dry cough

[bloodycough]

Have had dry cough for best part of 2 weeks- some days are worse than others, but it is still here, leaving me breathless and bent double coughing, sometimes being sick. It is all linked to a cold i have just had, but when is a cough bad enough to bother the doc with? I feel a feeble taking it to the doc, but anything I have taken for it just isn't shifting the cough- have taken pholcodine, honey and lemon, night time stuff etc

so- any advice on meds, and should i go to doc for it?
thanks

Sometimes people get dry irritating coughs if they have some underlying asthma tendencies or allergies. Colds often provoke asthma in asthmatic children by the way.
if it goes on much longer see your gp - if he hears a wheeze in your lungs he may give you a short term inhaler.
The only cough syrup I have found which works is Gees linctus, boots sometimes stock it, but it can be difficult to get hold of as it is so strong (not for under 12s!)

thanks for that
will give it a try

BC...have had mine for 6 weeks now. IT came from nowhere with a little tickle at night. That got more persistent....then i was coughing 24/7. ( no cold symptoms ,but had a bad sore throat for 2 days)The area round my heart started to hurt and i just felt crap. Ended up with suspected pericarditis and this cough that would not stop. Had to try and sleep sitting up with 5 pillows as lying down was impossible. Eventually went to the doctors and she gave me codeine linctus which has helped to calm it down. But,if i stop taking it ,it comes back. Have been left with chest pain which the doc now wants investigating.

as long as you have no heart problems or blood pressure issues ammonia ,ipecac and morphine cough mixture is good and you can buy it over the counter

if you know your chemist well,they may sell you codeine linctus, but alot wont sell it otc.

I've had that sort of cough in the past, and its truly horrible. The things that I found helpful were:

1. keeping the atmosphere humid
2. Nirolex lozenges (from Boots)
3. when not sucking (2), almost constantly suck some sort of glycerine pastille. (even one in my mouth during the night!)

BMUS Gees linctus (squill opiate ) is normally recommended for a chesty cough...but if it worked for you then great.

Alypaly
In some literature Gees linctus is recommended for a dry tickly cough and others a chesty one!! The squill part is supposed to be an expectorant and the opiate part is definitely a cough suppressant . Dont know why it works but it is brilliant especially at night. Its v. similar to codeine linctus in some respects. Def sounds like pericarditis, classic test is sit up and lean forward - if pain eases p'c is very likely - not nice for you at all!

i know i thought the same thing cos i work in pharmacy ...codeine derivatives like you say are suppressants. Its a weird one isnt it. But if it works..what the hell...use it.. I guess thats why gees works well at night because it suppresses the cough reflex.

Just wondering how long pericarditis takes to settle.Or is it different for everyone. It is making me feel pretty unwell at the moment and has made me feel very anxious with the pain round my heart.

bloodycough......hope you find something that works.

Alypaly
read this - it is sensible and not so scary as internet googling
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Pericarditis/Pages/Introduction.aspx

i found the same one but was worried because i have had the chest pain for 5 weeks not 7 days. just worried its more serios. Having blood tests tomorrow to see if anything shows up and doc is referring me to a cardiologist

Fingers x for you AP.
You'd be surprised how many things get investigated and turn up nothing, and just go on their own

Look at classifieds here for BEE Prepared Immune support with bee propolis, elderberry etc great for colds/flus. Feel better!