Cough Drops Can Work: Take the Guesswork Out of Treatment

Cough drops can really work! Dr. Mandel Sher generally recommends cough drops as part of a comprehensive cough treatment approach.

A precise diagnosis of your cough’s cause(s) and trigger(s) is the first step toward effective cough treatment and relief. Take the guesswork out of cough treatment by seeing Dr. Mandel Sher at Center for Cough. Trying cough remedies that are not targeted to your unique cough wastes time and money and exposes you to unnecessary health risks and side effects.

Here’s why cough drops work:

Sweetness has been shown to reduce cough
The act of swallowing reduces cough
Menthol in cough drops reduces cough except in people with Chronic Cough. Menthol acts as a local anesthetic agent which temporarily “numbs” the nerves in the throat to provide relief.
Pectin in cough drops is a better choice for people with Chronic Cough. Chronic Cough is associated with dry and irritated throat and vocal cords. For those people, menthol in cough drops worsens drying. Mandel Sher recommends cough drops with pectin to patients with Chronic Cough. Hall’s Breezers contain pectin, a more effective agent to temporarily provide a soothing layer on the surface of the throat.
Choosing the “best” cough drop depends on the precise cause of the cough. For example, a wet cough, possibly caused by chronic bronchitis or upper respiratory infection, acts differently and needs different cough treatment including cough drop than a Chronic Cough which is often dry.

Cough drops are big business. Convenience Store annual cough drop sales are over $50 million. Center for Cough’s face book page has reported a flurry of cough drop brand activity over the last several months. Smith Bros. is being revitalized after a series of ownership transitions. American Olympian swimmer, Ryan Lochte, has signed an endorsement deal with Pine Brothers. And Ricola has teamed up with a web-based wellness app with the hope that users will suck on a Ricola cough drop everyday rather than wait until coughing begins.

Not all coughs are created equal. If you have recently been diagnosed and treated by your primary care physician for cough, but are still coughing, contact Dr. Mandel Sher at Center for Cough. Cough that doesn’t go away is not normal and should be evaluated by a Cough Doctor. Dr. Mandel Sher and Center for Cough team have a solution for your unique cough: 727-393-8067.