Over the counter medicines won t cure your cold but they might make you feel better so you can rest as it runs its course.
Over the counter medicine for congestion cough.
This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice diagnosis or treatment.
Just a few basics will guide you to an over the counter otc medicine for the kind of.
By clearing congestion cough expectorants may make it feel easier to breathe.
Suppressants are the best cough medicine for dry cough.
Among cough medicines there are expectorants which thin out mucus associated with a productive cough and suppressants also called antitussives which suppress the cough reflex.
Don t grab a random box of cough medicine off the pharmacy shelf.
But they can help soothe the symptoms of congestion.
Robitussin cough chest congestion dm is a combination medicine used to treat cough and chest congestion caused by the common cold or allergies.
And nasal and sinus.
Over the counter medications won t shorten the length of the illness but may be helpful for mild upper respiratory symptoms including fever cough sore throat.
Chest congestion can be remedied through different methods and that is why chest congestion medicine comes in many forms.
Dextromethorphan will not treat a cough that is caused by smoking.
Guaifenesin is the only over the counter expectorant.
These don t cure the problem.
Data sources include ibm watson micromedex updated 2 sep 2020 cerner multum updated 1 sep 2020 wolters kluwer updated.
There are many brands and forms of this medication available and not all brands are listed on this leaflet.
The most common types of chest congestion remedies are.
Over the counter cough expectorants generally contain the active ingredient guaifenesin which is designed to help thin out and loosen mucus in your airways so that it is easier to cough up.
It has the same effect as drinking more liquids.
Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant.
Here s a look at some common products and what they can do for you.
Vicks vaporub perhaps the best known one combines cough suppressants and pain relievers.
Guaifenesin is an expectorant.
You ll find it in brands like mucinex and robitussin.
Never take a cold or flu medicine designed to treat multiple symptoms when you only have a cough.
If home or natural remedies aren t relieving your congestion you may want to give an otc medication a try.