---
title: "Cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom: Which are searched most?"
description: "Compare the cold, flu and cough remedy brands people in the UK buy. Share of Search among Lemsip, Night Nurse, Sudafed, Olbas, Vicks, Strepsils, Covonia, Beechams and Benylin, the cold and flu brands Brandwave compares in the United Kingdom, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time."
canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/uk/categories/uk-cold-and-flu-brands"
publisher: "Brandwave"
---

# Cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom: Which are searched most?

Compare the cold, flu and cough remedy brands people in the UK buy. Share of Search among Lemsip, Night Nurse, Sudafed, Olbas, Vicks, Strepsils, Covonia, Beechams and Benylin, the cold and flu brands Brandwave compares in the United Kingdom, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.

## Key facts

- **Competitive set**: Cold and flu brands
- **Market**: United Kingdom
- **Brands compared**: 9
- **Month measured**: Sep 2026
- **Highest Share of Search**: Lemsip, 19.8%

## Which brand is most popular in search among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom?

- Lemsip and Night Nurse tie for the highest share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom, at 19.8% each in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Vicks’ share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom decreased from 13.2% to 11.5%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Lemsip’s share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom peaked at 19.8% in September 2026 and was lowest at 12.9% in July 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Night Nurse’s share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom peaked at 24.8% in August 2026 and was lowest at 17.6% in May 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sudafed’s share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom peaked at 23.6% in July 2026 and was lowest at 15.9% in October 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Olbas’ share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom peaked at 12.9% in March 2026 and was lowest at 9.7% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Vicks’ share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom peaked at 14% in November 2025 and was lowest at 10.2% in April 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Strepsils’ share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom peaked at 12.9% in July 2026 and was lowest at 8.8% in December 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Covonia’s share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom peaked at 4.8% in December 2025 and was lowest at 3.3% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Beechams’ share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom peaked at 3.2% in September 2026 and was lowest at 2.2% in February 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Olbas rose from 5th to 4th among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Vicks fell from 4th to 5th among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Lemsip, Night Nurse, Sudafed, Strepsils, Covonia, Beechams and Benylin held steady: their share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.

## Top cold and flu brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Lemsip, Beechams and Benylin were mentioned most often, in two of the five answers. Lemsip was recommended most often, coming first in one out of two answers that gave a list. Beechams was second, and Benylin was third. Night Nurse, which ranked second in searches, was not mentioned at all.

Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options.

| Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | Google AI Overviews that named it | All answers that named it |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Lemsip | 1st | 1 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 5 |
| Beechams | 2nd | 1 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 5 |
| Benylin | 3rd | 0 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 5 |
| Night Nurse | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 |
| Sudafed | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 |
| Olbas | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 |
| Vicks | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 |
| Strepsils | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 |
| Covonia | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 |

## Every AI answer about cold and flu brands

- Asked ChatGPT "What's the best cold and flu medicine in the UK?": 1. Lemsip, 2. Beechams
- Asked ChatGPT "What's good for a blocked nose?": named none of the brands we track
- Asked ChatGPT "What's the best cough medicine for a chesty cough?": named none of the brands we track
- Searched Google, AI Overview "cold and flu tablets": 1. Benylin, 2. Beechams, 3. Lemsip
- Searched Google, AI Overview "cough medicine": 1. Benylin

Not named in any answer: Night Nurse, Sudafed, Olbas, Vicks, Strepsils and Covonia.

Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in United Kingdom on October 27, 2026.

