It’s worth going to the drugstore if your cough won’t let you sleep.
Cough drops can help, but you should check the label and avoid options with lots of sugar, Li advises. “A cough drop that is low in sugar and artificial colors, with manuka honey or menthol, would be a great choice,” Li says.
Some over-the-counter cough syrups work, especially if they contain the active ingredient dextromethorphan, which is found in Robitussin, Mehdizadeh says. This ingredient instructs the part of your brain that controls coughing to stop, which can help you get some rest if your coughing is interrupting or preventing sleep.
He also recommends nasal anti-inflammatory steroid sprays like Flonase, Nasacort, or other allergy medications, which may reduce coughing.
But if your cough won’t quit, you should really see a doctor to figure out what’s causing it and how to make it better, Mehdizadeh says. “Follow up with a doctor for a cough that lasts more than two weeks or for other symptoms like shortness of breath and chest discomfort,” Mehdizadeh says.
Cleveland Clinic recommends seeing a doctor if you get the following symptoms along with coughing:
- A loud cough that sounds like a seal’s bark
- Producing blood or bloody mucus when you cough
- A cough that affects how you breathe
- A cough that lasts longer than three weeks
- Breathlessness
- A body temperature of 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C) or higher that lasts longer than 48 hours
No matter what you try, one thing you shouldn’t do is rely on marshmallows to make a difference, Dr. Linder says. “There’s no high-quality evidence I’m aware of supporting the use of marshmallows for cough.”
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