Brandwave

How popular isSudafed?

In September 2026, people searched for Sudafed by name about 18,100 times in Australia, a 22.3% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 17% of all Australia cold and flu brand searches, placing Sudafed second out of ten brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about cold and flu brands, Sudafed did not appear in any of the answers.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Sudafed is the second most searched of 10 competitors.

  1. StrepsilsShare of searches 17%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answers
  2. SudafedShare of searches 17%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answers
  3. LemsipShare of searches 13.9%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answers
  4. BisolvonShare of searches 9.3%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answers
  5. CodralShare of searches 9.3%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answers

+5 more

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Top cold and flu brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Sudafed did not appear in any of the five answers.

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Nurofen3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Codral2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Demazin1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Strepsils0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Sudafed0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Lemsip0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Bisolvon0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Vicks0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Difflam0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Duro-Tuss0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about cold and flu brands

5 answers

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What should I take for a cold in Australia?”

    1. 1Nurofen

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What are the best cold and flu tablets in Australia?”

    1. 1Codral
    2. 2Demazin
    3. 3Nurofen

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What's the best thing for a sore throat?”

    1. Searched Google, AI Overview

      “cold and flu tablets”

      1. 1Codral
      2. 2Nurofen

    2. Searched Google, AI Overview

      “sore throat”

      Not named in any answer:

      Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 26, 2026.

      Which cold and flu brands compete with Sudafed?

      Sudafed against cold and flu brands in Australia, by month

      Share of searches by month for Strepsils, Sudafed, Lemsip, Bisolvon, Codral, Demazin, Vicks, Difflam, Duro-Tuss, Nurofen. The figures are in the table below the chart.

      View monthly share of searches table
      MonthStrepsilsSudafedLemsipBisolvonCodralDemazinVicksDifflamDuro-TussNurofen
      Oct 202516.2%19.8%10.8%10.8%8.8%10.8%5.9%7.2%5.9%3.9%
      Nov 202517.2%21.1%11.5%9.4%7.7%9.4%6.3%7.7%6.3%3.4%
      Dec 202515.6%23.3%10.4%10.4%8.5%8.5%6.9%6.9%5.7%3.8%
      Jan 202616.4%20.1%11%11%8.9%8.9%7.3%7.3%5.9%3.2%
      Feb 202616.6%20.3%11.1%11.1%9%9%7.4%7.4%4.9%3.3%
      Mar 202617.2%21%11.5%9.4%9.4%7.7%7.7%7.7%5.1%3.4%
      Apr 202616.6%20.3%13.6%9%9%7.4%7.4%7.4%6%3.3%
      May 202615.8%19.4%15.8%8.7%8.7%7.1%8.7%7.1%5.8%3.1%
      Jun 202614.7%18%14.7%9.9%9.9%8.1%8.1%6.6%6.6%3.6%
      Jul 202616.8%20.6%13.7%9.2%9.2%7.5%7.5%6.1%6.1%3.3%
      Aug 202616.4%20.1%13.4%9%9%7.4%7.4%7.4%6%4%
      Sep 202617%17%13.9%9.3%9.3%9.3%7.6%6.2%6.2%4.1%

      1. 1.Strepsils

        17%

        Moved from 2nd to 1st. 18.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.

      2. 2.Sudafed

        17%

        Moved from 1st to 2nd. 18.1K estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share -3.1 points.

      3. 3.Lemsip

        13.9%

        Held 3rd. 14.8K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.5 points.

      4. 4.Bisolvon

        9.3%

        Held 4th. 9.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

      5. 5.Codral

        9.3%

        Held 5th. 9.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

      6. 6.Demazin

        9.3%

        Held 6th. 9.9K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +2 points.

      7. 7.Vicks

        7.6%

        Moved from 8th to 7th. 8.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

      8. 8.Difflam

        6.2%

        Moved from 7th to 8th. 6.6K estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share -1.1 points.

      9. 9.Duro-Tuss

        6.2%

        Held 9th. 6.6K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

      10. 10.Nurofen

        4.1%

        Held 10th. 4.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

      Nurofen sells other things too, so only its searches that name this product count here, like “nurofen cold and flu”.

      Compare popularity between Sudafed and its closest rivals

      Every comparison with Sudafed

      9 comparisons

      How has branded search demand for Sudafed changed in Australia over the last 12 months?

      4 findings
      • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Sudafed in Australia rose from 14.8K to 18.1K.
      • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sudafed’s share of searches among cold and flu brands in Australia decreased from 19.8% to 17%.
      • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sudafed’s share of searches among cold and flu brands in Australia peaked at 23.3% in December 2025 and was lowest at 17% in September 2026.
      • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sudafed fell from 1st to 2nd among cold and flu brands in Australia.

      How did search popularity change for Australia cold and flu brands in September 2026?

      6 changes

      1. In September 2026, Strepsils overtook Sudafed to become the leader among cold and flu brands in Australia, with 17% of the searches.

      2. In September 2026, Demazin gained share of searches among cold and flu brands in Australia, from 7.4% to 9.3%.

      3. In September 2026, Sudafed lost share of searches among cold and flu brands in Australia, from 20.1% to 17%.

      4. In September 2026, Difflam lost share of searches among cold and flu brands in Australia, from 7.4% to 6.2%.

      5. In September 2026, Vicks rose from 8th to 7th among cold and flu brands in Australia.

      6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Lemsip in Australia rose 82.7% over 12 measured months, from 8.1K to 14.8K in September 2026.

      How are Sudafed’s branded searches counted?

      1 search term

      Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Sudafed’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

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      How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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