Coughing up the Phlegmy Underside of Cold Medicine

The truth about cough syrups, what you need to know, now

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (February, 2006) – You have a cold. You’re coughing, sneezing and feeling miserable. One of the first things you reach for is the cough syrup. Tradition and well crafted marketing campaigns have taught us this is the best way to treat our collective coughing fits. But new guidelines issued by The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) state there is no clinical evidence to suggest that over-the-counter cough syrups do little more than taste bad.

Cough syrups are also known as cough expectorants and cough suppressants. A cough expectorant increases the expulsion of mucus through coughing and contains guaifenesin. A suppressant suppresses your body’s urge to cough by stopping the cough reflex, and contains dextromethorphan. Although expectorants and suppressants may help with symptom control, clinical trials have shown they do nothing to treat the underlying cause of the cough.

“Antihistamines, decongestants, Motrin and Tylenol help treat cold symptoms and are the best choices with a cold," says Jenny Boucher, pharmacist for Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network.”

The new ACCP guidelines strongly suggested that children under the age of 14 not take cough medicine of any kind, because it could be potentially harmful. “The best way to get over a cough for children under 14 is to let it run its course,” says Boucher. “Get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids. But always consult your physician if your child’s condition worsens with fever or if you have any other concerns.”

The ACCP guidelines also emphasized that everyone under the age of 65 get a vaccine against whooping cough (pertussis) which can cause coughing fits powerful enough to snap ribs.

To learn more about the new ACCP cough guidelines and what it could mean to you or your family, call 610-402-CARE, or contact your family physician.

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