Effective Cough Medicine for Different Types of Cough

Different types of cough require different types of treatment and medication. Knowing the type you are experiencing is the key to identifying the kind of medical intervention you need.

Regardless of whether you have a dry and itchy cough, cough with phlegm or chesty cough, or chronic cough, you probably already know how disruptive the symptoms can be. Understanding the specific type you’re experiencing is crucial to identifying the right cough medicine, remedies, and treatments you need.

Dry and Itchy Cough

A dry and itchy cough is characterized by a tickling or itchy sensation in the throat—unaccompanied by mucus—which triggers coughing. It is usually. It is usually caused by irritation in the throat or airways¹ due to:

• Allergens like pet dander, dust, or pollen
• Viral infections like a cold or a flu
• Irritants like smoke, chemicals, and pollution
• Acid reflux or GERD where the backflow of stomach acid irritates the throat

• Asthma, which is characterized by dry, itchy coughing, especially after exercise or at night

The most common dry and itchy cough treatment for this condition involves taking over-the-counter cough medicine such as:

• Cough suppressants like dextromethorphan to help minimize the urge to cough
• Antihistamines like loratadine or diphenhydramine if the cause is an allergic reaction
• Decongestants if the cause is postnasal drip
• Lozenges like Dextromethorphan HBr (Strepsils) Dry Cough, which is clinically proven effective in fighting the urge to cough²

In addition to taking over-the-counter cough medicine, some people also try the following at-home cough remedies for dry and itchy cough, but the results tend to vary from person to person:

• Drinking honey — When taken as is or mixed in with warm water or tea, a spoonful of honey can help soothe the throat³.
• Staying hydrated — Keeping your throat moist can help minimize irritation and the urge to cough.
• Inhaling steam — Just like staying hydrated, inhaling steam from hot water or a humidifier may also help keep your throat and airways moist, providing a soothing sensation. Steam inhalation isn’t advised for children due to the risk of burns.⁹
• Gargling warm salt water — Doing so is a great way to reduce throat inflammation and irritation, which may, in turn, help minimize the urge to cough.
• Ginger tea — Known for its antitussive or cough suppressing properties⁴, ginger is a traditional at-home remedy for dry and itchy cough.

If even after taking proper medication and trying at-home remedies you still develop dry cough chest pain and other more severe symptoms, please consult your doctor immediately.

Chesty Cough

Also known as a productive cough, a chesty cough is characterized by excess mucus production and a wet or rattling sound. Depending on the underlying cause, the color of the phlegm produced could be clear, white, yellow, or green.

The most common causes of a chesty cough⁶ are:

• The common cold
• Flu
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Asthma
• Smoking

It is commonly treated using cough medicine designed to make the excess phlegm easier to expel, such as Ambroxol Hydrochloride (Strepsils) Chesty Cough lozenges. These lozenges are clinically proven effective in managing chesty cough symptoms⁷.

Some people also try the following at-home cough remedies to make expelling the excess phlegm easier:

• Staying hydrated to help keep the excess phlegm thin and less sticky
• Inhaling steam to help loosen the excess phlegm

Chronic Cough

If your cough lasts eight weeks or more, that’s considered a chronic cough. It can either be dry or chesty and is typically caused by⁸:

• Postnasal drip where excess mucus from your nose flows down the throat and triggers coughing
• Cough-variant asthma, which is known to cause persistent coughing, particularly in the evening or after exercising
• Acid reflux or GERD where the acidic juices in the stomach flow back up the esophagus and throat, causing irritation
• Chronic bronchitis, which is a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that causes persistent coughing
• Respiratory infections like a cold or flu that are known to sometimes cause persistent coughing long after the infection has cleared
• Smoking, which can cause long-term damage to the airways

A chronic cough may also be accompanied by shortness of breath, wheezing, and a sore throat.

Chronic cough treatment typically involves:

• Treating or managing the underlying medical condition like using inhalers for asthma
• Making the necessary lifestyle adjustments like cutting back or stopping smoking
• Employing home remedies like honey, sufficient hydration, and steam inhalation
• Taking over-the-counter products like extromethorphan HBr (Strepsils) Dry Cough and Ambroxol Hydrochloride (Strepsils) Chesty Cough

Need to stock up on Strepsils?Shop now at the Reckitt Health and Beauty Store on Lazada and Reckitt Health Official on Shopee.

When to See Your Doctor

Regardless of the type of cough you have, if your symptoms worsen or you start developing other symptoms, such as a fever or shortness of breath, you need to consult your doctor immediately.

The Bottom Line: Knowing the Type of Cough You’re Experiencing Is Key

Different types of coughs require different types of treatment and medication. Understanding the type you are experiencing is crucial to identifying the kind of medical intervention you need. If you are unsure or need more information, do not hesitate to talk to your doctor.

To know more about the different types of coughs and how to manage them, visit theCough: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatmentpage.

References:

1. What can cause a dry cough?, Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324912. Accessed on 28 October 2024.
2. Dextromethorphan, Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538216/. Accessed on 16 October 2024.
3. Mayo Clinic Minute: Can honey help with coughs?, Retrieved from https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-can-honey-help-with-coughs/. Accessed on 16 October 2024.
4. Effects of Ginger and Its Constituents on Airway Smooth Muscle Relaxation and Calcium Regulation, Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3604064/. Accessed on 16 October 2024.
5. Infant botulism following honey ingestion, Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3448763/. Accessed on 16 October 2024.
6. Cough, Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493221/. Accessed on 28 October 2024.
7. Ambroxol, Retrieved from https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB06742. Accessed on 16 October 2024.
8. Chronic Cough, Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430791/. Accessed on 16 October 2024.
9. Cafasso, J. (2023, August 31). Steam inhalation: Cold, sinuses, procedure, benefits, cough, and side effects. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/steam-inhalation#side-effects