What's The Best Cough Treatment?

Treating A Cough

The answer to the question, "What's the best cough treatment" to help you stop coughing depends on the type of cough you have. Cough treatment can come in a number of different forms, and one is not necessarily as good as another. The goal of this article is to help you determine the best cough treatment for you by listing and describing your options for treating a cough.

Since coughing is fairly common when you have "the sniffles," you don't always need your doctor's advice on what to do to stop coughing. But if you have a persistent cough that lasts more than a few days (or a chronic cough that lasts even longer), it's time to talk to get professional help. After making a diagnosis, your doctor may recommend treating a cough with one of many prescription or over-the counter medications.

There are also a number of cough drops and cough syrups that may be hep you stop coughing. And of course, there may be some tried and true home cough remedies that could bring relief. We'll cover some of the most common, popular and best cough treatment possibilities in more detail below.

Over-the-counter and prescription cough medicines Many types of cough medicine are designed for suppressing or treating a cough. However, they work in different ways, and much depends on the cause, type, and severity of your cough.
 
Codeine is a often considered the best cough treatment and is effective for almost everyone. Codeine is the most powerful cough suppressant known because it works through direct action on the brain. It also slows down respiration. But you have to be careful with codeine because it sometimes contains addictive or narcotic ingredients.

Many people ask their doctor about treating a cough with antibiotics. However, not all coughs are caused by bacteria, so antibiotics don't work if your cough is caused by a virus. Antibiotics generally don't help with allergies either.

There are two general types of over-the-counter cough medicines used for treating a cough: antitussives and expectorants.

Antitussives help you stop coughing by suppressing your urge to cough. They work well when you have a dry, or "non-productive" cough (meaning that no mucus or phlegm is being produced). The popular antitussives include brand names like Triaminic Cold & Cough, Robitussin Maximum Strength, and Vicks 44 Cough Relief.

Expectorants are used to a "wet" or "productive" cough. Expectorants work by thinning the mucus that "gunks up" your airways and causes the "tickle" that makes you cough. This makes the mucus easier to expel and helps you stop coughing sooner. If you have less mucus, you cough less often.

There's only one type of expectorant available over the counter, and it's called guaifenesin. There are two well-known brand names: Mucinex and Robitussin.

There are also a number of multi-symptom cold medicines that include pain relievers, decongestants or antihistamines. Be careful with these because ingredients that relieve one symptom may actually aggravate another.

What is the best cough syrup? Brands of cough syrups that contain codeine are generally considered to be the best cough syrup. Generally speaking, cough syrups with codeine are only available by prescription. However, in some states you can buy up to 4 fl.oz of cough syrup with codeine per 48 hours without a prescription. Your pharmacist will know the laws about cough syrup and codeine in your state.

Codeine cough syrup may cause side effects including nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, dry mouth and constipation and even depression. Some people are also allergic and may experience skin rashes or swelling.

Many non-prescription cough syrups are available online. Click here to learn more about specific brands.

What are the best cough drops? Cough drops are appropriate when you have a mild cough. Cough drops often contain a small amount of benzocaine (a mild anesthetic), eucalyptus oil (with helps with congestion) or zinc gluconate glycine which may help inflammation. Generally, cough drops provide only temporary relief. Click on types of cough drops for specific product information.

Treating a cough with home remedies There are many traditional home remedies that can be used for treating a cough. Some which have been practiced for years actually help you stop coughing. Others fit more in the realm of urban legend and myth. It's always best to do some research on your own, along with getting advice from your doctor or pharmacist.

We have a separate article dedicated to home remedies. To learn more, click on home cough remedies.