A dry cough results from a variety of conditions including infections, allergies, smoking and as a side effect of a blood pressure medications called ACE inhibitors. Recurrent or persistent dry cough should be evaluated by a physician. In the meantime, try treating a dry cough with a combination of home remedies and over-the-counter medications.
Modify Your Environment
Step 1
Add a humidifier to moisten the air. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the tiny drops of water that a humidifier introduces make it easier for a person with a dry cough to breathe.
Step 2
Keep the room comfortably cool and maintain fresh air flow. Open a window and use a fan in a stuffy room.
Step 3
Stop smoking, if applicable. Encourage household contacts to do the same. At the very least, they should refrain from smoking in the house or outside near doors and windows.
Step 4
Eliminate odors and irritants. If you have pets, ask a friend or family member to assist you with vacuuming hair and dander, at least in the bed or sick room. Discourage household contacts from using perfumes, aerosol sprays or other suspected irritants, at least until symptoms subside.
Try Home Remedies
Step 1
Rest. Sometimes dry cough subsides with sleep or decreased physical activity.
Step 2
Suck on a hard candy or lozenge. The CDC recommends this option for adults only due to the risk of choking in children.
Step 3
Drink fluids. Cool liquids can soothe irritated airways and replace fluids lost in respiratory secretions.
Consider Over-the-Counter Medications
Step 1
Ask your pharmacist for a recommendation. The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests brands that contain the active ingredient dextromethorphan, which quells the cough reflex. Examples include Triaminic Cold and Cough, Robitussin Cough and Vicks 44 Cough and Cold.
Step 2
Try acetaminophen- or ibuprofen-containing products for pain caused by dry cough or other symptoms such as fever or headache. Brand names include Tylenol, Advil and Motrin.
Step 3
Use over-the-counter medications only as directed by the package instructions or by a physician. Cough suppressants can cause side effects such as irritability, dizziness and sleepiness, especially in the elderly and people with certain kinds of medical problems. Pain relievers can cause liver, kidney and stomach problems, especially with prolonged use.
Tips and Warnings
- Pay attention to what makes dry cough disappear. In the case of recurrent or persistent dry cough, this information can contribute to correct diagnosis.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics says you should never give aspirin or aspirin-containing products to a child younger than 19 with an infection due to the risk of a neurological disease called Reye Syndrome.
Things You'll Need
- Humidifier
- Fan
- Vacuum
- Hard candies or lozenges
- Cold drinks
- Ice (optional)
- Over-the-counter cough suppressant
- Over-the-counter pain medication
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