Cough Medicine??

[mom_of_3_70737]

Hello Everyone. I have a terrible cough and since I am at my wits ends, I decided to head to the Dis for some advice. I have tried a few over the counter meds but nothing really seems to quiet my cough. I am so tired of it. HELP! What works for you when you have a post nasal drip kind of cough? This pollen is killing me TIA!!!

Katie

 

[steelebug]

I read somewhere that honey is a great cough medicine. Also what works for my kids is putting Vicks Vapor rub on the soles of your feet before you go to sleep. I swear it sounds weird but works for my kids!! It worked for me too.

 

[TheDizMom]

You could try going to the Dr and getting a prescription. The other thing that works for me is to ramp myself up at night with three pillows. I lay one pillow at at about a 45 degree angle against the wall, then I take a second pillow and lay it against the other one about halfway up it so part of the pillow is on the one pillow and then the rest is on the mattress. The last pillow goes on top so that the top of it is resting on the one against the wall and the bottom is on the second pillow. When all is said and done it looks like a ramp and then I lay against it, knock myself out with some cold medicine and hopefully sleep. I find that raising myself up seems to help and trust me when I get a cough I get them bad every time I find if I am draining the cough isn't as bad if I am more upright then when I am laying down. I also use cough drops like their going out to style and sometimes a little Vicks on the chest helps too.

Good luck. I totally sympathize, I have been there more times then I can count. Feel better .

 

[tamman]

A friend of mine uses honey, whiskey and lemon juice

 

[3boymthr]

If the cough is caused by post nasal drip try taking sudafed/nasal decongestant to dry up the post nasal drip.

Also, do talk to a dr. because it may be bronchitis or something else that cough medicine won't resolve. I had a cough that wouldn't go away. After 4 weeks and taking every OTC cough med known to man as well as trying a few presciption ones as well as a round of Zythromax, I had to undergo all kinds of tests; chest x-rays, blood, the works. Turns out it WASN'T a cold or even bronchitis or pnuemonia. I had developed asthma. Dr. put me on albuterol (inhaled steroids) and within a week I was feeling like myself again, but I do have to carry an inhaler for the occasional attack.

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

I agree with PP, if the cough is due to post nasal drip, then you need to good decongestant. Personally I have always like Sudafed--the original little round red ones, basic decongestant, not full of other stuff (cough, fever reducer, etc etc etc)

For a cough I like Delsym.

 

[mom_of_3_70737]

Thanks for all of the advice everyone! You guys are great

 

[steelebug]

What did you try and how did it work?

 

[nessz79]

For night time, we have found Mucinex to work very well, if you're having trouble sleeping due to cough.

 

[rodeo65]

I'm going to jump on board with 3boymthr. I have a tendency towards asthma and whenever I get a cold that starts to head into my chest it is usually weeks before I can shake it. I have learned that if I can get on a steroidal inhaler it usually takes care of it within a week or so rather than the normal 6-8 weeks. In fact I have one going on right now. DD had it first and she is also on the same inhaler I am, Flovent. I have also used Albuterol in the past. I'd get into your doctor and let him listen and decide the best course of action.

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[SLK1]

I second the Vick's VapoRub on your feet. Sounds nuts, yes, but it works. You just smear it all over, very generously, on the soles of your feet, put on socks, and go to sleep. Good luck! There's nothing worse than coughing at night!

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I second the Vick's VapoRub on your feet. Sounds nuts, yes, but it works. You just smear it all over, very generously, on the soles of your feet, put on socks, and go to sleep. Good luck! There's nothing worse than coughing at night!

I have done this many times and it DOES work! It works so well that I don't even need a cough medicine or any cold medicine. It is amazing! I use the store brand VapoRub!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Delsym! This cough medicine works great for me! When I was pregnant with my 3rd DD, I had a horrible cold and cough! I was coughing so hard that I couldn't sleep and poor DH slept on the couch because I was hacking like a smoker all night! A friend told me about Delsym so I sent DH to CVS lickety-split and it worked beautifully. Give it a try. Honey also works well, more for soothing a sore throat though in my opinion.

 

[momma2minnie]

Have you tried Zyrtec? You mentioned pollen. It really helps my DD when she starts up...Usually triggered by burning sugar cane, blooming trees/flowers.

We give it to her 2x's a day (split dose) she uses the liquid.
Give it a try.

We have also tried Claritin but it doesn't seem to help as well as Zyrtec. Both are over the counter.

 

[steelebug]

HOw's the cough? What did you use!

 

[jennifer293]

Have you tried Zyrtec? You mentioned pollen. It really helps my DD when she starts up...Usually triggered by burning sugar cane, blooming trees/flowers.

We give it to her 2x's a day (split dose) she uses the liquid.
Give it a try.

We have also tried Claritin but it doesn't seem to help as well as Zyrtec. Both are over the counter.

I second the Zyrtec and you need to take it everyday so that it keeps working...DH and both DD's were snotting all over the place last week and I started them on Zyrtec and they are all fine now.

Also the honey, lemon and whiskey may sound nasty but it does work...or at least it knocks me out..I could probably do without the honey and lemon...hahaha