Do any cough medicines work?

Ah, the dreaded cough. It’s like your lungs decided to start tap dancing just for fun. You may have tried everything from hot tea to honey and lemon with no success in suppressing it. It’s time to ask yourself: do any cough medicines actually work? Let’s dive into some options.

Traditional Cough Medicines

These are the ones that you can usually find at your local drugstore without a prescription. They come in different flavors, because who wouldn’t want their medicine to taste like cherries or strawberries?

Dextromethorphan (DM)

This is a medication that works on your brainstem so you don’t feel the urge to cough as much. Don’t try memorizing its name, pronouncing it alone will make you look smarter.

  • It’s good for dry/dry hacking coughs.
  • Common brands include Robitussin and Dayquil.
  • Too much DM can cause hallucinations, which might make watching paint dry more exciting than usual.

Diphenhydramine (DPH)

DPH is an antihistamine that causes drowsiness which makes it perfect if you need help sleeping while dealing with a cold or flu. Ah sleep… where dreams come true!

  • Works best when there are symptoms of sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes along with the pesky cough.
  • As soon as we see those 5 syllables in front of us “Dip-hen-hy-dra-mine“, our bodies involuntarily get ready for bed instantly.

Natural Remedies

If manufactured medications aren’t doing anything for you, natural remedies may be worth trying out especially because some people prefer going all-natural instead of popping pills.

Honey

A spoonful of honey also serves as tasty nutrition – not just something delicious! If your throat has been feeling funny, honey might be worth a try.

  • Honey can reduce the frequency and severity of coughing.
  • It works by soothing irritation in your throat that could cause you to cough more frequently. Plus, what’s better than natural oral care?

Elderberry

When it comes to harsh symptoms like colds and flu, this fruit has been used for centuries to help reduce them. However, there is no scientific evidence that supports the effectiveness of elderberry syrup as an antiviral or immune booster but some people swear by it!

Cough Suppressant Candy (AKA “Lollypops”)

Some say they are only good if you crave something sweet that lasts for several minutes while also suppressing a cough.

Pine Brothers Throat Drops

These cute little drops come with a variety of flavors such as cherry and sage which were all introduced way back in 1870! You know thin scroll mustaches were trendy back then too…

  • Call us nostalgic when we see their vintage packaging:
    Pine Bros Packaging Image

People who use these say they’re not that effective in stopping persistent tickling caused by our dear old friendly enemy Mister Cough.

More Home Remedies

Here are some less conventional options…

Vicks VaporRub on Your Feet

We’re not making this up – some believe rubbing Vicks on their feet will stop any aggressive coughs from rearing their ugly heads again!

  • There’s only anecdotal evidence online about how well this option works.
  • On the bright side, your toes will smell minty fresh!

The Bottom Line:

Ultimately whether cough medicine worked or didn’t depends on your personal preferences and specific circumstances. Some may prefer over-the-counter remedies while others opt for natural remedies instead. Regardless of which path you take just remember: Many medicines don’t work, fewer work after we say their names with a thick British accent.

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