Cough medicines: Dry coughs and all-in-one remedies
Medicine for dry coughs
There are two types of medicines for dry coughs: drowsy and non-drowsy.
'Medicines for a dry cough are called suppressants,' says Angela. 'Their aim is to stop the cough reflex and reduce any irritation.'
'Drowsy medicines are for night-time use and contain an antihistamine that will help you sleep. The active ingredient in dry cough medicines will be either pholcodeine or dextromethorpan - you can look on the pack to see which one your medicine uses.'
All-in-one remedies
You can find a lot of all-in-one remedies appearing on pharmacists' shelves. These aim to fight more than one symptom in the same tablet, such as a sore throat, headache and blocked nose.
'These are usually a mixture of paracetamol to fight the headache, glycerin to soothe your throat and a decongestant to clear a blocked nose called pseudoephedrine,' says Angela. 'Night-time remedies will also contain antihistamine to help you sleep.'
More help and advice
- What you need in your medicine cabinet
- Get the facts about the common cold
- Find out more about kids coughs and colds
- Got a tip to ease a cough? Tell us at goodtoknow
By Rob Mansfield
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Cough medicines: Dry coughs and all-in-one remedies
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