Few things will get a person tossed out of a violin recital quicker than the inability to suppress a cough. For those who harbor a disdain for classical music, this may be viewed as one of the advantages of having a cough. For most folks, however, hacking like a cat with a hairball is a phenomenon that is best suppressed. Cough medicine types seek to serve that express purpose. A number of different pharmaceutical concoctions are available for addressing a cough.
Antitussives
Antitussive medicines are also referred to as cough suppressants. These medications block the cough reflex, according to FamilyDoctor.org.
The popular antitussive, dextromethorphan, is present in many over-the-counter cough medications currently available on the market. It affects the brain impulses that trigger coughing, but is not effective in suppressing coughs due to smoking, asthma or emphysema. Antitussives are most useful in treating dry, non-mucus producing coughs, and they should not be given to children younger than age 6 due to concerns regarding general effectiveness and dangerous side effects.
Expectorants
MedlinePlus explains that expectorant cough medicines function by loosening phlegm, thus allowing it to be coughed up and removed from the body. Mucinex is an expectorant containing the active ingredient guaifenesin. It loosens phlegm and thins secretions from the lungs to allow them to be more readily expectorated.
Expectorants are useful in relieving chronic smoker's cough, as well as cough due to asthma, bronchitis or emphysema, according to Drugs.com.
Decongestants
Decongestants are used to treat underlying conditions that may cause cough, such as post-nasal drip. They function by opening up the clogged nasal passages to facilitate easier breathing. Medications sometimes combine decongestants, antihistamines, antitussives and/or pain relievers in order to achieve a comprehensive cough and cold relieving effect. FamilyDoctor.org warns, however, that the drying effects of antihistamines and decongestants can thicken mucus and make the process of clearing the airways more difficult.
Antihistamines
If a cough is due to allergy, antihistamines may help. These medications counteract the effects of histamines, which are substances released by the immune system in response to exposure to an allergen. Histamines increase blood vessel permeability and allow fluids and white blood cells to leave the blood vessels and flow out into the affected tissues, thus causing the runny nose and mucus production associated with allergies, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center
