Marion Sereti
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We at Hyfe, Inc., are a company devoted to working on tools to better understand the importance of cough. It is Hyfe’s intention in the future to seek regulatory approval for medical products that analyze cough in order that they may be used to diagnose, monitor, and facilitate better treatment of respiratory illnesses.
Everyone coughs; it is the most effective way for your body to eliminate allergens, irritants, mucus, pollen, and phlegm from the respiratory system. Coughs tend to go away on their own after a few days, but if one continues to stick around after a week or two, you might need some help to get rid of it. Here's an overview of various types of cough medicine you should know about.
Cough suppressants, as the name suggests, are medicines that control and reduce coughing; they are also known as antitussives.
Antitussives are thought to work by blocking/disrupting the cough reflex by directly working on the central nervous system1, although the specific location and mechanism of their action varies depending on the type of drug and some affect the nervous system in more than one way2. These medicines relieve the cough symptom but do not treat the cause of the cough or speed up recovery.
Antitussives are only recommended for dry, irritating coughs that do not involve mucus production. Using cough suppressants for treating a cough related to smoking, long-term bronchial problems, or acute infection is not advised because suppressing these productive (mucus-producing) coughs may be detrimental as they are the mechanism by which the body rids itself of the infected material.
Most suppressants are derived from opioids3 (a class of pain-relieving drugs), and they include:
Find out more on cough syrups here.
Peppermint contains mentho4l, which soothes nerves in the throat made sore by coughing. As a result, it can help ease discomfort and reduce the desire to cough. Additionally, it has been found to have antiviral and antibacterial properties5, which help your body fight any infection.
Natural cough medicines use:
You are probably thinking about the soft, sweet candy. Unfortunately, marshmallows can’t treat a cough! What we mean is the plant marshmallow, Althaea officinalis6, a perennial that blooms in the summer. People have known and used its roots and leaves to suppress coughs and treat sore throats for a long time.
Studies have shown that7 this herb is one of the best cough medicines. It contains mucilage that soothes irritation and coats the throat. Thanks to its antibacterial properties, it can prevent your cough from coming back.
Natural cough medicines use:
An expectorant is a cough medicine for clearing mucus (phlegm) from your airways.
Expectorants work by lubricating your airway, which helps thin the secretions in your airway and loosens up mucus. Through this, expectorants make your cough more productive. This makes it easier for you to cough up mucus effectively and clear your throat.
A great example is guaifenesin9 – this is the most commonly used expectorant and the only expectorant approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be sold over the counter.
The most common brand names are Mucinex® and Robitussin®.
It is also found as an ingredient in many common cough, cold, and flu medications.
Natural expectorants are another option if you're trying to loosen up mucus and relieve chest congestion without drugs. Natural expectorants include:
Bromelain is an enzyme distilled from pineapple stems10. It can loosen the mucus in the back of your throat and suppress coughs.
Natural cough medicines use:
Thyme can help treat a handful of different respiratory diseases. When the essence extracted from thyme leaves is mixed with the same from ivy, the mixture becomes a good cough medicine12 that can also treat short-term bronchitis.
This is likely because plant's leaves contain flavonoids, which are compounds that can relax the throat muscles that, cause coughing, and ease inflammation.
Natural cough medicines use:
Additionally, simply staying hydrated will help your body continue producing the mucus to cough out the infection.
A decongestant is a type of cough medicine designed to constrict the nasal blood vessels and reduce the size of the inflamed passages in the nasal cavity. Colds or severe allergic reactions often bring on this inflammation.
Decongestants work by narrowing the small blood vessels in your nose, throat, and sinuses, reducing nasal secretions and the thickness of the lining of your nose. Hence, the medication improves the blocked-up feeling.
They are available as saline drops, nasal sprays, tablets, capsules, and syrup.
Almost all decongestant medications are based around epinephrine or pseudoepinephrine.
Epinephrine is most well known for being used to treat anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that poses a serious risk to one's life. It does this by interacting with the body’s central nervous system to reduce its immune and allergy response by stimulating the fight-or-flight response. Pseudoepinephrine is a different chemical with a similar effect.
Part of this effect is the constriction of blood vessels. This is what gives epinephrine and pseudoepineprhine their decongestant ability – the blood vessels in the nose become temporarily smaller, meaning the nasal cavity can be wider and allow more air through.
Additionally, there are several natural ways to treat nasal congestion. For example:
Though this may sound simple, it's one of the best natural decongestants out there, mainly because it's easy to make.
You’ve just got to spray it up your nose.
This is nasal irrigation or saline irrigation16. It removes excess mucus from your nose and helps soften and wash out crusts. This makes it easier to breathe by clearing out your nasal cavity. It also moisturises the inside of your nose, which will additionally help decongest it if it is swollen due to being dry.
