What Is The Best Cough Medicine?

Best Prescription Cough Medicine? Best Over The Counter Cough Medicine?

 To answer to the question, "What's the best cough medicine" you have to know what kind of cough you have and what's causing it. Cough medicine comes in a variety of forms, types and brands. This article will focus on helping you identify what is the best cough medicine for your cough. This article will also explain how your doctor will decide on the best prescription cough medicine for you. We'll also investigate what might be the best over the counter cough medicine you can get without a prescription. 

Best prescription cough medicine  Medicine containing codeine and its variations are the generally considered to be the best prescription cough medicine. Codeine cough medicine is effective in helping most people stop coughing. But prescription cough medicine must be used carefully because it often contains narcotic or addictive ingredients.

Many people who have a bad cough expect their doctor to recommend antibiotics. But antibiotics are definitely not the best prescription cough medicine for you if your cough isn't caused by bacteria. If you have a viral-based cough, antibiotics are useless because they don't work with viruses and viral infections.

Antibiotics are not the best prescription for allergies either, because allergies are not caused by bacteria.

What's the best over the counter cough medicine? There are many over the counter or OTC cough medicines, and of course these can be obtained without a prescription. There are two general types:

1. antitussives and
2. expectorants.

Antitussives work best to suppress your cough. You're probably familiar with brand names of these cough medicines: Triaminic Cold & Cough, Robitussin Maximum Strength, and Vicks 44 Cough Relief. These are all antitussives.

Expectorant cough medicine is best at thinning the mucus that gets into the airways and triggers the cough. You'll still cough, but you'll probably cough less because you'll be able to expel mucus more often and more efficiently. This reduces the amount of "tickling" in your throat.

Brands of cough medicine available over the counter Only one expectorant cough medicine compound is available over-the counter. Its called guaifenesin, and it's generally known by its two popular brand names, Mucinex and Robitussin. Many people believe these to be the best over the counter cough medicine.

Guaifenesin cough medicine is sometimes combined with Dextromethorphan (brand name: Robitussin DM) to help relieve other symptoms that often accompany a cough. Multi-symptom cold medicines are a good example because they often include pain relievers, decongestants or antihistamines.

Be careful of multi-symptom products however if your main problem is a cough. Antihistamines and decongestants have a drying effect, so they can actually make mucus harder to expel. Your cough only gets worse.

Many of the best over the counter cough medicines are available in bulk at exceptionally low prices online. Click on best cough medicines for more information.

Cough medicine abuse Finally, be aware that there are often ingredients in cough medicines that, taken in sufficient quantity, can cause a "high" or sense of euphoria. Cough medicine abuse by teenagers has become a growing problem in the United States.

There are some safety tips that are important to remember no matter what kind of cough medicine is best for you.

Be sure not to take more than the recommended dosage. In this case, more is definitely not better.

Always check labels for ingredients because all medicines, even those you can get over the counter. They may have side effects. Many cough medicines can make you drowsy or listless. They may also cause bad reactions if they don't interact well with other medicines you might be taking. Allergic reactions are also possible. Be especially careful not to take two medicines that contain the same active ingredient.