Help!

[pegkerr]

Your remedies, please, for a persistent, non-productive, agonizing, hacking cough, caused by spring pollen allergies. I have taken Claritin, and Ibuprofin for the fever, and I'm eating cough drops and sucking down tea, but this cough is killing me, and it's tearing me apart. Suggestions?

I'm desperate here.

Comments

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

I find that Sudafed cuts down on my coughing, which is usually set off by drainage. Of course, you'll have to show your ID and have your name and address recorded and sign to get it (I'm storing up a rant about this). It also makes some people jittery, which may not make you happy if you're also using albuterol.

Also, hot shower or steam vaporizer to loosen things up.

My last ditch is usually something containing dextromethorphan -- one of the zillion cough suppressants out there. I understand that some people can convince their doc to prescribe codeine for cough as well.

[snippy]

If it's non-productive, don't take Sudafed (or other drying agent). Take a cough syrup with both guifanesen (to loosen up the flegm and make it easier to cough, so you don't hurt yourself trying so hard) and detromethorphan (to help suppress unnecessary coughing).

Also, dark chocolate has been found as effective as cough syrup in controlling coughing. So eat some dark chocolate.

[callunav.livejournal.com]

Just a note - as far as I know, renforced by my own experience, Sudafed is non-drying. It's the antihistamines (Actifed, Benadryl, Chlor-trimeton, Tavist-D, loratidine/Claritin, etc.), which are exactly the right thing for allergies, that are unfortunately drying. Possibly a pharmacist, nurse, or doctor could recommend the least drying of the bunch.

From what I know, and according to the pharmacist I consulted, Sudafed used to be psuedoephdrine HCL, which actually made things more runny, and is now phenylephrine HCL, which shrinks enflamed mucus membranes rather than affecting the production of mucus directly at all. (It's still possible to get pseudoephedrine HCL in the US, by the way, just more of a nuisance, so if, like me, you don't want to make meth in your basement and you do want to actually unstuff your sinuses of thick goo, there's still a way without going to the 'eating wasabi paste straight' method of sinus-clearing.)

On the other hand, everyone's mileage varies, always, so it may very well be that some people experience Sudafed as drying, and I just never heard about it before.

[snippy]

Thanks for the clarification--I was just going on what my doc told me recently, when I had a persistent cough following a bad virus. I take 2 prescription anti-allergy meds, and don't usually use Sudafed of either type.

[odyssea.livejournal.com]

I got a rather nasty persistent cough around Christmas and one thing I found particularly helpful, as well as nice smelling, is Bath and Body Works' Aromatherapy Remedies. They have a vapor balm with eucalyptus which worked wonders in both making me feel better and ultimately clearing things up. It's not too expensive and there were a few other products for colds/allergies.

Hope you feel better soon!

[rysmiel.livejournal.com]

Anaesthetising one's throat with alternating sips of extremely cold vodka and mouthfuls of hot-as-you-can-stand tea is something papersky taught me that has worked well with sore throats and just to stop the actual coughing part of a cough.

[callunav.livejournal.com]

Home remedy: mix lemon, honey, and whisky, proportions to de decided by the user.

In spite of the fact that the whisky is what a drug company would call the active ingredient, it's worth trying just the lemon and honey if you're not willing to try the whisky, and it's certainly not a good idea to leave them out and 'cut to the chase.' They're all active ingredients, really.

And, um. I hate recommending this, because of my history dealing with abuses of it in detox units. However, and over-the-counter cough medicine containing dextromorphan (Coricidin is one of the major names, but there are a lot of others) used as directed, which I know you would do, should kill the coughing trigger. That's what it's designed to do, that's what the dextromorphan is for.

(Obligatory tag: one of the many reasons I hate this stuff is that when it's abused as a recreational drug, it's not just addictive, like any opiate however distantly derived, it's also very damaging to the health quite outside of the addiction. *Especially* Coricidin, due to the other ingredients involved. But it's supposed to be extremely good for an unrelenting cough.)

There's also herbal teas. I don't have a stable full of them myself because I almost never get unproductive coughs, since I usually have asthma/bronchitis. But one is easy: slippery elm. Coltsfoot would also be good - it's latinate name (Tussilago farfara) refers to its virtue in dealing with coughs, and if I recall correctly wild cherry bark is supposed to be good, too. I can look up others in my favorite herbal if you're interested.

[callunav.livejournal.com]

Sorry - heavnscalyx got the drug name right, and I, not seeing it, muffed it. Dextromethorphan.

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

Hot apple juice or apple cider. It's incredibly soothing.

[bethynyc.livejournal.com]

Wonton soup helps me when I'm coldy/sinusy. It might help soothe your throat. *hugs* and sending healing thoughts.

