Cough medicine is one of the most common over-the-counter, or OTC, medications used to reduce the frequency and severity of cough. According to FamilyDoctor.org, there are two type of OTC cough medications available: antitussives and expectorants....
Coughing is a reflex triggered by the presence of irritation or mucus in the lungs or respiratory tract. People cough because of infection, exposure of the lungs to irritants or the accidental inhalation of liquid or solid particles. Coughing can...
Even though most coughs go away on their own, a persistent cough is nagging and disruptive. Cough medicines are intended to reduce coughs related to respiratory tract infections. They are two kinds of cough medicine, each treating a different kind...
The primary reason for a doctor to prescribe a cough medicine with hydrocodone is to alleviate the chronic coughing that can accompany lung cancer. Athough hydrocodone is a narcotic with significant adverse effects---and even potential for...
When faced with an infant with a persistent cough, parents often feel desperate to find a remedy that will restore peace to the household. Such options are limited since a 2008 advisory from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that...
Over-the-counter an prescription medications should generally be avoided during pregnancy due to the potential risk to the fetus. A report published in the June 2003 "American Family Physician" by Drs. Ronald A. Black and Ashley Hill points out...
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,...
Cough medicines fill the shelves at drugstores and department stores because a cough associated with a cold or flu can be irritating. A cough is a constant reminder of feeling ill, and it can be annoying to friends, family members and co-workers....
A variety of pharmaceutical preparations are used in the treatment of coughs. The mechanisms by which cough medicines work vary according to the type of medication used. It is prudent to select cough medicines carefully, ensuring that the...
Garlic, either alone or in combination with other extracts, is a traditional treatment for a variety of ailments, including coughs. There is a wealth of anecdotal support for it use for both the common cold and the cough it causes.
Asthma is a chronic lung condition in which the lung's airways, namely the capillaries and bronchial tubes, become inflamed, narrowing and constricting the airways, and making it difficult for the asthma sufferer to breathe and absorb oxygen into...
According to StopMedicineAbuse.org, one in 10 kids and teens ages 12 through 17 have abused cough syrup or medicine. They turn to over-the-counter cough medicine as way to get high. The primary ingredient, dextromethorphan, works at combating...
During pregnancy a woman must consider the potential risk of taking certain drugs and compare it with the perceived benefit of the medication. Cough medicines may help alleviate the discomfort but many contain ingredients that can pose a risk to...
DM (or DXM) cough medicines contain a substance called dextromethorphan. Dextromethorphan (DM) is an antitussive that treats the symptoms of a cough by decreasing chemical activity in the area of the brain that causes coughing. Dextromethorphan...
Homemade cough medicine is a fairly common home remedy. The syrup is designed to soothe sore throats and quiet chest spasms, but you can also add some ingredients with expectorant properties if you have a deep, chesty cough. However, it is...
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...
Cold and cough medication can cause severe and even life-threatening side effects in children, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA warns parents not to give cough and cold medication to children younger than 2-years-old and...
A cough occurs as an involuntary reflex to protect the airways from foreign substances and excessive mucus. The airways contain tiny hair-like projections known as cilia. When the cilia become irritated, it stimulates the nerve endings and...
When a child has a cough, options are available for relief, including medications and natural remedies. When cough medicine is the best option, a parent can choose between two types: expectorants and suppressants. Knowing which type of cough...
Psychotropic effects are those that alter the perception, behavior or mood. Such effects include hallucinations, psychosis and central nervous system depression or stimulation. Dextromethorphan (DM or DXM), a cough suppressant commonly found in...
Coughing is one of the most recognizable symptoms of illness. It can also be one of the most annoying. Frequent coughing can irritate the throat, make the ribs sore and even be embarrassing. Coughing related to upper respiratory tract infections...
The symptoms of a cold can make a child feel very uncomfortable. Many parents are inclined to help their child feel better using cough and cold medicines. However, there is no evidence that over-the-counter cough medicines actually help children...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, parents should not give over-the-counter cough medicines to children younger than 4. Parents can teach their 3-year-old simple steps to avoid catching cold and cough, such as hand...
Many seemingly safe over-the-counter cough and cold products may be dangerous for people with high blood pressure, because they can raise blood pressure without causing symptoms. Therefore, it is very important to be selective when it comes to...
Vick's company has been producing medicines and rubs to remedy cold symptoms since the 19th century. Today, they have a comprehensive line of cold and sinus products. Vicks Formula 44D was introduced in the 1980s. It is a cough suppressant and...
There's not much you can do to cure a cold, but emedies can help make your illness easier to deal with. Honey is an effective cough-soother. You can take tablespoons of it right from the jar, or make a preparation with warm lemon water and a touch...
If you have a persistent cough, you may feel tempted to head to the pharmacy and pick up a cough suppressant medication. Cough suppressants contain ingredients to stop you from coughing but rarely treat the underlying cause. Cough medications are...
Coughing helps keep the throat and airways clear, according to the New York Times, but in the case of a persistent or painful cough, relief is often sought. Many different types of cough medicine can be bought without a prescription, and there are...
Having a cough can be frustrating enough, but when it keeps you awake at night causing you to lose much needed sleep, it can make the situation that much worse. Rather than opting for over-the-counter cough medicines that claim to suppress...
Coughing could be due to a cold or the flu, but the reason for a cough isn't always clear. Even your doctor may have trouble determining the exact cause. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments of a cough in this video.
