Cough Medicine

Coughs comes in various strains and often reveal different symptoms depending on if it is a chesty cough or a dry cough.

The Dry, Tickly Cough is an unproductive virus, where the symptoms typically come without bronchial congestion. Instead, these types of coughs are aggravated as we breathe, causing a continuous and persistent cough that can be very painful if it is accompanied by a sore throat. To treat this type of cough, a simple linctus can be used containing glucose/glycerin, honey or lemon to soothe and coat the throat. Other medicines, known as "suppressants", contain active ingredients such as Pholcodine, Dextromethorphan and Codeine to reduce the cough reflex.

A Chesty Cough is a name usually given to viral bronchial congestion; A cough where mucus sits on the chest and the coughing up of phlegm are the most common symptoms. This will need treating with an expectorant which are used to loosen up the phlegm and clear the air ways. The ingredients often found in chesty cough medicines are; Guaifenesin, Ipecachuana and Ammonium Citrate.

Also on the Cough & Cold Market, are syrups containing antihistamines that act as decongestants and help to prevent mucus from running down the back of the throat. Antihistamines feature in Benylin for Chesty Coughs.

Please note: Coughs that produce phlegm that's rusty in colour or clearly reveals blood will need looking at by the doctor. Coughs caused by smoking or asthma will also need specific treatment, not a cold remedy.