What's Good for a Persistent Cough?

[johnnymk]

It started Wednesday night and is starting to make me asthmatic just like last year. Any suggestions?

[kimchicowboy]

i usually have a persistent cough after other symptoms of a cold have already gone away. i usually just try to get some good rest. and then one day, i realize it's gone. :)

[brainsmile]

lots of fluids

[hoey222]

robitussin.....


codeine.....(hehe)

also cool mist - any kind of moist air will help ease the cough


unfortunately it's the season, we had our first trip to the emergency room with the lil one this week. she has the croup. and of course that's viral, so me and the wife now have a nasty cough - bleh

[Emqtee]

My asthma kicks up in the cold weather, is it getting colder where you are? Maybe you should see your doctor, Advair really seems to help.

[welfareloser]

if it's an unproductive cough due to a reactive airway, you just need a massive cough suppressant... hydrocodone. it makes you only a little loopy, and it REALLY kills the cough. my immune system took such a hit from having kids, that i wound up with month-long coughs several times. without that stuff, i would literally sleep no more than two hours. my abs were rock-hard, i coughed so much. it SUCKED the one time i got sick while my regular doc was on vacation and the fill-in decided i was narcotic-seeking and wouldn't give it to me. oh, man... my complaints about that guy got some RESULTS, too.

what exactly do you mean by the cough making you asthmatic? definitely see a doctor about it...

[BrewMaster]

Tussin CF. It worked great for me along with some pseudophedrine (not at the same time). The cough syrup with hydrocodone didn't do crap for me.

[johnnymk]

The cough has subsided for now. However, my asthma is not being helped by Advair and Albuterol. Last year when this appened, I had to take Prednisone for a few days. I am thinking of calling my allergist any minute now.

And yes, welfare, the cough is not dry, which I am thankful for.

[ShawnLee]

"Rub that Tussin in there."
~Chris Rock

For those that would know: Is a humidifier worth it in the winter? Here in Cali, I assume yes because it's still warm and the winds make it dry, but just out of curiosity, is it good in colder areas?

[welfareloser]

it is good if you have forced air heating... keeps my kids' noses/lungs happy. when the heat's blasting, humidity can drop to lower than the sahara desert in summer, literally (like 5% or less, i think...) humidifiers can keep it at a comfortable 40%.

the cool-mist ones are bacteria farms... the hot-mist ones are cheaper and work better, but you have to be pretty careful about childproofing em if they're in a kids' room.

[DarkFury]

robitussin.....

<Chris Rock>

What's wrong wit ya boy.... hmmm... go put some 'Tussin on it!

</Chris Rock>


"Rub that Tussin in there."
~Chris Rock


Dayuuum... ShawnLee beat me to the punch (line) :hihi:

Well, I'm trying to get ready for my drive to Florida, so I couldn't hang out earlier today. :D

[cheapchinese]

avoid cold items (no ice in any drink)

if you knew any chinese, i could have given you different remedies

anyways... try Halls, and Gatorade...

[RoniMan]

what if the cough is dry?

it's killing my throat!

any other remedies other than cough suppresants?

[dsuds]

I like WL's idea on the humidifier. Changing the humidity so something normal will greatly improve your respitory health and help get rid of a bad cough.

As for humidifiers, I've had all types. The best ones I've found are the cool evaporative units. These have a wick that gets wet and a fan blows over it. They're cheap, fairly low maintenance, and have a humidistat. Around here we have limesone water and the cool mist type powdered the whole house in limestone dust. This actually made the air worse than doing nothing. With the evaporative units, the limestone stays in the wick.

Also keeping the house/work environment a bit cooler helps as well. Keeping the house too warm makes the drier conditions worse. 65 degrees is fine.

[oblongmelon]

what if the cough is dry?

it's killing my throat!

any other remedies other than cough suppresants?
Robitussin is the best....
or the old home remedy of a shot of Rye over rock candy...
tea with honey-or hell just a spoon full of honey..and loads of water.
Steam-get it going somehow..via vaporizor, or turn your shower on HOT and let it run for a while (without you in it)....

[zippyjuan]

A recent study said that most cough medicines don't do much more for you than a placebo. If it is a dry cough you just have to keep your throat moist by sucking on candies or something. Warm beverages can help too.