Brandwave

How popular isSudafed?

In September 2026, people searched for Sudafed by name about 5,510 times in New Zealand, a 26.1% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 18.9% of all New Zealand cold and flu brand searches, placing Sudafed first out of eight brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about cold and flu brands, Sudafed appeared in two of the five answers and was the fourth most recommended of the eight.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Sudafed is the most searched of 8 competitors and the fourth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. SudafedShare of searches 18.9%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  2. DifflamShare of searches 18.6%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  3. CodralShare of searches 17.1%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  4. StrepsilsShare of searches 15.7%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  5. LemsipShare of searches 14.2%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd

+3 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 was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Sudafed is the fourth most recommended of the eight.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Codral1st
  2. Lemsip2nd
  3. Demazin3rd
  4. Sudafed4th
  5. Difflam–
  6. Strepsils–
  7. Vicks–
  8. Coldrex–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Codral3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Sudafed2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Lemsip2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Demazin1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Difflam0 of 5Named in 0 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
  • Vicks0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Coldrex0 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

    “Which cold and flu brand should I buy in New Zealand?”

    1. 1Lemsip
    2. 2Codral

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What are the best cold and flu brands in New Zealand?”

    1. 1Codral
    2. 2Lemsip
    3. 3Sudafed

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What's the best cold and flu brand in New Zealand for blocked nose?”

    1. 1Sudafed

  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “cold and flu medicine”

    1. 1Codral
    2. 2Demazin

  • Searched Google, AI Overview

    “sore throat relief”

    Not named in any answer:

    Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 20, 2026.

    Which cold and flu brands compete with Sudafed?

    Sudafed against cold and flu brands in New Zealand, by month

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

    View monthly share of searches table
    MonthSudafedDifflamCodralStrepsilsLemsipVicksDemazinColdrex
    Oct 202523.6%16.7%16.4%15.7%12%12.4%2.5%0.7%
    Nov 202521.8%19.1%15.2%14.2%12.5%13.9%2.9%0.39%
    Dec 202521.7%20.3%14.7%14.8%11.2%14.3%2.5%0.57%
    Jan 202621.5%18.4%14%16.4%12.2%14.5%2.5%0.48%
    Feb 202620.7%15.7%14.9%16.2%15.1%14.6%2.3%0.54%
    Mar 202621%15.3%16.3%17.1%15.6%11.8%2.4%0.52%
    Apr 202621.4%15.8%19.7%13.7%13%13.1%2.6%0.62%
    May 202621.2%13.4%18.8%13.8%15.4%13.9%3%0.59%
    Jun 202620.4%14.3%19.4%13.6%15.3%13.6%2.9%0.49%
    Jul 202620.3%14.6%19.2%13.5%15.6%13.5%2.8%0.55%
    Aug 202618.6%13.7%17.7%15.2%17.1%14.2%3%0.44%
    Sep 202618.9%18.6%17.1%15.7%14.2%11.7%3.3%0.52%

    1. 1.Sudafed

      18.9%

      Held 1st. 5.1K estimated branded searches, -32.6% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

    2. 2.Difflam

      18.6%

      Moved from 6th to 2nd. 5K estimated branded searches, -9.5% vs prior month. Share +4.9 points.

    3. 3.Codral

      17.1%

      Moved from 2nd to 3rd. 4.6K estimated branded searches, -35.8% vs prior month. Share -0.6 points.

    4. 4.Strepsils

      15.7%

      Held 4th. 4.3K estimated branded searches, -31.2% vs prior month. Share +0.5 points.

    5. 5.Lemsip

      14.2%

      Moved from 3rd to 5th. 3.8K estimated branded searches, -44.9% vs prior month. Share -2.9 points.

    6. 6.Vicks

      11.7%

      Moved from 5th to 6th. 3.2K estimated branded searches, -45.3% vs prior month. Share -2.5 points.

    7. 7.Demazin

      3.3%

      Held 7th. 900 estimated branded searches, -27.4% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

    8. 8.Coldrex

      0.52%

      Held 8th. 140 estimated branded searches, -22.2% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

    Compare popularity between Sudafed and its closest rivals

    Every comparison with Sudafed

    10 comparisons

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

    3 findings
    • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Sudafed in New Zealand rose from 4.4K to 5.5K.
    • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sudafed’s share of searches among cold and flu brands in New Zealand decreased from 23.6% to 18.9%.
    • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sudafed’s share of searches among cold and flu brands in New Zealand peaked at 23.6% in October 2025 and was lowest at 18.6% in August 2026.

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

    6 changes

    1. In September 2026, Difflam overtook Codral and 3 others to rank 2nd among cold and flu brands in New Zealand, with 18.6% of the searches.

    2. In September 2026, Strepsils gained share of searches among cold and flu brands in New Zealand, from 15.2% to 15.7%.

    3. In September 2026, Lemsip lost share of searches among cold and flu brands in New Zealand, from 17.1% to 14.2%.

    4. In September 2026, Vicks lost share of searches among cold and flu brands in New Zealand, from 14.2% to 11.7%.

    5. In September 2026, Codral lost share of searches among cold and flu brands in New Zealand, from 17.7% to 17.1%.

    6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Demazin in New Zealand rose 109.3% over 12 measured months, from 430 to 900 in September 2026.

    How are Sudafed’s branded searches counted?

    10 search terms

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

    • sudafed
    • sudafed cough
    • sudafed day night
    • sudafed lozenges
    • sudafed nasal spray
    • sudafed night
    • sudafed pe
    • sudafed pseudoephedrine
    • sudafed sinus
    • sudafed tablets

    Do you work for Sudafed? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

    How the Brand Demand Index is measured

    Where does Sudafed compete?

    Sudafed is ranked in two competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
    Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
    Cold and flu brands1st of 818.9%Shown above
    Nasal spray brands1st of 457.5%Show ranking
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