Best Cough Medicine

Updated on August 06, 2007
S.R. asks from McKinney, TX
24 answers

hi mamas!

ok, so we moved into our first house this weekend, and i just toally over-did it. i think coupled with being up until 3 am several nights in a row painting and getting the house ready, moving, all the dust, taking care of our almost-10-month-old... i just coudln't cope... so long story short i'm pretty sick. i'm guessing its just a cold, but i'm miserable. this is the 3rd day now that i've felt this bad. i'm congested, my throat hurst really bad, my chest is tight and i've got a horrible cough. i can't stop it and i feel like i'm going to literally cough up a lung... or a kidney or something! i've been up two nights in a row coughing all night... fortunately it hasn't bothered my husband, but I'M EXHAUSTED, and i don't feel good! i've tried robitussin, tylenol severe cold (daytime and nighttime)... nothing seems to cut the cough enough to get some relief. do y'all have a cough medicine that you highly reccommend or any other suggestions? we don't have insurance right now, because my husband just switched jobs, so going to the doctor is kind of not an option, unless i just get really sick.

anyway, i'd really appreciate your remedies! i'm miserable!
thank you!
S.

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F.S.

answers from Dallas on

For a cough, my family uses delsym. It's the best for us. It really helps us to get a good night's sleep. Safe for the whole family. I'd see a doc for the other symptoms.

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M.D.

answers from Dallas on

Hi S.!

Congrats on the new house! We are so excited for you guys!!!

I would bet what you have is viral so I would just treat the symtoms like with mucinex and what not. Emergen-C really helps me, taking it every 1-2hrs. I know that's a lot but that and drinking lots of water, low sugar intake, rest when you can (I know that is hard to do right now)...you will be feeling better soon.

M.

More Answers

N.H.

answers from Dallas on

Hi S.,
I'm not great on recommending an over the counter med because every time I get that sick, I run to the doctor! I don't have time to be sick with taking care of my 2 kiddos! : )
I know you said you don't have insurance and I also see you live in Richardson.

Well, my Dad lives in Richardson and works in the shopping center where the Whole Foods Market is on Coit & Beltline.
He said there's a doctor he sees in the shopping center who will see you with no insurance and she charges $45-$50 a visit which is cheap compared to other doctors prices.
With as bad as you sound, I would highly recommend seeing her and getting on some antibiotics. Those coughs can take forever to go away w/out antibiotics.

I don't have her number directly but let me know if you want it and I'll call my Dad.
~N.~

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M.S.

answers from Dallas on

I'm a little late posting on this, but better late than never. :) What is up with all the sickness this summer? Is it because of all the rain we aren't used to having this time of year?

Anywho, my whole household has had the same thing you are having. I am usually the first to get sick, but amazingly I was the last this time. I'm honestly not sure if our dog may not have started it. He had tonsillitis and pharyngitis about a month ago that he most likely picked up at the dog park from another dog.

My mom was the next to go. She had the cough more than anything, but she also had the congestion, fever, etc. She went to the dr and dr gave her an antibiotic. She took that for like 7-10 days and nothing changed. She went back to dr and he said he thought it was viral but still gave her a diff antibiotic(Z-pak this time). It seems to have done the trick.

My daughter and stepdad both got the cough but never had the congestion, fever, aches, etc. Then last week my husband ended up with it, full symptoms, as well as facial pain. He went to HIS dr who said it was sinusitis and he ended up with a Zpak.

Now I'm sick, and I haven't been to the dr yet cause it just started with me on Friday night. First day, really really bad sore throat, like strep. Next day I was coughing my head off and it was productive and NASTY, but I felt a little better despite the coughing, and had no sore throat. Today, I feel really bad. Fever, body aches, congestion in my head/nose, coughing like crazy but lungs sound clear, no sore throat, just a in general crappy feeling like I'm weak and groggy. I've only been taking Mucinex as I just came off of a strong antidepressant and am not comfortable taking anything else OTC unless approved by my dr first.

Honestly, I have no idea what it is, since we've had different answers from different doctors. But either way, it's nasty. I am flying out of state in a week and I do NOT want to take this with me. Good luck, I hope you feel better! If you found relief, please update with what you used!!

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L.C.

answers from Dallas on

Get some lemons and slice them like you would a tomato. Put the slices with the rhineon them in a cup. Pour boiling water over them and let steep for 6 minutes. Then pour honey in and drink. It helps congestion and a cough!!! ASk someone at whole foods for a homeopathic solution. They are great up there. Take extra Vit C! Feel Better
L.

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M.D.

answers from Dallas on

Sorry to not respond til now, hopefully you are feeling better by now, but my midwife told me about Boric and Toeffel (sp?) cough medicine when I was pregnant with my second. It is a homeopathic remedy, I don't know whether you know anything about those or not but they are all natural, no side effects, drug reactions, etc. I found it at the Sunflower Shoppe in W. Fort Worth, but I'm sure any natural foods store would carry it. It would be found in the Homeopathic Remedies section at any such store. It has been the best medicine I have found for coughs, and safe for the little ones too. Good luck!!

