Match Cough Formula With Symptoms
It begins as a quiet, tiny tickle in your throat and, if you’re really unlucky, progresses to a loud, rib-racking, temple-pounding hack that makes you persona non grata in movie theaters.
“I’ve seen lots of patients with coughs recently,” says Dr. Paul B. Haberman, director of respiratory therapy for St. John’s Hospital and Health Center, Santa Monica. He’s not sure, though, if the number of coughing patients is any higher than usual for this time of year--traditionally considered cough season.
“Coughing should be a defense mechanism to clean things from the windpipe,” Haberman says. “But sometimes it’s a response to irritation--there is nothing there to cough away.” Coughs often accompany colds but may also be a response to allergens or smog.
Some coughs accompany asthma, pneumonia or chronic bronchitis; others are symptoms of such serious illnesses as lung cancer. Coughs can be wet (the kind that produces phlegm) or dry. Dry coughs can be just as serious as wet ones.
Many consumers first try to self-treat their coughs. There’s nothing wrong with that, say most experts, who suggest reading labels carefully.
Many cough syrups contain an expectorant (like guaifenesin and a suppressant (like dextromethorphan), says Fred Weissman, a USC associate professor of clinical pharmacy. “The expectorant helps bring up phlegm; the suppressant suppresses the activity of the cough.” To counteract allergic reactions, some cough remedies have antihistamines (like chlorpheniramine). And some formulas contain epinephrine-type drugs (like phenylpropanolamine to help dry up wetness.
How to pick the best formula for you? Describe your cough and other symptoms to the pharmacist, Weissman suggests. Let him or her decide if you need a cough remedy with just one or two ingredients or the whole arsenal.
When should you give up on home remedies? Your decision should be based more on the severity of the cough than on its duration. “It’s not uncommon to cough for a month,” Haberman says, “but if your cough gets worse after, say, a week, something’s wrong.” If a cough seems out of the ordinary, if your condition deteriorates or if you have other symptoms, like a fever, it’s wise to call the doctor, Haberman says.
For very bad coughs, a prescription cough remedy may help. Many contain codeine, which effectively calms coughs, but sometimes at a price. Among the side effects of the codeine syrups are dizziness, dry mouth and upset stomach, Weissman says.
