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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask if there are any cough remedies that work?

50 replies

TheLionQueen · 04/01/2017 08:01

DH has a terrible cough. Chesty I think and apparently phlegmy. He's driving me up the wall with it and ended up on the sofa last night.
In the past I've tried benelyn and covonia etc but nothing seems to actually work.
Please help before I throttle him!

OP posts:
LumelaMme · 04/01/2017 08:03

Sufafed. They do different varieties for different types of cough which have let me sleep through some real hackers.

steff13 · 04/01/2017 08:04

We swear by Delysm, if that's available there. I've read pineapple juice can help.

steff13 · 04/01/2017 08:04

Whoops Delsym

WinterIsHereJon · 04/01/2017 08:05

I don't think you're supposed to take anything for a productive cough - if it's bringing up phlegm then it's doing it's job. Lots of fluids will help thin the mucus making it easier to cough up though.

Addictedtocustardcreams · 04/01/2017 08:06

No nothing really helps. It's all marketing with very little evidence. Plus if a medication actually stopped you coughing you would get seriously ill.

Lovelilies · 04/01/2017 08:09

Codeine is a cough suppressant,but as pp has said, you shouldn't try and stop a productive cough. Phlegm needs to come out Sad

Original poster
TheLionQueen · 04/01/2017 08:19

Ah that's a good point actually re phlegm. By 3am it was dry and I think he was coughing more from a tickly dry throat.
This is a bit hard to explain but it's loud and more irritating because it's doing that thing where when you cough and it kind of vibrates in your chest/throat.
Does that make any sense?

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Sahhhhh · 04/01/2017 08:25

Someone is going to suggest Vicks on feet but I found it never worked. Might be worth a try though

It is just waiting for the cough to go unfortunately

girlandboy · 04/01/2017 08:39

My GP told me to take pholcodine which is a suppressant. It's not generally recommended for a phlegmy cough because as PP's have said the phlegm is better out than in.
However he did say it's ok just before bed in order to get some sleep. And it worked for me.

TheOriginalChatelaine · 04/01/2017 08:39

Try giving him some powdered turmeric in cold water to help clear it up.

Original poster
TheLionQueen · 04/01/2017 08:42

I can't imagine I'll persuade him with the turmeric but thank you! Interesting re the codeine- is pholcodine just codeine under a different name?
I'll give the vicks a go just in case it helps. I'll also wait and see how phlegmy he is before trying anything more medical, though we do need a decent nights sleep tonight

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acquiescence · 04/01/2017 08:42

Codeine for the cough, guaifenesin (so?) for bringing up mucus

ImaLannister · 04/01/2017 08:47

Natural honey. It coats the throats as it is so sticky, I swear by it. Its the only thing that works for me. It's also a great natural antioxidant. Get him to suck on honey sweets from Holland & Barrett too. Will keep his throat moist reducing coughing.

Dahlietta · 04/01/2017 08:50

I second Pholcodine Linctus, but as PP said, it's not really for a productive cough. It's the only thing I've ever found that works.

OhisHOME · 04/01/2017 08:51

Pineapple juIce is amazing it has a natural cough suppressant in it google will tell you the details!

northernlites · 04/01/2017 08:53

Take the pholcodiene yourself, you will sleep right through the cough Wink

Seriously though has he tried night nurse liquid? It's great for any respiratory infections I find.

Original poster
TheLionQueen · 04/01/2017 08:58

Thanks all Flowers
I'm heading in to town so I think I'll pick up some of the pholcodine for when the phlegm goes. His coughs always seem to go on forever, but it's quite unusual for it to be productive.
Honey is also a good idea- will nip in to H&B. And I like pineapple juice so will get that too Grin

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Original poster
TheLionQueen · 04/01/2017 09:00

Ha northern what an idea. I already take codeine on and off for a dodgy back but unfortunately it doesn't make me sleepy!
Last night it seemed just as I was about to drop off he'd have a coughing fit and scare the life out of me! Hence posting this morning!

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DreamingofthePeaks · 04/01/2017 09:16

I have had awful cough for two weeks and the only thing that has helped is 'Unicough'. OTC medicine from Boots. It's first new cough medicine to be licensed in 30 years and is proven to help in double blind tests. Think it might only be suitable for 12+ though. However, it contains cocoa and that's one of it's most powerful ingredients. Someone on MN told me about sucking a piece of chocolate to help sooth the those and that actually did help so you could try that. The other thing is ibuprofen - my doctor said that my cough was due to inflamed windpipe and that all the cough syrups in the world wouldn't help. Ibuprofen takes down the swelling and it honestly has helped tremendously with my irritating cough,

DreamingofthePeaks · 04/01/2017 09:16

Hope you both get some relief soon!

Lessstressedhemum · 04/01/2017 09:16

1 tablespoon of honey, mixed with a tablespoon of whisky and a teaspoon of lemon juice. Kind of coats and sooths the throat.

Original poster
TheLionQueen · 04/01/2017 11:56

Lots of stuff to try here! He troughed a load of chocolate before bed but didn't notice a difference Blush
That's interesting dreaming there's a boots fairly near so will give that a try. I'm not sure about inflammation- picked up some cold and flu tablets today but he can take ibuprofen alongside them.
No joy on the pholcodine- it's one of those days where everything's against me I think. Fingers crossed one of the above concoctions works, will let you know in the morning!

OP posts:
girlandboy · 04/01/2017 12:06

pholcodine isn't codeine.
And it's the primary ingredient in some other named cough medicines as opposed to just buying a bottle of "pholcodine".
But a chemist should know that and give you the right one.

Flowerpower321 · 04/01/2017 12:08

Red bottle Actifed works for me.

Original poster
TheLionQueen · 04/01/2017 17:00

Ah thanks girl I thought other cough medicines had a different ingredient but the only thing I can bring to mind is linctus, which makes sense Blush
Poor DH is worried about not sleeping tonight already! Hope something works for him.

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