Even though traditional remedies like honey, hot liquids and vaporizers may help, you may end up having to grab one of the best cough medicine for adults to finally kick out that persistent cough.
No wonder we always receive many emails asking us "what is the best cough medicine?"
Allow me to jog your memory a bit:
A cough is a fairly common reflex act that clears mucus or foreign irritants from your throat. Such a cough is never an issue.
Problem is when you have an acute cough.
It could happen if bacteria or a virus infects your respiratory tract. Smoking or exposure to asthma symptoms can also bring problematic coughs.
The good news is that most coughs clear or improve within two weeks. The bad news is that you should see your doctor if you are coughing blood, have "barking" cough bouts, or if it hasn't reduced after 2 weeks.
Now, let's talk treatment:
As I said earlier, try home remedies first. In case they let your down, quickly grab the best otc cough suppressant available.
A cough syrup can either be a suppressant (for dry coughs), an expectorant (for chesty coughs), or an antihistamines (for allergies and breathing complications).
In this post, we cover the strongest otc cough medicine
We will also talk about the best nighttime cough medicine just in case sleep runs away immediately your cough walks in!
Take a look;
What Is The Best Over The Counter Cough Medicine?
1. Creomulsion Adult Cough Medicine.
If you are ailing from a dry cough, you need a suppressant. None does this well than Dextromethorphan.
It takes control of the brain signals that initiate cough reflex hence subduing cough.
The creomulsion adult cough medicine has a strong dextromethorphan formula that works hard to allow your chest relax and start healing. It will also sooth your irritated membranes.
And it's safe as it neither has alcohol or artificial flavors
Features- No artificial flavors & no alcohol
- Rich traditional base
- Contains dextromethorphan
- the smell & taste may be a turnoff
The best medicine for dry cough for adults could be this creomulsion adult cough medicine with its calming and efficient dextromethorphan.
It suppressant, soothes and heals irritated membranes.
2. Robitussin DM Adult Cough Medicine For Adults
Unless you have the best night time cough medicine, you will find it very hard to sleep at night especially if you have a persistent cough.
When you have a bout of a productive cough, the Robitussin adult cough medicine helps you sleep by decongesting your chest through its mucus thinning, non-drowsy formula.
Its strength comes from Guaifenesin, an ingredient commonly used to clear congestion caused by breathing illnesses, bronchitis, and common cold.
Features- Non-drowsy formula
- Contains Guaifenesin
- Raspberry flavor
- Has some other ingredients which may have negative effects
This is tough in productive cough. It relieves you and also clears up chest congestion to help you sleep at night. We were also happy that it tastes awesome and can be taken even during daytime.
It's generally twice as effective as some of the other strongest otc cough medicine
3. Boiron Chestal Adult Cough Syrup.
You don't have to go for cough suppressant for adults always! Taking a balanced mixture of warm lemon water or tea could do the trick.
In fact, recent studies have shown that honey alone could just be as effective as the best cough medicine for adults and young people.
Otherwise, you can go for a honey based cough treatment like the boiron chestal cough syrup.
It uses honey's natural goodness to coat and sooth your throat, while easing chest congestion. Your cough feels more relaxed and you will recover quickly
Features Pros- Works naturally in tandem with your body
- Delivers speedy recovery
- Succulent taste
- Relieves all types of coughs
- Reduces pain by coating and soothing your throat
- Works always- whether during daytime or at night
- Safe with even kids (2 years and above)
- The sugarly taste may be too much for sensitive taste buds
This is a safe homeopathic medicine and one of the top cough medicine. It works naturally to free you up from prolonged suffering and being honey, you can't resist its taste.
Expect it to stand up against all types of coughs.
4. GoodSense Tussin DM Cough and Chest Congestion.
To soothe your cough, try a vaporizer or go for a steamy shower. Also drink plenty of liquids and stay away from your smoke.
If not successful, go for the strongest over the counter cough medicine.
A strong candidate here is the goodsense cough and chest congestion, one of the few syrups targeting both dry and productive coughs.
It has both Dextromethorphan (suppressant) and Guaifenesin (expectorant)
Features- Alcohol Free
- Non drowsy
- Active ingredients: Dextromethorphan & Guaifenesin
- 12 years & above
- Your tongue may reject its taste
Whether it's dry or productive, this is an effective cough syrup for adults. The Dextromethorphan is a fantastic suppressant while the Guaifenesin remains a wonderful expectorant.
You can call on this when everything else has failed.
5. Delsym Adult 12 Hr Cough Relief Liquid.
There is a reason why delsym adult cough liquid features prominently in most of the best otc cough medicine reviews.
One, its silences coughs for more hours- up to 12 hours. Then, it has a tasty orange flavor so swallowing it is breeze.
Again, it acts quickly to subdue your virus just like other best over the counter cough medicine.
Last but not least, this is an Extended-Release Suspension meaning it's released into your system at controlled intervals to ensure you don't dose off prematurely.
Features- Advanced time-controlled formula
- Orange flavor
- Active ingredient: Dextromethorphan & Polistirex
- Sulfite & Alcohol Free
- It may make you drowsy especially if you overdose
Of all the best cough medicine for adults, this is my favorite. Not many of the best cough medicine for dry cough would defeat its extended release system, delicious taste and long lasting treatment.
I have always believed that it's among the best over the counter cough suppressant
6. Robitussin Peak Cold Cough & Chest Congestion Relief Medicine.
Robitussin is one of the more popular brands in the cough syrups space and they make another brave attempt at claiming the title of the best over the counter cough medicine for adults with this cold, cough and chest congestion syrup.
