Cough medicine

Cough medicine
Intervention
Cough medicine often contains cough suppressants or expectorants.
Synonyms	cough and cold medicine, cough syrup, linctus
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Cough medicines are drugs used in those with coughing and related conditions. It is not know whether over-the-counter cough medications reduce coughing. While they are used by 10% of American children in any given week, they are not recommended in Canada and the United States in children 6 years or younger because of lack of evidence showing effect and concerns of harm.

There are a number of different cough and cold medications, which may be used for various coughing symptoms. The commercially available products may include various combinations of any one or more of the following five types of substances:

There is no good evidence supporting the effectiveness of over-the-counter cough medicines to reduce coughing.

Some brand names include: Benilyn, Sudafed, Robitussin and Vicks among others. Most contain a number of active ingredients.

The efficacy of cough medication is questionable, particularly in children. A 2014 Cochrane review concluded that "There is no good evidence for or against the effectiveness of OTC medicines in acute cough". Some cough medicines may be no more effective than placebos for acute coughs in adults, including coughs related to upper respiratory tract infections. The American College of Chest Physicians emphasizes that cough medicines are not designed to treat whooping cough, a cough that is caused by bacteria and can last for months. No over-the-counter cough medicines have been found to be effective in cases of pneumonia. They are not recommended in those who have COPD or chronic bronchitis. There is not enough evidence to make recommendations for those who have a cough and cancer.

Honey may be a minimally effective cough treatment. A Cochrane review found the evidence to recommend for or against its use to be weak. In light of this they found it was better than no treatment, placebo, and diphenhydramine but not better than dextromethorphan for relieving cough symptoms. Honey's use as a cough treatment has been linked on several occasions to infantile botulism and as such should not be used in children less than one year old.