[d-aulnoy.livejournal.com]

Ricola cough drops. When I get my annual mean-as-all-get-out cough, I actually *fall asleep* sucking on them (I would not suggest this, as it is a choking hazard, but for daytime, definitely).

[penmage.livejournal.com]

Ditto this. When I had my killer, awful cough, the only thing that helped me function as a productive human being was the cherry mint ricola cough drops. They worked wonders.

[volkhvoi.livejournal.com]

A very hot hot&sour soup sometimes helps.

And (yes, I know its gross) spraying a cup of warm water (with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp baking soda) up my nose definitely helps, especially if taken once a day regularily.


With all our advice you will be both well fed and well drugged for the duration!

[naomikritzer]

Cool mist vaporizer or steam humidifier (depending on whether cool mist or warm steam sounds more pleasant).

And/or go to the doctor and get a scrip for codeine. That's the only thing that knocks out Ed's persistent unproductive coughs. (Well, they also gave him an inhaler, which also seems to help.) I don't think it much matters what triggered it originally (virus vs. allergy) -- coughs are like any other irritation, they can become cyclical and self-perpetuating until something breaks the cycle.

[aome.livejournal.com]

Can you get your doctor to prescribe cough syrup with codeine? Also, I know you said you're sucking down tea, but I find sometimes plain hot water works better or, at most plain hot water with a little bit of lemon and possibly a bit of honey. When I've had a spate of 'coughing so hard I'm almost sick to my stomach', that usually helps calm me temporarily, at least.

Conversely, you might try cold; I know winter is over, but sometimes going out into cold weather sometimes soothes distressed air passages better than warm/steam. In lieu of frigid temps outside, might REALLY cold liquids help at all?

Frankly, I find that cough drops are really not much help against bad coughs, just minor ones. Cough syrup sometimes works better, but YMMV. (And I can't take a full dose of cough syrup at night - it keeps me awake.)

[boniblithe.livejournal.com]

I worked on Claritin before it was a registered drug. It's not useful for cough, so don't bother - also it takes about 3 days of consistent use to reach steady blood levels so it's a drug that's meant to be taken daily and NOT on an "as-needed" basis, which is a mistake most people make with Claritin.

You need moisture, my dear, to loosen up what's in your lungs - antihistamines dry out mucous membranes and make cough nonproductive. Between the dry air and the med effects your bronchial tubes are a desert. Take Dimetapp or something with dextromethorpan in it (however, it will probably knock you out). Check the label to make sure there's no pseudephedrine or other antihistamine like chlorpheniramine, in whatever cough syrup you take - and also no acetominophen if you're still taking the ibuprofen, otherwise your poor liver will groan under the weight of too many NSAIDs. Straight-up dextromehorpan and if that doesn't do it, go to Dr tomorrow.

[nmalfoy.livejournal.com]

Are you coughing because your throat tickles? Try spraying your throat with Chloraseptic or whatever that numbing stuff is. Likely you've got drainage and that irritates your throat, causing the urge to cough. My doctor suggested this to me once and oh, blessed relief.

[jemyl.livejournal.com]

My regimen includes either Advair or Serivent discus for the asthma, one (not two) sudaphedrine tabs (30mg) one benedryl cap every twelve hours and claritin every twenty-four hours. I also carry cough drops with eucalyptus and/or menthol in them and in a pinch use mint listerine pocketpack stips. This seems to keep the coughing down. I have also used coffee (which is a decongestant) and a diabetic cough medicine like codamol or Tussin which contains Guefesin(sic). Codeine works the best, but is even harder to get than sudaphedrine these days. The whiskey, lemon juice, hot water, honey and cinnamon also works, but I prefer that for at night. An old, but rather smelly remedy is to put Vicks Vaporub on your chest at night. I have been known to modify this by putting a bit under my nose and wiping it off immediately. The mentholyptus muscle relaxant rubs also work for this.

My daughter has found that the mucinex is working well for her this year. If you have checked with your doctor and are sure you don't have asthma there isn't much else you can do other than stand in a steamy room all day. LOL If you have asthma, an albuterol inhaler will help.

Hope you feel better soon. You might also check with your local pharmacist to see what others in your area are using this year to help with the cough. Peace and hugs~~~Ellen

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Actually, yes. There is a brand of tea called Yogi Team, and they make a formulation called 'Throat comfort'. It has willow bark and something that tastes licoricey. It doesn't need sugar or honey, although you could add some. It is wonderfully soothing. I know you can get it at whole foods and probably in many other grocery's organic sections.

If you make it, let it steep for 10 minutes. It only gets more potent.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

er, Yogi TEA. Yogi TEA.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I am so disappointed. I really, really liked the idea of going to the store and buying a Yogi Team.

[cyprinella]

I'll second the Yogi teas. Over the winter, I'm constantly sucking down their Cold Season/Upper Respiratory Health mix. I've even found it at Safeway.