## Compare search popularity between leading brands

- [Lemsip vs Night Nurse: compare search popularity](/demand/uk/compare/lemsip-vs-night-nurse): 19.8% Share of Search each.
- [Lemsip vs Sudafed: compare search popularity](/demand/uk/compare/lemsip-vs-sudafed): 19.8% against 16.2% Share of Search.
- [Lemsip vs Olbas: compare search popularity](/demand/uk/compare/lemsip-vs-olbas): 19.8% against 11.6% Share of Search.
- [Lemsip vs Vicks: compare search popularity](/demand/uk/compare/lemsip-vs-vicks): 19.8% against 11.5% Share of Search.
- [Night Nurse vs Sudafed: compare search popularity](/demand/uk/compare/night-nurse-vs-sudafed): 19.8% against 16.2% Share of Search.
- [Night Nurse vs Olbas: compare search popularity](/demand/uk/compare/night-nurse-vs-olbas): 19.8% against 11.6% Share of Search.
- [Night Nurse vs Vicks: compare search popularity](/demand/uk/compare/night-nurse-vs-vicks): 19.8% against 11.5% Share of Search.
- [Sudafed vs Olbas: compare search popularity](/demand/uk/compare/olbas-vs-sudafed): 16.2% against 11.6% Share of Search.
- [Sudafed vs Vicks: compare search popularity](/demand/uk/compare/sudafed-vs-vicks): 16.2% against 11.5% Share of Search.
- [Olbas vs Vicks: compare search popularity](/demand/uk/compare/olbas-vs-vicks): 11.6% against 11.5% Share of Search.

## How did search popularity change for United Kingdom cold and flu brands in September 2026?

- In September 2026, Lemsip overtook Night Nurse and Sudafed to become the leader among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom, with 19.8% of the searches.
- In September 2026, Covonia overtook Benylin to rank 7th among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom, with 4% of the searches.
- In September 2026, Olbas overtook Vicks and Strepsils to rank 4th among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom, with 11.6% of the searches.
- In September 2026, Beechams overtook Benylin to rank 8th among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom, with 3.2% of the searches.
- In September 2026, Night Nurse lost share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom, from 24.8% to 19.8%.
- In September 2026, Sudafed lost share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom, from 20.3% to 16.2%.
- Estimated monthly branded searches for Vicks in the United Kingdom fell 30.3% over 12 measured months, from 33.7K to 23.5K in September 2026.
- Estimated monthly branded searches for Benylin in the United Kingdom fell 18.5% over 12 measured months, from 8.1K to 6.6K in September 2026.

## Share of Search ranking

| Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | Change vs prior month | Owned by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Lemsip | 19.8% | 40.5K | +173.6% | Lemsip |
| 2 | Night Nurse | 19.8% | 40.5K | +49.4% | Night Nurse |
| 3 | Sudafed | 16.2% | 33.1K | +49.1% | Sudafed |
| 4 | Olbas | 11.6% | 23.8K | +124.1% | Olbas |
| 5 | Vicks | 11.5% | 23.5K | +91.1% | Vicks |
| 6 | Strepsils | 10.8% | 22.2K | +83.5% | Strepsils |
| 7 | Covonia | 4% | 8.1K | +125.0% | Covonia |
| 8 | Beechams | 3.2% | 6.6K | +127.6% | Beechams |
| 9 | Benylin | 3.2% | 6.6K | +83.3% | Benylin |

