Cold relief tablets

[usernother]

Every time I get a cold I also get a terrible cough, which can last weeks. It seem like the phlegm all goes on to my chest (sorry about tmi). GP will never give me anything, saying it's caused by a virus. Usually I take those all in one cold relief tablets to help me feel a bit better but I was wondering, because they dry up mucus, would this be prolonging my cough?

I don’t like the all in one remedies. I’d take paracetamol and ibuprofen, and an expectorant cough medicine for your chest.

A cough can last for several weeks after cold and it isn't unusual. A cold is a virus and antibiotics do not work on viruses so there's no point at all taking them.

All in one cold relief tablets are generally just paracetamol, a decongestant, possibly caffeine to perk you up a bit and, for a cough, Guaifenesin. Guaifenesin is an expectorant which actually loosens up the mucus. It's all a bit of marketing ploy as you could get all these things separately much cheaper at the supermarket.

None of this should prolong your cough but you could just take the Gauifenesin.
Alternatively, you might find that steaming, hot showers, etc, help to loosen the mucus to make you feel a bit more comfortable.

Nothing is going to shorten the span of the cough, unfortunately. But you should obviously go to the pharmacist/doctor if it turns into a chest infection - and you'll know that because it tastes disgusting. At that point antibiotics might be prescribed.

Thanks for advice. Im going to Boots to buy a cough bottle with guaifenesin in it.

Don't bother with a branded version - guaifenesin is guaifenesin.

Get a steam cup and a bottle of olbas oil to dissolve in the steam whilst you're there.