Awful hacking cough - I need a break from it - any suggestions?

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I had a run-of-the-milk cold just over a fortnight ago. Since then I’ve had a hacking (non productive) cough.

I’ll sometimes have a few minutes without coughing but it’s almost continuous. Yesterday evening I seemed to pull a muscle and then it was absolute agony to cough. Thankfully I've woken up this morning to find that said muscle has improved overnight (despite lots of coughing).

I'm fairly sure I'm not that ill - no chest pain apart from aches from coughing, not lots of gunk etc.

But I am so fucking sick of coughing. It's exhausting!

Any suggestions for helping to get over it?

mill not milk, obviously

Mine lasted nearly 4 weeks. Then I had penicillin, and a week later it went.

I use codinex cough bottle - GP told me I could use it for a couple of weeks - I had a cough like yours for 4 weeks in October. I've just gotten it again now - DC have had every bug in the world this Autumn and Winter!!1

GP told me I would have to get steroids if it didn't go after 3 weeks. I have the prescription for steroids but have not used them yet.

Thank you both.

@Annasgirl - Can I get Codinex over the counter? It sounds as though it contains codeine which I've read is a cough suppressant which sounds good!

Ive been using broncho stop, it has been surprisingly effective

Jakeman's cough sweets are surprisingly effective at least while you are sucking them. Taste like hell mind.

Try a histamine x

I've always been prone to hacking unproductive coughs. Discovered pholcodine linctus a couple of years ago and find it so effective. It acts on your nervous system to suppress the coughing reflex rather than (fruitlessly in my experience!) soothing your throat. Can be bought over the counter.

I used broncho stop too. Tastes absolutely foul but I agree with a pp, it was very effective. I got mine in waitrose on offer.

Agree with @superking, Pholcodine linctus does the job, buy it over the counter and it’s cheap at less than £2.

Head over bowl of hot water, towel over head, breathe in steam.

👆suggested to me by pharmacist, worked for me.

At night, opening a window and taking in cold air-I was told not to use steam!

Avoiding dairy-not sure why but dairy made it worse.

Thank you, all. I didn't make it to the pharmacy today but I've actually made a doctor's appointment for tomorrow (Saturday appointments - who knew!?) just to get my chest checked as my asthma is trying to play up too. Once the GP has told me I'm as fit as a fiddle I'll head to the pharmacy for Pholcodine.

Take Piriton

Now that's an idea. Piriton tends to make me sleepy so it'll have a dual effect in helping me get a better night's sleep (if I ever actually go to bed that is...)

Try Actifed- I only needed a half dose

I've had chest infection for a couple weeks and now been told to take steroids with the antibiotics as I'm a bit tight and asthmatic . Let us know how you get on .

I had it, with wheezing and a really tight chest. I can't use an inhaler except in emergencies, so my doctor advised steaming, and it really helped me become less breathless and unhappy with my symptoms.
I have also been drinking honey with lemon, which also has helped.
Hope you feel better soon.

I have a bad cough as well but wasn't feeling ill at all. Turns out I do have a chest infection and have been given antibiotics to clear it up finally. Might be worth checking it out anyway.