Natural cough medicines use:
When you are feeling under the weather, many different hot drinks can be soothing and make you feel better. A good cup of tea or a lemon and ginger infusion is calming and comforting. Additionally, hot drinks also work as natural decongestants17.
Curcumin, one of the chemicals naturally present in turmeric, is an anti-inflammatory. It works as a decongestant by reducing the inflammation in the nose18, opening up the nasal cavity to better air flow.
Natural cough medicine use:
Simple steam19 can help loosen the mucus and crust in your nose, which can make it easier to breathe. This is similar to nasal irrigation, but you don’t need to pour hot water into your nose.
Natural cough medicine use:
Antihistamines are cough medicines used to dry up a runny nose or reduce sneezing caused by allergies. Examples are brompheniramine, chlorphenamine, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, promethazine, or triprolidine.
Antihistamines reduce your body’s allergic reactions of a runny nose and watery eyes by blocking the receptors of the histamine chemical, i.e. the chemical your body releases when triggered by an allergy.
Certain types of antihistamines can relieve a chronic cough20 – if you have a long-term cough, consider talking to your doctor about whether antihistamines may relieve your cough.
Topical cough medicines are ointments made of ingredients containing camphor, menthol, or eucalyptus oil. They are often rubbed on the chest, throat, or back to get relief from cough and cold. Their strong-smelling vapors may ease your cough and open up your stuffy head.
The most widely known example of a topical cough medicine is the Vicks VaporRub21.
While there is not enough evidence to prove the effectiveness of these medicines some evidence suggests that it helps improve sleep22.
You can get also these topical medicines in liquid form to use with a vaporizer (a gadget that makes steam you can breathe in). Menthol is also available in lozenges and compressed tablets.
Combination medicine includes other products to ease other symptoms. Therefore, you can choose a cough medicine that matches all of your symptoms.
For instance, many over-the-counter treatments mix the following:
The blend can be a great thing on the off chance you have a run of cold side effects, like body throbs, pain, and congestion.
Medicines are designed to be used in the diagnosis, treatment, alleviation, or prevention of disease. Perhaps your biggest worry is how to acquire the medication you need.
Suppose you have ever taken a few laps to a nearby pharmacy. In that case, you will realize that they sometimes ask you, ”Do you have a prescription?” and sometimes they just give a particular medicine to you without further questioning.
So you can be more informed the next time, here are the primary distinctions between prescription medications and over-the-counter medicines.
Prescription medicine can only be given to a patient on the written orders of a licensed healthcare provider at a pharmacy. This type of medication is authorized for and designed for one person only.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines can be sold directly to people without a prescription, also referred to as nonprescription medicine.
OTC medicines are bought at stores off the shelf.OTC medicines are regulated by the FDA using OTC Drug monographs. Monographs describe permissible components, doses, formulations, and labeling.
Concerns24 about the safety, efficacy and use25 of over-the-counter cough and cold medications have led to a recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration public health advisory against administering them to children under two years of age.
While OTC medicines are generally safe, children should only take cough syrups with no active ingredients26 - for example, glycerin, honey, and lemon. Check with your health care provider for remedies for specific symptoms.
Codeine is banned for all children under the age of 12 and teenagers between the ages of 12–18 who have additional risk factors that could make them more susceptible to its potential breathing suppression effects
Children under 16 should not use aspirin unless a doctor has specifically prescribed it.
Always read the label carefully – upon purchase of an OTC medicine, the FDA advises27 reading the label carefully so that you understand how to take it, typical side effects, and any warnings you need to be aware of.
Don't just grab any bottle with "cough" written on it.
Always check with your pharmacist when buying any cough medications from the chemist or supermarket to see if they are safe to take with any other medications you'll be taking.
You can also use the Interaction Checker on drugs.com.
Several cough medications contain the same active ingredients. Imagine a particular drug has pain relievers, so if you are taking these medicines and are also taking a separate cough medicine that contains the same pain reliever, you could be getting a dangerous amount of the pain reliever.
In fact, the United States FDA warns28 against combining opioid29 pain or cough medicines with benzodiazepines as they pose serious risks and death.
So, If you are taking any other medicines or are unsure if you should take cough medicine, check with your pharmacist.
Many viral coughs are best treated by taking good care of your health and preventing yourself from developing a cough through increasing fluid intake and exposing the airways to humidity. If you do develop a cough, using several natural solutions can offer relief, especially when used alongside medication. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications can assist in temporarily relieving symptoms while your body fights the infection.
If symptoms persist, always seek medical help.
ReferencesMarion is a freelance health and wellness writer with a passion for all things digital health. She loves diving deep into the latest research and trends in the industry and distilling them down into fun, relatable pieces that people can relate to. Whether you're a health nut or a tech geek, she is always looking for new and interesting ways to help readers access quality and evidence-based information.