Coughs and colds
Cough medicine
The kind of cough you have will influence the kind of cough medicine you need.
A dry cough doesn't produce any phlegm and usually hurts the back of your throat. For dry coughs you'll need a suppressant. This works by stopping, or suppressing, your body's urge to cough.
Chesty coughs produce phlegm and the pain from coughing is usually in your chest. For this type of cough you'll need an expectorant, which works by making your body bring up the phlegm so you can get rid of it.
Decongestant
A decongestant clears a blocked nose and stuffy head. Some cough medicines contain it, but you can get it in nasal sprays and rub-on creams as well.
For both cough medicines and decongestants, drowsy and non-drowsy tablets are available. Check the label if you're unsure.
Throat lozenges (sweets)
Some throat sweets can help soothe a sore throat and stop a runny nose, like Lockets and Halls.
Others, like Strepsils, contain antiseptic and anaesthetic to cure sore throats, but also numb the pain.
Despite being called sweets, they're not, so don't take more than the daily amount.
Find out more about coughs and colds
Next: Read on for more information about medicines for pain, headaches and fever
Where next?
- More information about health conditions
- Kid's health
- Give your body its very own MOT with our health check
- Do you really need to see the doctor? Find out who else could help
- Old wives' tales? Fact or fiction
- Foods that are better than medicine
- When do I need antibiotics?
- Ten symptoms you should never ignore
- How well are you? Take our immune system quiz to find out
- Top tips for boosting your immune system
- Do you really need to see the doctor?
By Vicky Woollaston
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