Last time I had a cough that lingered (that wasn't pneumonia) I used the otc stuff and it just didn't put a dent in it. Then, I decided to hell with it all and shared a bottle of wine with a girlfriend of mine and that seemed to do the trick. My face hurt like *hell* from the muscles finally getting to relax, but it seemed to be the turning point.

[davidschroth.livejournal.com]

mizzlaurajean seems to like the Neti (sp?) pot. It's not sufficient all by itself, but it seems to help her a lot.

[moony]

Sudafed makes these things called Shower Soothers. They're insanely powerful little doohickies you put in the bottom of the shower, then turn the water on. Instant, extremely powerful vapor sauna. Be sure to leave the bathroom door open, and don't touch the little wafer - it gets hot! It saves my butt when the allergies get too much for me.

Also, Robitussen makes these cough gels which are easier to take than the liquid and last unbelievably long. I had a bear of a cold last year and I couldn't talk for coughing, until I got these. They really, really helped.

Beyond that, peppermint tea with ample honey and something warm and ice cream help a tickly throat. I've also found that Claritin doesn't help as much as Allegra does. Allegra is what I take and it keeps me from oozing all over the place.

*pats Peg* Poor thing.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Go to Urgent Care, tell them what you told us, and get some cough syrup with codeine.

K.

"cough syrup with codeine."

[mizzlaurajean.livejournal.com]

What she said. Now that's the medicine so you can get good sleep.

Steroid inhalers also good. But require a prescription.

Vicks Vapor Rub.

And a steamy shower

Do these in order and then head to bed.

Also

[mizzlaurajean.livejournal.com]

if your cough is caused by allergies you may have allergy induced asthma.

Cause that ain't normal. Just sayin.

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

If at all possible, call your GP and ask for him to prescribe something with codeine. This will at least let you sleep.

Other than that, inhaling steam sometimes helps, as does drinking hot lemonade (ideally with Scotch in).

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

Oh!

Worth trying as a comfort measure -- there are these things called "Shower Soothers" that are in the Vapo-Rub/ cold section. They are fizzy tablets you drop in the bottom of a hot shower; they release peppermint and eucalyptus vapors. I'm not sure they actually help, but they do make me feel better. Spendy, though, roughly $1.00 per tablet.

[amethistdolphin.livejournal.com]

HOmemade pineaplle syrup.
Just cook the pineapple with sugar till its thick.

I dont remember exactly but Ill post the recipe again as soon as I find it.

[windelina.livejournal.com]

I am prone to persistent hacking coughs myself - and whiskey DID soothe the beast. Brandy is particularly good, and not too bad tasting.

Another thing:
nasal irrigation
I have a friend with severe allergies to scents and she discovered it and I've since found that many people recommend it for all sorts of colds, allergies, etc.
What it will do is wash the pollen out of your sinuses so that they don't get as irritated. It sounds weird and like it might hurt, but it's actually kinda pleasant and only somewhat odd-feeling.

Fairly cheap and it might provide some relief beyond just dealing with the symptoms.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Warm tea with a tablespoon of bourbon. I loathe bourbon, but it seems to burn out the cough.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Please take care. I wound up in the ER a few years ago with a similar cough - I would cough and cough, shallow, breathless coughs, completely nonproductive. The only thing that really helped, in the end, was getting a nebulizer and doing home breathing treatments with albuterol.

For lesser coughs, Twinings makes a ginger lemon tea that could raise the dead.

[eal.livejournal.com]

Sigh. Okay, I have a whole aresenal for this kind of thing:

Mucinex -- love, love this stuff. It will break up congestion and make a non-productive cough productive.

Kiss My Face Cold and Flu bath -- if you don't want to pay their prices Gerber makes a baby vapor bath that smells similar to me, anyway. I'm guilty of keeping one or the other right next to me.

One of those personal vaporizor things that Vicks came out with -- just pour hot water in there and the little pad sends out strong smells.

Throat Coat tea -- Traditional medicinals version -- wonderful stuff.

and if all else fails: I steep thyme leaves in water (like a quart or more) for a while (a few hours) add honey and lemon juice. Mix it all together and take it regularly.

See, I have asthma, so I also have advair, singulair, and two different types of rescue inhalers. Coughing is the bane of my existence.

[alicebentley]

My favorite trick is to boil gingerroot slices (a hefty handful, about the size of a quarter each) in a couple cups of water for 15 minutes. Pour off the liquid and sip once it's cooled enough to not burn you.

I have to add honey to get it down, but Mike sips it straight.

[mayakda.livejournal.com]

I agree with the homemade ginger tea sugegstion.
But also with the possibility that she might need albuterol as it does sound like cough variant asthma.

[(Anonymous)]

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