A cough is the body's natural response to irritation in the throat. Because most coughs will disappear without intervention, it is often best to avoid taking medication until the cause of the cough is evident. Cough medications are of no benefit in children under age 5, says Dr. Loren G. Yamamoto, and they are only mildly effective in older children and adults. A healthcare professional should be consulted before cough medicines are mixed with any other medications.
Dextromethorphan
The cough suppressant dextromethorphan, or DM, is frequently combined with the antihistamine chlorpheniramine to treat common cold symptoms such as coughs, sneezing, itching, watery eyes and a runny nose. Both drugs are included in commercial remedies sold under the brand names of Coricidin, Dimetapp, Robitussin and Triaminic. A timed-release form of dextromethorphan, available under the brand name Delsym, requires dosing every 12 hours. According to Drugs.com, artificially sweetened forms of cough medicine may contain phenylalanine, an essential amino acid that may be harmful to some people. Dextromethorphan and chlorpheniramine are contraindicated for people with glaucoma, diabetes, chronic bronchitis and heart, liver and kidney disease, according to Drugs.com.
Natural Remedies
Holistic health professionals assert that numerous natural ingredients may effectively treat a cough. For young children or adults who wish to avoid synthetic cough suppressants, chamomile or aloe tea may be an acceptable alternative, according to GrannyMed.com. A concoction of 1/4 tsp. ground ginger, 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper, 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp. honey and 2 tbsp. water is a well-known natural cough suppressant. According to Bonnie K. McMillen, R.N, B.S.N., College Health Nurse at the University of Pittsburgh, 3 tsp. of the syrup before bedtime effectively soothes a dry, hacking cough and enables a good night's sleep. Because aloe, ginger and cayenne may interfere with prescription and over-the-counter medications, it is important to consult with a healthcare provider before self-medicating. Due to the risk of botulism, children under the age of 1 should not be given honey in any form.
Considerations
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, studies do not support the effectiveness of over-the-counter cough medicines. While DM mixed with small doses of codeine are somewhat effective for treating lower respiratory infections, combinations of cough suppressants and expectorants are not efficacious. Prescription cough medications that contain the narcotics codeine or hydrocodone are available by prescription only, but their use requires close supervision by the prescribing physician. As of 2010, concerns about the abuse and lethal side effects of over-the-counter cough medications continue to exist among medical care providers. However, a request by the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency to restrict access to over-the-counter cough remedies was rejected by the Food and Drug Administration. The UMMC points out that hard candies or herbal lozenges work just as well as throat lozenges containing minimal amounts of cough suppressant. People should use a humidifier and stay hydrated rather than take medications to suppress coughs producing mucus or phlegm. Most importantly, according to UMMC, any cough that lasts longer than three weeks may be an indication of pneumonia or another serious illness and should be diagnosed by a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
