amazbackcom What’s the Best Cough Medicine? 
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There are several over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription cough medicines available — the best choice depends on the cause and nature of your cough.
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Research is mixed on whether or not OTC medications are effective for a short-term cough.
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Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist before trying OTC cough medications, especially if you’re pregnant, taking other medications, or have health conditions.
Over-the-counter cough medicines
Acute cough due to a viral upper respiratory tract infection (URI) is the most common form of cough, though coughing can happen due to other reasons as well. — and a ton of money is spent on making and marketing drugs to manage it.
There are many OTC cough medicines to help manage an acute cough — everything from syrups and pills to lozenges. But it’s important to know that not all OTC cough medications are created equal — or work the same way.
Cough suppressants
Cough suppressants (antitussives), like dextromethorphan (Robitussin, Delsym), help by controlling your cough reflex. They usually work better for a “dry” (non-productive) cough, which usually results from irritation.
Cough expectorants, like guaifenesin (Mucinex), work by loosening up and thinning the mucus in your throat so you cough it up more easily. For this reason, they may work better for a “wet” (productive) cough.
Products such as menthol cough drops have a cooling effect in addition to opening your airways to help prevent coughing.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines, like chlorpheniramine and clemastine, and decongestants, like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), work by targeting post-nasal drip that may be triggering your cough. Know that many antihistamines can make you drowsy, while decongestants can keep you awake.
Combinations
You can also find combination products that contain several different cough medications together, like Dimetapp and Mucinex DM.
But if OTC products aren’t doing the trick, and if your cough is interfering with your daily activities or sleep, you may want to talk to your healthcare provider about prescription options.
And if your cough is accompanied by symptoms like fever or difficulty breathing — contact your healthcare provider since this could mean it’s something more serious.
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