops.

Warm compress.

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Many stomach symptoms; nausea, diarrhea, acid reflux.

Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol).

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Severe diarrhea.

Imodium AD.

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Laxatives for Constipation.

Polyethylene glycol (MiraLax).

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Is there anything that I am forgetting? Perhaps there is an item under a specific category that I should consider that I did not list? Or maybe I am forgetting about a symptom I should be ready for?Now I know things become even more complicated when considering cold/flu products that have a combination of ingredients. A main concern is that people can double their doses of pain relievers without even realizing it, as they do not read the labels of these products. 

Do doctors and pharmacists usually just suggest buying the items above to treat specific symptoms, or are some of the products listed below also highly recommended under the right circumstances...

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NyQuill.

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TheraFlu.

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Tylenol Cold and Flu Severe.

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tldr; for each cold and flu symptom, which are the best products to own, and when should a person just go with the cheapest generic option rather than a trusted name brand?