Dry Coughs
Coughs are called dry or non-productive when no mucus is produced or coughed up. A dry cough can be quite irritating, and usually a tickly throat is the most common symptom. You may find that you need to "A-hem" quite regularly to clear your throat. Usually your breathing is okay and you feel reasonably well, apart from the cough.
A dry cough is more common with the flu but may be left over after a chesty cough following a head cold. This is sometimes called a post-viral cough. Other causes of a dry cough include:
Atmospheric conditions (such as dry air, pollution) or a change in temperature
Medications (an example is some heart medicines)
Medical conditions (such as asthma)
Post-nasal drip (mucus flow down the back of the throat from the sinuses).
Some dry cough medicines contain ingredients to help suppress the cough and soothe the throat. Some of these medicines have not been proven to work in children, especially young children aged less than 6 years, so always talk to the pharmacist if you are buying medicine for a child.
See Your Pharmacist or Medical Professional
If you have other medical conditions, take regular medication for any reason, or if you are buying a cough mixture for a child aged less than 12 years, always talk to a pharmacist. Also talk to a pharmacist if you:
Cough up blood, which may look like coffee granules
Cough up coloured mucus, especially frothy pink or dark green
Have a fever (temperature above 38°C)
Have other symptoms, such as chest pain, wheezing, difficulty breathing, persistent headache, sore ears or a rash
Have a cough which occurs mainly at night (especially if the person with the cough is a child)
Are a smoker
Have a cough which has lasted more than 10 days, is getting worse, or isn't getting any better
Have started a new medicine recently
If the cough recurs on a regular basis
Have recently lost weight or have aching muscles
Are elderly or frail
Are pregnant or breastfeeding – some medicines may not be suitable
Have allergies to any medicines.
Treatment Tips
Most coughs get better by themselves, although some post-viral coughs may persist for several weeks following the infection. It may help your dry cough if you can keep your throat moist and lubricated:
Gargle with plain water for one minute, three times a day – this can ease symptoms
Avoid dry environments and drink plenty of water
Take mixtures and hot drinks containing honey and lemon to help soothe a dry throat
take one to two teaspoonful’s of honey at night to help soothe the throat and reduce coughing, but make sure the honey is from a reliable source and do not give to children aged less than 1 year
If you feel there is something from your chest to cough up, such as mucus, then you should treat this as a wet or productive cough (see Chesty coughs)
Only buy products with ingredients that match your symptoms. Many cough medicines have multiple ingredients that are not necessary if your main symptom is only a cough – check with your pharmacist if you are unsure
Never use two or more different combination products at the same time (you may be unintentionally doubling up on similar ingredients).
Avoid spreading your cough to others:
Always cough into the crook of your elbow or cover your mouth with a tissue
Wash your hands or use a sanitising gel after you cough or sneeze, before preparing food, or tending to young children
Use tissues not handkerchiefs, and dispose of them carefully after a single use.
Treatment Options
Use of cough medicines in children
Most cough medicines contain ingredients which are not recommended for children aged less than 6 years. The only exception is bromhexine, an ingredient used to break up mucus in the throat, which may be used in children aged 2 years of age and older. Never exceed the maximum recommended dose on the product label. Ask your pharmacist for further advice.
Products to treat dry cough usually contain a cough suppressant (either pholcodine or dextromethorphan).
Always discuss treatment options with your pharmacist to ensure the best outcome.
Cough suppressants (antitussives)
[GENERAL SALE for children older than 12 years]
e.g., Strepsils Dry Cough Syrup, Vicks Formula 44 for Dry Coughs
[PHARMACY ONLY]
e.g., Benadryl Dry Tickly Cough Oral Solution,Duro-Tuss Dry Cough Liquid Regular (or Forte), Pholcodine Linctus, Robitussin Dry Cough Forte, Duro-Tuss Expectorant [also contains bromhexine], Robitussin Cough & Chest Congestion [also contains guaiphenesin]
If you only have a dry cough, avoid combination medicines containing ingredients that treat other symptoms, such as a blocked nose
Some cough suppressants in cough medicines may interact with other medicines
Some products may also contain a mucolytic (bromhexine) or an expectorant (guaiphenesin) which can have a soothing effect on dry coughs.
Cough soothers (demulcents) to help soothe the throat
[SUPPLEMENT]
e.g., Active Nature Honey Drops, Radiance ManukaGuard Honey Lozenges
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g., Lemsip Dry Cough Liquid, Strepsils Soothing Honey and Lemon Lozenges, Strepsils Warm Lozenges
Cough soothers coat the throat to reduce irritation, dryness and soothe a cough
Sucking on a lozenge produces extra saliva to soothe a cough
These are safe for most people but some include sugar – so people with diabetes should be careful, although sugar-free mixtures and lozenges are available
Cough soothers are also effective for sore throats.
Cough lozenges
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g., Strepsils Dry Cough Lozenges
[PHARMACY ONLY]
e.g., Difflam Anti-inflammatory Lozenge with Cough Suppressant, Duro-Tuss Dry Cough Lozenges
These lozenges contain a cough suppressant, and sometimes other ingredients, to prevent bacterial infection or provide pain relief for a sore throat
Some ingredients in cough lozenges are also included in cough medicines and cold and flu tablets. Always read the ingredients on the package to make sure you are not doubling up
Lozenges are not suitable for young children
Some lozenges contain sugar but sugar-free versions are available.
Combination products to stop a dry cough and cold/flu symptoms
[PHARMACY ONLY]
e.g., Benadryl PE Dry Cough and Nasal Congestion, Codral PE Cold & Flu + Cough, Dimetapp Daytime Night Time, Duro-Tuss Dry Cough Plus Nasal Decongestant, Duro-Tuss Expectorant, Robitussin Cough & Chest Congestion
Combination products are useful when you have more than one symptom.
These products may contain:
A nasal decongestant, such as phenylephrine, to unblock your nose
An antihistamine, such as promethazine or diphenhydramine or brompheniramine, to stop a runny nose. However, these can sometimes irritate a dry cough further. Some antihistamines may cause drowsiness – do not drive or operate machinery while taking them and avoid alcohol
An analgesic, such as paracetamol. Check you do not double up on other paracetamol-containing medicines
An expectorant to help liquefy mucus in a dry throat.
Products containing pseudoephedrine
[PRESCRIPTION ONLY – Controlled Drug]
Pseudoephedrine (a decongestant) is no longer available without a prescription.
Natural/herbal products/supplements
e.g., Kaloba, Comvita Winter Wellness [herbal elixir], Cof Ex, Herbal Chest Syrup, honey, echinacea
Kaloba may help the body's own immune defences fight winter ailments, ills and chills
Winter Wellness products contain Unique Manuka factor (UMF) Manuka honey
Herbal Chest Syrup contains a mixture of ingredients including marshmallow and honey
One to two teaspoonfuls of honey taken at night can help relieve a dry cough
Echinacea may help boost immunity, and may shorten the duration or severity of the infection.
More Information
Availability of medicines
GENERAL SALE available through pharmacies and possibly other retail outlets.
PHARMACY ONLY available for sale through pharmacies only.
PHARMACIST ONLY may only be sold by a pharmacist.
PRESCRIPTION ONLY available only with a prescription from your doctor or other health professional.
PRESCRIPTION ONLY - Controlled Drug available only with a Controlled Drug Prescription from your doctor.
Consumer Medicine Information on some medicines is available at the government website www.medsafe.govt.nz
