Move over, chicken soup, for these restoratives

Autumn is here and that means Old Man Winter and the cough and cold season are lurking around the corner.

Here's a sampling of new items to relieve winter ailments:

Combe Inc., White Plains, N.Y., is unveiling Cepacol Ultra Sore Throat Plus Cough Lozenges. Available in mixed berry flavor, the lozenges contain benzocaine and dextromethorphan hydrobromide. The suggested retail price is $4.99 for 18 lozenges.

Adams Respiratory Therapeutics is launching Mucinex D, with extended-release guaifenesin and pseudoephedrine to help clear nasal/sinus congestion and thin and loosen mucus. The suggested retail price is $10.99 to $11.99.

Insight Pharmaceuticals is introducing Sucrets Complete lozenges, a multisymptom cough/cold lozenge that comes in Vapor Cherry and Cool Citrus.

Xlear Inc., Orem, Utah, is rolling out a metered pump spray bottle for its Xlear Nasal Wash, which is designed to provide a more effective delivery method for the natural saline and xylitol solution. Xlear is available in a 1.5-oz. size and has a suggested retail price of $13.49.

Prestige Brands, Irvington, N.Y., is taking the wraps off Chloraseptic Salt Water Gargle. It comes in a ready-mix formula with a menthol flavor that the firm claims will provide a cooling sensation and mask the salt flavor. The suggested retail price is $3.79 for a 12-oz. size.

Prestige Brands is also presenting Chloraseptic Sore Throat Spray in a new citrus flavor. The suggested retail price is $5.79.

A third new entry from Prestige Brands is Chloraseptic Sore Throat Lozenges with Cooling Crystals in citrus flavor, honey lemon, and vapo-mint. The suggested retail price is $3.79 for 18 lozenges.

WellPatch Cough & Cold Soothing Vapor Pads is a new entry from Mentholatum Co. Ingredients include camphor, eucalyptus oil, and menthol in an orange-scented hydrogel (water-based gel) pad. The suggested retail price is between $5.99 and $6.99 for a carton containing six pads.

Hyland's Inc., Los Angeles, is bringing out Hyland's Complete Flu Care 4 Kids. A bottle of 125 tablets has a suggested retail price of $5.99. The medicine is for children ages two and up.

Hyland's Earache Drops and Hyland's Earache Tablets are also making their debut. The products are intended to decrease the redness and irritation in the eardrum that often accompany earaches. The suggested retail price for the drops is $9.99; for the tablets, it's $10.49 for 40.

SinuCleanse, a nasal wash system, is making its debut from Med-Systems, Madison, Wis. Its ingredients include sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate. These contents are mixed with warm tap water and administered via a neti pot. The system comes with 20 saline solution packets and the neti pot and retails for $14.95.

McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals is introducing Imodium A-D Liquid for Children. It is intended for children ages six to 11. The suggested retail price for the mint-flavored liquid is $5.99.

Matrixx Initiatives is taking the wraps off Zicam Maximum Strength Flu for flu symptoms and Zicam Cold & Flu for cold and early flu symptoms. Each product has a suggested price of $8.99. Matrixx also unveiled Nasal Comfort Moisture Therapy, a mist for nasal passages. The suggested retail price is $15.99.