What type of medicine for which type of cough?

Question

I've had a bad cold recently and I've been taking a decongestant (Beechams)... it's taken a while but my fevers finally gone down and my throat, head and ears are much better... but now I've an awful tickly cough (sometimes phlegmy) and it's constant, particularly at night.

Should I stop taking the beechams now (even though my blocked nose and head aren't totally clear) because I got told that taking a decongestant worsens this type of cough?

Would be really grateful for any help, I'm so worn out and tired, can't sleep.

Answer 1

I'm sorry you haven't fully recovered from your cold. Hopefully these might help you.

You should try MUCINEX: cough, this should help you cough out the phlegm (mucus). Try taking this medication before you sleep so it can "kick in".

Or try Robitussin: cough DM, this should help too but MUCINEX usually works the best when facing a phlegmy cough.

For your stuffy nose I recommend you to take DIMETAPP: cold and allergy.

Actually if you were to take ROBITUSSIN: cough, cold, and flu, it could probably help everything all at once, no need to take multiple medication to take care of all the discomforts.

Answer 2

The two most common ingredients in cough syrup are guaifenesin (an expectorant to move phlegm) and dextomethorphan (aka DM - a cough suppressant).  Check the ingredient list on your type of syrup. If it contains DM, then you are okay to continue with using it to supress your cough at night. Anesthetic throat lozenges may also help suppress the 'tickle' sensation.

As can dark chocolate: Recent studies have found that theobromine, a compound found in cacao, is more effective as a cough suppressant than prescription codeine. This compound suppresses the "itch" signal from the nerve in the back of the throat that causes the cough reflex. It is possible to get an effective dose (1 g, though 0.5 g may be sufficient, according to PMID 15548587) from 50g of dark chocolate, which contains 2 to 10 times more cacao than milk chocolate.

Answer 3

what your taking seems good?

If you can get a mild opioid it would help you rest since they inhibit the cough reflex.