## Historical estimated branded-search demand

| Month | Brand | Estimated monthly branded searches | Share of Search | Rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Oct 2025 | Lemsip | 49.5K | 19.4% | 1 |
| Oct 2025 | Night Nurse | 49.5K | 19.4% | 2 |
| Oct 2025 | Sudafed | 40.5K | 15.9% | 3 |
| Oct 2025 | Vicks | 33.7K | 13.2% | 4 |
| Oct 2025 | Olbas | 29K | 11.4% | 5 |
| Oct 2025 | Strepsils | 27.1K | 10.6% | 6 |
| Oct 2025 | Covonia | 9.9K | 3.9% | 7 |
| Oct 2025 | Beechams | 8.1K | 3.2% | 8 |
| Oct 2025 | Benylin | 8.1K | 3.2% | 9 |
| Nov 2025 | Night Nurse | 49.5K | 20.6% | 1 |
| Nov 2025 | Lemsip | 40.5K | 16.9% | 2 |
| Nov 2025 | Sudafed | 40.5K | 16.9% | 3 |
| Nov 2025 | Vicks | 33.7K | 14% | 4 |
| Nov 2025 | Olbas | 29K | 12.1% | 5 |
| Nov 2025 | Strepsils | 22.2K | 9.3% | 6 |
| Nov 2025 | Covonia | 9.9K | 4.1% | 7 |
| Nov 2025 | Benylin | 8.1K | 3.4% | 8 |
| Nov 2025 | Beechams | 6.6K | 2.8% | 9 |
| Dec 2025 | Night Nurse | 74K | 23.9% | 1 |
| Dec 2025 | Lemsip | 49.5K | 16% | 2 |
| Dec 2025 | Sudafed | 49.5K | 16% | 3 |
| Dec 2025 | Vicks | 39.2K | 12.7% | 4 |
| Dec 2025 | Olbas | 35K | 11.3% | 5 |
| Dec 2025 | Strepsils | 27.1K | 8.8% | 6 |
| Dec 2025 | Covonia | 14.8K | 4.8% | 7 |
| Dec 2025 | Benylin | 12.1K | 3.9% | 8 |
| Dec 2025 | Beechams | 8.1K | 2.6% | 9 |
| Jan 2026 | Night Nurse | 60.5K | 22.8% | 1 |
| Jan 2026 | Sudafed | 49.5K | 18.6% | 2 |
| Jan 2026 | Lemsip | 40.5K | 15.2% | 3 |
| Jan 2026 | Vicks | 32.5K | 12.2% | 4 |
| Jan 2026 | Olbas | 29K | 10.9% | 5 |
| Jan 2026 | Strepsils | 27.1K | 10.2% | 6 |
| Jan 2026 | Covonia | 12.1K | 4.6% | 7 |
| Jan 2026 | Benylin | 8.1K | 3% | 8 |
| Jan 2026 | Beechams | 6.6K | 2.5% | 9 |
| Feb 2026 | Night Nurse | 40.5K | 20.1% | 1 |
| Feb 2026 | Sudafed | 40.5K | 20.1% | 2 |
| Feb 2026 | Lemsip | 33.1K | 16.4% | 3 |
| Feb 2026 | Vicks | 26.6K | 13.2% | 4 |
| Feb 2026 | Olbas | 23.8K | 11.8% | 5 |
| Feb 2026 | Strepsils | 18.1K | 9% | 6 |
| Feb 2026 | Covonia | 8.1K | 4% | 7 |
| Feb 2026 | Benylin | 6.6K | 3.3% | 8 |
| Feb 2026 | Beechams | 4.4K | 2.2% | 9 |
| Mar 2026 | Sudafed | 40.5K | 22.3% | 1 |
| Mar 2026 | Night Nurse | 33.1K | 18.2% | 2 |
| Mar 2026 | Lemsip | 27.1K | 14.9% | 3 |
| Mar 2026 | Olbas | 23.5K | 12.9% | 4 |
| Mar 2026 | Vicks | 21.7K | 11.9% | 5 |
| Mar 2026 | Strepsils | 18.1K | 10% | 6 |
| Mar 2026 | Benylin | 6.6K | 3.6% | 7 |
| Mar 2026 | Covonia | 6.6K | 3.6% | 8 |
| Mar 2026 | Beechams | 4.4K | 2.4% | 9 |
| Apr 2026 | Sudafed | 33.1K | 23.3% | 1 |
| Apr 2026 | Night Nurse | 27.1K | 19.1% | 2 |
| Apr 2026 | Lemsip | 22.2K | 15.6% | 3 |
| Apr 2026 | Olbas | 15.8K | 11.1% | 4 |
| Apr 2026 | Strepsils | 14.8K | 10.4% | 5 |
| Apr 2026 | Vicks | 14.5K | 10.2% | 6 |
| Apr 2026 | Benylin | 5.4K | 3.8% | 7 |
| Apr 2026 | Covonia | 5.4K | 3.8% | 8 |
| Apr 2026 | Beechams | 3.6K | 2.5% | 9 |
| May 2026 | Sudafed | 27.1K | 21.4% | 1 |
| May 2026 | Night Nurse | 22.2K | 17.6% | 2 |
| May 2026 | Lemsip | 18.1K | 14.3% | 3 |
| May 2026 | Olbas | 15.8K | 12.5% | 4 |
| May 2026 | Vicks | 15K | 11.9% | 5 |
| May 2026 | Strepsils | 14.8K | 11.7% | 6 |
| May 2026 | Covonia | 5.4K | 4.3% | 7 |
| May 2026 | Benylin | 4.4K | 3.5% | 8 |
| May 2026 | Beechams | 3.6K | 2.8% | 9 |
| Jun 2026 | Sudafed | 22.2K | 21.6% | 1 |
| Jun 2026 | Night Nurse | 18.1K | 17.6% | 2 |
| Jun 2026 | Lemsip | 14.8K | 14.4% | 3 |
| Jun 2026 | Olbas | 13K | 12.7% | 4 |
| Jun 2026 | Vicks | 12.3K | 12% | 5 |
| Jun 2026 | Strepsils | 12.1K | 11.8% | 6 |
| Jun 2026 | Benylin | 3.6K | 3.5% | 7 |
| Jun 2026 | Covonia | 3.6K | 3.5% | 8 |
| Jun 2026 | Beechams | 2.9K | 2.8% | 9 |
| Jul 2026 | Sudafed | 22.2K | 23.6% | 1 |
| Jul 2026 | Night Nurse | 18.1K | 19.3% | 2 |
| Jul 2026 | Lemsip | 12.1K | 12.9% | 3 |
| Jul 2026 | Strepsils | 12.1K | 12.9% | 4 |
| Jul 2026 | Olbas | 10.6K | 11.3% | 5 |
| Jul 2026 | Vicks | 10K | 10.6% | 6 |
| Jul 2026 | Covonia | 3.6K | 3.8% | 7 |
| Jul 2026 | Benylin | 2.9K | 3.1% | 8 |
| Jul 2026 | Beechams | 2.4K | 2.6% | 9 |
| Aug 2026 | Night Nurse | 27.1K | 24.8% | 1 |
| Aug 2026 | Sudafed | 22.2K | 20.3% | 2 |
| Aug 2026 | Lemsip | 14.8K | 13.6% | 3 |
| Aug 2026 | Vicks | 12.3K | 11.3% | 4 |
| Aug 2026 | Strepsils | 12.1K | 11.1% | 5 |
| Aug 2026 | Olbas | 10.6K | 9.7% | 6 |
| Aug 2026 | Benylin | 3.6K | 3.3% | 7 |
| Aug 2026 | Covonia | 3.6K | 3.3% | 8 |
| Aug 2026 | Beechams | 2.9K | 2.7% | 9 |
| Sep 2026 | Lemsip | 40.5K | 19.8% | 1 |
| Sep 2026 | Night Nurse | 40.5K | 19.8% | 2 |
| Sep 2026 | Sudafed | 33.1K | 16.2% | 3 |
| Sep 2026 | Olbas | 23.8K | 11.6% | 4 |
| Sep 2026 | Vicks | 23.5K | 11.5% | 5 |
| Sep 2026 | Strepsils | 22.2K | 10.8% | 6 |
| Sep 2026 | Covonia | 8.1K | 4% | 7 |
| Sep 2026 | Beechams | 6.6K | 3.2% | 8 |
| Sep 2026 | Benylin | 6.6K | 3.2% | 9 |