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J.R.

answers from Dallas on

Me, my husband, daughter, and baby boy all had bronchitis and our doctors said it has been going around. I hate to tell you but if thats what you have it takes a few weeks to completely get over the cough and thats even with antibiotics. Nothing gave us total relief but these things helped a little. Use a humidifier at night when you are sleeping, try to sleep propped up a little, drink hot tea with honey in it, suck on lots of cough drops or candy to keep your throat moist, drink lots of fluids to help get the mucus out of your chest, and my husband said Mucinex worked better for him than anything else. I can't vouch for it because I'm pregnant and couldn't take it but I did notice that it had like double the dosage of Guafinesin and some of the ingredients that break up the mucus and soothe the cough than Robitussin and some others had. Also try Tylenol or Advil PM they might be enough to at least help you sleep. Feel better soon!!!

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C.P.

answers from Dallas on

OK, mama. Time for some tough love. You have to go to the doctor---I know, I know, you don't have time etc etc. Make the time, and do it now. You may have pneumonia,at the least an upper respiratory infection like bronchitis, and no OTC drug is going to help, at least not much. It's hard for us mama's to take care of ourselves because we always come last, but this going to be one of those rare exceptions. You won't be of much use to your family if you end up in the hospital, right? And that bill will be a lot more expensive than a quick trip to a CareNow facility. If your child were that sick, you'd make the sacrifice and spend the money, correct? Keep in mind the pre-flight demonstration the flight attendants do...you have to put your oxygen mask on first, THEN help others with theirs. You're of no use to those you love if you are incapacitated. I'm off my soapbox now. Here's some things you can do to feel a little better til you get to the doctor (today) 1. Drink lots of fluid (no caffiene) 2. Warm up some lemonade & drink it. Feels fabulous on the throat. 3. Take Mucinex. 4. Have someone babysit while you rest, or when your husband's home, have him take over. Cleaning, cooking, etc. can be put on hold for a few days. The world won't come to an end. 5. Eat some chicken soup--it really does make you feel better.

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S.B.

answers from Seattle on

Keep an eye on it, strep throat and bronchitis are going around!

I always like TheraFlu...the kind you mix up into a warm drink. It soothes my throat and seems to work pretty well for me. The best cough medicine I have ever had is a prescription for promethazine...maybe you could ask the pharmicist for something similar over the counter.

Also, try some tea with honey in it, that will help sooth your throat.

Good luck! I hope you feel better soon! I just got over the flu myself...seems like there is a lot of stuff going around right now! Take care...and GET SOME REST!! I know, I know, easier said than done!

Feel Better!
S.

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M.S.

answers from Dallas on

I have FINALLY recovered from a horrible cold that sounds exactly what you have. The congestion, the sore throat and the most obnoxious (sp?) cough EVER!! I literally was dry heaving because I was coughing so much. I too didn't sleep for 48 hours because of it. Go into a pharmacist and tell them your symptoms. They are usually pretty good at helping you pick out the right medicines. Robitussin did nothing for me. The mucinex relieved it somewhat. I drank lots of hot tea which actually helped too. I hate to tell you this, but I ended up at the doctors getting some wonderful medicine. I know you don't have insurance, but it might be worth every penny!! Now my daughter had the same thing (at the same time) and she was fine with her little PediaCare. Hopefully you aren't as bad as me. I'm sorry you have this cold. If it is the same as mine, it will linger on for over two weeks. Good luck and I hope you feel better.

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A.J.

answers from Dallas on

sounds like you have bronchitis. i get this once every year and it can last up to a week or two. Nothing over the counter really helps but only one thing. Musinex works. bronchitis is sort of like the croup that babies get. its a bacterial infection in the lungs that just needs to clear up in its own time. anitbiotics would help speed up the recovery but if you dont have a doctor yet then you should try Musinex with some cough drops to sooth your throat. I know what you're going through and the coughing is exhausting. I'm so sorry, hope this helps. Oh, and keep cool, seems like getting over heated makes the cough worse, at least for me it did. as cold as you can have but its probably hard with a baby around to do that. maybe bundle them up until mommy gets better. :)

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T.O.

answers from Dallas on

Delsym cough syrup is very good and over the counter. However, you might try taking a Benadryl with it.... because maybe it's allergies from the dust, or maybe you really have cold.

If you have an infection... coughing up colored stuff and pain in your chest and fever.... then you need a doc and anti-biotics.

D.G.

answers from Nashville on

We swear by Mucinex products.
D.

