Several options are available for over-the0counter cough medications. Aside from the different brand names, there are two different classifications. Expectorants and cough suppressants are both available cough medicines but they work differently.
Expectorants
Expectorants are a class of cough medicine that help to get congestion out of your lungs. They thin the mucous that is in your lungs and help you cough it out more easily. Expectorants are useful when you have thick congestion and you can't cough it out on your own. Because they help make your cough more productive, expectorants can help prevent illnesses such as pneumonia.
Some common expectorants available over the counter include:
- Robitussin
- Mucinex
- Guaifenasin (generic)
Suppressants
Cough suppressants are a class of cough medicine that help you stop coughing. There has been some debate about the effectiveness of cough suppressants. Because coughing is a natural response to foreign substances in the lungs, it is not always a good idea to suppress the cough. Many doctors have found they are not even effective, especially in children. But many people still feel cough suppressants are necessary. If you decide to use cough suppressants, they are best used only at night when you are having trouble sleeping.
Some common cough suppressants available over the counter include:
- Delsym
- Robitussin Cough Long-Acting
- Dextromethorphan (generic)
