Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypes of OTC MedicineConsiderationsWhen to Call a ProviderHome Remedies
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types of OTC Medicine
Considerations
When to Call a Provider
Home Remedies
There are many over-the-counter (OTC) medicines adults can use to treat a cough, including syrups, lozenges, sprays, and capsules. With awet, productive cough, you want to be able to clear some of the fluid and mucus from your airways rather than trying to suppress a cough.
An expectorant is helpful if you’re treating a productive cough, but a suppressant is the better option for a dry cough. Each has a different mechanism of action. The “best” cough medicine is ultimately based on thetype of coughyou have, as well as evaluation of possible side effects.
Types of Over-the-Counter Cough Medicines
Over-the-counter cough medicines can help to relieve symptoms in different ways. They include:
Cough Suppressants
Cough suppressants, also known asantitussives, are a class of drugs that act on the brain to suppress the cough reflex.
There is one OTC antitussive approved for use in the United States calleddextromethorphan. It is most commonly sold as a syrup but can be found as capsules and lozenges.
Dextromethorphan is the active ingredient in single-symptom medications such as:
Despite their popularity, a growing body of research suggests that cough suppressants aren’t particularly effective, especially inchildren’s medications.Dextromethorphan can also cause significant and sometimes intolerable side effects, including:
Do You Need a Cough Suppressant?If you have aproductive (‘wet") cough, it is usually more beneficial to cough mucus out of your lungs rather than trying to suppress a cough. Speak to your healthcare provider if you have a “chesty” or “rattling” cough to ensure you are getting the right treatment.
Do You Need a Cough Suppressant?
If you have aproductive (‘wet") cough, it is usually more beneficial to cough mucus out of your lungs rather than trying to suppress a cough. Speak to your healthcare provider if you have a “chesty” or “rattling” cough to ensure you are getting the right treatment.
Robitussin vs. Mucinex: How Do They Compare?
Expectorants
An expectorant is a type of drug that breaks up and thins respiratorymucusso that it is easier to cough up. An expectorant is used when you have a productive (“wet”) cough with stubborn or heavy mucus, rather than anon-productive (“dry”) cough.
Guaifenesin is the only expectorant approved for use in the United States. As a single-symptom remedy, it can be found over the counter as:
These medicines are sold as either immediate-release tablets taken every four hours or sustained-release tablets taken every 12 hours. Side effects are relatively mild and may include:
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Combination Medicines
Dextromethorphan and guaifenesin are often combined into multi-symptom cough formulas, most often as syrups or capsules.
Additional drugs may be added to the formula to help ease accompanying symptoms, including:
There are many multi-symptom cold & cough formulas found on pharmacy and grocery store shelves:
As a general rule, find the formula that treats your symptoms. Taking unnecessary drugs increases your risk of side effects. Examples include:
Avoid OverdosingWhen taking a multi-symptom cough formula, check the product label for all the ingredients it contains. This will help you avoidoverdosingif you take another OTC medicine with the same ingredient.
Avoid Overdosing
When taking a multi-symptom cough formula, check the product label for all the ingredients it contains. This will help you avoidoverdosingif you take another OTC medicine with the same ingredient.
Risks and Considerations
Cough medicines are generally safe but aren’t appropriate for everyone. There are certain people for whom the drugs may pose certain health risks.
Guaifenesin should also be used with caution in people with severe asthma or COPD unless under the supervision of a healthcare provider.
The American Academy of Family Physicians advises against OTC cough medicines for children under 6 due to the risk of accidental poisoning. These drugs have not been proven to be particularly effective in young children.
Dangers of Cough Medicines in Kids
When to Call a Healthcare Provider
Seek immediate medical care if you have a cough and develop these signs and symptoms:
Home Remedies for Cough
Whether you’re avoiding cough medicines or need more relief than they offer, these tips may help alleviate your cough:
How Do Cough Drops Work?
Summary
Cough medicines for adults include cough suppressants, expectorants, and multi-symptom cough formula.
Dextromethorphan is the suppressant used in OTC remedies that acts on the brain to suppress the cough reflex. Guaifenesin is the OTC expectorant that thins mucus so you can cough it up. These drugs can be co-formulated in multi-symptom remedies along with antihistamines, decongestants, and pain relievers.
Cough medicines should not be used in children under 6 years.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Dextromethorphan.Wark P.Bronchitis (acute).BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;2015:1508.MedlinePlus.Guaifenesin.National Capital Poison Center: Poison Control.Cough and cold medicine safety.American Academy of Family Physicians.OTC cough and cold medicines and my child.American Lung Association.Learn about cough.Kaiser Permanente.Relieving a cough.Seattle Children’s Hospital.Coughs: Meds or home remedies?Penn Medicine.Cough.Williams, Daily & Frazier Dental.The Science Behind Salt Water Rinses for Your Mouth.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Dextromethorphan.Wark P.Bronchitis (acute).BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;2015:1508.MedlinePlus.Guaifenesin.National Capital Poison Center: Poison Control.Cough and cold medicine safety.American Academy of Family Physicians.OTC cough and cold medicines and my child.American Lung Association.Learn about cough.Kaiser Permanente.Relieving a cough.Seattle Children’s Hospital.Coughs: Meds or home remedies?Penn Medicine.Cough.Williams, Daily & Frazier Dental.The Science Behind Salt Water Rinses for Your Mouth.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Dextromethorphan.Wark P.Bronchitis (acute).BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;2015:1508.MedlinePlus.Guaifenesin.National Capital Poison Center: Poison Control.Cough and cold medicine safety.American Academy of Family Physicians.OTC cough and cold medicines and my child.American Lung Association.Learn about cough.Kaiser Permanente.Relieving a cough.Seattle Children’s Hospital.Coughs: Meds or home remedies?Penn Medicine.Cough.Williams, Daily & Frazier Dental.The Science Behind Salt Water Rinses for Your Mouth.
MedlinePlus.Dextromethorphan.
Wark P.Bronchitis (acute).BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;2015:1508.
MedlinePlus.Guaifenesin.
National Capital Poison Center: Poison Control.Cough and cold medicine safety.
American Academy of Family Physicians.OTC cough and cold medicines and my child.
American Lung Association.Learn about cough.
Kaiser Permanente.Relieving a cough.
Seattle Children’s Hospital.Coughs: Meds or home remedies?
Penn Medicine.Cough.
Williams, Daily & Frazier Dental.The Science Behind Salt Water Rinses for Your Mouth.
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