How Well Do Cough Medicines Work (If They Work at All)?

If you want to get rid of a cough, it’s natural to reach for something labeled cough medicine. But the ingredients in cough medicines probably don’t work as well as you think they do. This video explains the sad situation.

Systematic reviews like this one from the Cochrane collection haven’t been able to back up the medicines’ claims that they reduce coughing. “There is no good evidence for or against the effectiveness of [over-the-counter] medicines in acute cough,” that review concluded. Hardly a ringing endorsement.

The video ends with a warning: even if the medicines turn out to be useless, that doesn’t mean they’re harmless. Taking a double dose might leave you suffering from serious side effects. Instead, drink more fluids and consider taking cough drops or honey to soothe your throat.

Does Cough Medicine Really Work? | Reactions

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