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J.A.

answers from Dallas on

Okay well, I know everyone is saying go to the Dr. , but it sounds exactly like what my husband has and he had x-rays of head and cheast and everyting came back normal, they said it was just viral and to treat the symptoms, they suggested i get him Dyslum, something like that, but he says it makes his troat feel like "a toilet paper roll", so he stopped taking it I am tempted to get him and you might want to try it yourself, its called cremoulsion (sp?) but my mom used to give it to me when i was younger and It did the trick, you can usually find it in walgreens, warning tough I haven't taken it in a long time and the only thing (besides it worked) about it was that it tasted like poo. so, good luck and congrats on the new place!!!!

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B.S.

answers from Dallas on

I was you (except without the little one) last November. Remodeling/repairing: stripping, chipping away at old vinyl tile all the while jackhammers were going 8 hours a day inside and outside while our foundation was being prepared - cement dust everywhere. Then came the retexturing, new flooring, painting and cleanup all the while I think I had bronchitis or maybe even pneumonia. Here's what I did. I know it's old fashion but it works.

During the day I took Creomulsion (OTC cough syrup - the only one that does the trick for me)and a daytime cold medicine (be sure to ask for the old forumla from the druggist! At night I had a hot tottie, maybe two. One part whisky, a squeezed lemon and one part honey (my "parts" were probably a tablespoon). Heat it in the microwave and sip it slowly. It was the ONLY thing that would relax the cough and get me through most of the night. I also rubbed Vicks on my chest and put a heating pad over it. Yeah, some of it's old fashion, but it worked.

Best of luck to your little family and congratuations on the new house. I hope you get to feeling better soon.

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A.L.

answers from Dallas on

zicam concentrated cough mist nite

Any time I have had relentless night time coughs, 3 or 4 sprays of this have knocked them out. It doesn't taste great, and it has its own morning yucky left over taste, BUT it works!

Good Luck!!

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G.A.

answers from Dallas on

Conjestion over the counter Mucinex. Throat from drainage Chloraseptic. The mucinex with make the cold liquify and crate a cough but then all the infection coughs up and you start to heal. The throat spray has saved me hundreds of dollars at the doctors bt my ex wa allergic to phenol. So if you are not take it. I have felt so bad I thought I had strept throat then took that and it went away. Good luck and sorry you are feeling bum and so hard with a little one. G. W

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M.P.

answers from Dallas on

I have that very SAME cough and it drives me nuts! I've had it for about 2 weeks!! I have found these little tablets you drop in the shower really help. I think they are for congestion but they sure do help with my cough. I can't remember what they are called and I am out or I would read the box : ( I got them from walmart and it's something "vapor" help me out here moms. Anyone know what I'm talking about??

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D.B.

answers from Dallas on

Sounds like you need to see a doc. Check out the CareNow website. I think you can just pay for the visit and it will be well worth the $$. You can check in on their website and they will call you when the doctor is ready to see you.

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A.S.

answers from Dallas on

Hi S.,

When my allergies/asthma acts up and a cough sets in, I do a mixture. I use Delsyn at night mixed with Robitussin. Since I'm a large woman, I use more than the dosage recommended. So if you're large, you might do that also. The mixture of the two of them helps me so much.

My daughter, on the other hand, has a cough that only goes away with a combination of Delsyn and benedryl.

Hope this helps.

A.

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M.J.

answers from Dallas on

Sounds like it was an allergic reaction to something that got worse. Does asthma run in your family? I have asthma and I don't wheeze all the time. My attacks start as me having to clear my throat and then coughing fits. I would HIGHLY recommend a doc visit. If you're just treating the cough and it's allergy induced, you're going to continue coughing until you treat the allergen. There is a such thing as allergy induced bronchitis (and pneumonia) I've heard of some doctors giving discounts to people that pay cash. Also, I've had and have heard of bad experiences with Care Now facilities (aka doc in a box). Another thing to think of is if your allergic to pets (like cats) and the previous owner had a cat, the allergen is still in the house (and the air vents, and on the walls, in the carpets, etc.) I'm talking from BAD past experiences. I hope you get better!

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L.C.

answers from Dallas on

Mucinex works wonders for me. It thins everything out which helps to get it out of your chest. If your nose is stuffy too, I would get Mucinex with decongestant. You need to drink lots of water with thise to help it work. It is kind of expensive, but less than if you had to go to the dr. without insurance!

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L.H.

answers from Dallas on

Hey S.,
I have tried the Tylenol cough and sore throat. It's a nightime medicine. I do take something during the day also, but I loaned it to a friend and can't remember what it is. I know it was one of the drugs that you used to have to have a prescription for.
Hope you get to feeling better.
L.

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A.T.

answers from Dallas on

If you just moved into a new house and are painting, I really would advise you to go to the doctor. If it is an older house there might have been lead in the old paint or you could get seriously ill by something unknown in that house. Please go to the doctor.

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