So, what's different from the other 'robitussins'?
This punishes congestion and expels cough when your infection is at its peak and when all the others have given up. And when the allergies target you, they are beaten back on first sight.
It's also excellent against cough caused by minor throat or bronchial inflammation.
Features- Non-drowsy formula
- Active ingredient: Dextromethorphan HBr
- Natural Flavor
- Maybe inactive against lingering coughs
When you are under the grip of an aggressive cold, you find yourself trying many syrups with very few making a difference.
But the robitussin peak cold cough medicine is purposely created for such terrible colds. It will work where the others have failed.
It makes a reasonable case to be ranked among the best medicine for cough
7. Mucinex Fast-Max DM, Max Strength, Cough Relief Liquid.
In our quest to get the answer to the question "what is the best over the counter cough medicine", we decided to try a syrup which comes packed full of energy to relieve and control bad coughs.
That's how the mucinex fast cough relief liquid ended up here. With both Dextromethorphan HBr and Guaifenesin as the key compounds, this turns the tables on the worst cough soon after swallowing it.
It fights tactically to keep your cough on hold for at least 4 hours (12 hours if you go for its tablet equivalent)
Features- Multi-symptom formula
- 4 hour relief
- Ingredients: Dextromethorphan HBr & Guaifenesin
- There is no guarantee it will work
- The taste is not the best
This fights aggressively against invading cold. It is full of strength fast acting against irritating coughs and chest congestion.
It also calms your chest. All these features combined makes it one of the the best cough medicine for adults
8.BUCKLEY'S Original Syrup for Cough.
A little cough helps clear up lingering mucus in your throat and to cleanse your air tracts for better air flow.
But if the cough persists, you might be forced to react by taking the correct dosage of your best cough suppressant for adults
The Buckley was among the first complete cough relievers and still acts firm against a variety of cold related symptoms.
It completely eliminates sore throat pain, fever, coughs, nasal/sinus congestion, not forgetting light aches and pains.
Features- Sucrose Free
- Made from Canada Balsam
- Very thick
- Packing: big 250 ml bottle
- This works against a plethora of symptoms
- Very good for night/allergic cough.
- Doesn't waste your time- you get instant relief
- Its formula makes it one of the best cough medicine for adults
- Doesn't have any side effects
- Has a nice aroma
- Tastes absolutely heinous
- Costlier than most of its peers
This elixir seems to work against multiple symptoms. You can trust it with stubborn fever and coughs refuses to go away easily.
Its formula is the most effective against sore throat pain, fever, coughs, nasal/sinus congestion, not forgetting light aches and pains.
9. Robitussin Lingering Cold Cough Suppressant for adults.
If you are always on the move, you will need your cough relief to come in a form compatible with constant movement.
You could also be looking for a cough treatment that's easier to swallow.
In all these instances, Gelcaps offer a perfect solution hence robitussin lingering cold cough suppressant comes in very handy.
We liked it more when we learnt that it keeps pain at bay for a full 8 hours.
So, if your problem is caused by a minor bronchial irritation or throat infection, then this could be your best otc cough suppressant
Features- 8 hours' worth of relief
- Available in LiquiGels
- non-drowsy formula
- Main ingredient: Dextromethorphan HBr
- May not help chronic coughs
Continue with your treatment even on your travel by carrying the robitussin lingering cold cough suppressant with you.
It gives you stable relief from irritating coughs caused by bronchial irritation and throat infection
Antihistamines are best cough medicine for adults with allergies or when you are also taking other sensitive treatment.
For example, the coricidin antihistamine cough suppressant is for those taking high blood pressure medicines.
It's powerful formula effectively handles common colds, and respiratory allergies and in the process deliver you from coughing, runny nose, sneezing, and watery eyes.
All these it does without raising your blood pressure!
Features- Chlorpheniramine Maleate
- Special formula
- Antihistamine
- Pills form
- Its effects don't hold for long- you have to keep taking regular doses in between.
- Can make you sleepy
This seems to the only antihistamine that delivers a knockout blow to all germs! In case you have some form of allergy, or hypertension or the other cough syrups end up cranking up your blood pressure, your angel could be this coricidin antihistamine cough suppressant
Factors To Consider When Buying The Best Cough Medicine For Adults.
A question we get during the cold and flu (winter) season, is how to go about choosing the best cough medicine for adults
This is what you should check;
A productive cough has mucous. A nonproductive (dry/hacky) cough doesn't come with secretions.
If its productive, pick medicine with guaifenesin (an expectorant) otherwise pick a cough suppressant (with Dextromethorphan)
Which form do you prefer it? Some like syrups, others gels, while yet others love pills. Where are you?
We have already mentioned that in case you suffer from certain allergies, you need an Antihistamine like the coricidin antihistamine cough suppressant
Some of the best cough medicine for adults have ingredients that cause nausea, drowsiness and other terrible side results.
This is why you find natural based cough medicine, for example syrups with honey being more famous as they have zero side effects.
If it's syrup with a bad scent or unappetizing taste, you will always struggle to swallow it and perhaps hinder its effectiveness
How well does it fight your cough, and decongest your nasal tracts? Or is it just talk without action?
ConclusionGetting the best cough medicine for adults should be a non-issue if you follow our review.
We have covered great suppressants, expectorants and antihistamines and we strongly believe that with this, you will soon deal that acute cough a deadly blow.
Just remember to check its side effects, effectiveness, form, taste/smell and related factors.
While these may not be the only issues, at least they give you a head start in your quest for the strongest otc cough medicine
Because, no man should suffer from a treatable condition like a cough.
From here, we wish you good health and please do get in touch if stuck!
