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Three types of medicines can ease a cough caused by a cold or bronchitis: suppressants, expectorants, and ointments you apply to your skin called topicals. How to Halt Your Hacking....
This includes suppressants like dextromethorphan, which block your cough reflex, and expectorants like guaifenesin, which are supposed to loosen up mucus in the airways.
Cough Suppressants, also known as antitussives, work in an entirely different manner than expectorants. Instead of helping to remove phlegm from the lungs, suppressants actually block the cough reflex. The most common suppressant in over-the counter cough medicine is the mild narcotic, dextromethorphan. Cough medicines ending in the letters, DM ...
An expectorant is helpful if you're treating a productive cough, but a suppressant is the better option for a dry cough. Each has a different mechanism of action. The "best" cough medicine is ultimately based on the type of cough you have, as well as evaluation of possible side effects.
One of the most confusing things about cough medicines is understanding the difference between cough suppressants and expectorants. Cough suppressants stop you from coughing. An example is Delsym (dextromethorphan).
There are 2 types of OTC cough medicines: antitussives and expectorants. A common antitussive is dextromethorphan (some brand names: Triaminic Cold and Cough, Robitussin Cough, Vicks 44 Cough and Cold). The only expectorant available in OTC products is guaifenesin (2 brand names: Mucinex, Robitussin Chest Congestion).
You'll find expectorants and cough suppressants in many over-the-counter and prescription cough medicines for older children and adults — but they're no longer recommended for children under the age of 2 and have been shown to be ineffective in children under the age of 6.
A cough suppressant, also known as an antitussive, is used to reduce or suppress the urge to cough, providing relief from a dry, hacking cough. An expectorant, on the other hand, works by thinning and loosening mucus in the airways, facilitating easier clearing of the respiratory tract.
Expectorants might help you cough more mucus out with each cough, so you cough less. That reduces irritation in your throat and lungs. Cough medicine often contains an ingredient called guaifenesin. It is classified as an expectorant, though there’s some debate about how well it does this.
For example, if your cough is preventing you from sleeping and you are more concerned about suppressing your cough, you might choose a suppressant over an expectorant.