Cough Medication

When you’ve got a cough, it’s important to rest and drink plenty of fluids so you can let your body recover.

There are some treatments that can help to ease your symptoms too, such as cough syrup, cough medicine and cough sweets.

There are several varieties based on whether your cough is a dry, tickly or mucus cough.

Codeine linctus is a type of cough medicine that helps to relieve the symptoms of dry, persistent coughs.

It works by decreasing the urge to cough, allowing your throat time to heal.

Please be aware that codeine linctus is an opioid and can be very addictive, therefore it should only be used for a short period of time; and, if possible, you should consider using another variant of cough medicine with a lower potential for dependence.

Due to this risk, this medicine is only available on prescription.

Choosing the right cough medicine can be as irritating as the cough itself.

There are lots of different types to choose from - treatments tailored for tickly and chesty coughs, to medicines designed to be taken at night and during the day.

It’s important to recognise the type of cough that you have - is it dry or chesty? Does it trouble you more at night or during the day?

If you’re struggling to understand the type of cough you have, speak to a pharmacist and they will be able to help you choose a suitable treatment.

Keeping your child hydrated is vital when they have a cough as water helps the body to fight illness and keeps their airways clear.

When they’re sleeping, elevate their head to relieve nasal congestion, and introduce a humidifier to prevent their throat from becoming dry and irritated.

You may wish to apply a vapour rub to their skin to help clear their airways or administer cough medicine.

Always speak to a doctor or pharmacist beforehand so they can advise which type of cough your child has and if it’s safe to use at their age.