## What is being compared

- **Beechams**: Measured on the search term “beechams”.
- **Benylin**: Measured on the search term “benylin”.
- **Covonia**: Measured on the search term “covonia”.
- **Lemsip**: Measured on the search term “lemsip”.
- **Night Nurse**: Measured on the search term “night nurse”.
- **Olbas**: Measured on the search terms “olbas” and “olbas oil”, summed into one figure.
- **Strepsils**: Measured on the search term “strepsils”.
- **Sudafed**: Measured on the search term “sudafed”.
- **Vicks**: Measured on the search terms “vicks first defence” and “vicks vaporub”, summed into one figure.

- [Beechams](/demand/uk/brands/beechams)
- [Benylin](/demand/uk/brands/benylin)
- [Covonia](/demand/uk/brands/covonia)
- [Lemsip](/demand/uk/brands/lemsip)
- [Night Nurse](/demand/uk/brands/night-nurse)
- [Olbas](/demand/uk/brands/olbas)
- [Strepsils](/demand/uk/brands/strepsils)
- [Sudafed](/demand/uk/brands/sudafed)
- [Vicks](/demand/uk/brands/vicks)

## Methodology

- [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which brand is most popular in search among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom?

Lemsip and Night Nurse tie for the highest share of searches among cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom, at 19.8% each in September 2026.

## Cite this page

Brandwave. "Cold and flu brands in the United Kingdom: Which are searched most?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/uk/categories/uk-cold-and-flu-brands

This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/uk/categories/uk-cold-and-flu-brands. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.