Remedy for a persistent cough?

Honey and lemon in hot water. This usually works.

I sometimes feel like I have an almost permanent cough. The only thing that stops it is salt water. After cleaning my teeth I swill my mouth with warm salt water a few times then gargle. I usually take a few sips as well. Have to wash lips very thoroughly after to stop them getting dry.

There are apparently a few reasons why it might work - salt is antibacterial so could reduce/kill any bacteria causing mucus production, and salt water also dissolves mucus.

Codeine will suppress a cough but it can be dangerous to do this if your lungs are full of gunk as you could drown.

I’ve been coughing, not very badly, for about six months. I think it’s caused by my dry eye drops, which I often feel going down my throat. It helps to direct the drops towards the outer edge of each eye so they don’t go straight down my tear ducts.

I’ve been living with a non-stop cough for 8 years. Well ok, not me exactly it’s my DH.

BP drug changes, inhaler changes, several chest X-rays 2-3 CT scans, steroids, antibiotics, antacids, nothing has helped or revealed anything at all. Lying down flat helps somewhat but he was told that is most unusual as coughs normally worsen when lying flat. He is often breathless.

Researched everything I can think of and no closer to an answer.

That was helpful , not

Coughing does lead to more coughing so good advice on here.
Co Codamol in all its different names really does help suppress the dry cough.Once in the body, in the liver I think, it makes morphine.
Addictive yes, but if taken for a week or less then nothing to worry about .A cough that won’t go away is very wearing and damages the vocal cords.

Codeine is a known cough suppressant keepingquiet It is in certain cough medicines but they are not over the counter and the dose is very low. I think GP’s are reluctant to prescribe it for a cough as it’s quite a strong drug. The precursor to morphine.

FranP

Erica23

Has he tried a daily antihistamine. Sometimes it helps by drying the nose and throat.

Trouble with taking anti-histamines is that too long or too often and your body starts to make more mucus to fight it.

I am struggling with the anti-histamine thing.
OP said her DH gets a cough when he has a 'bit of a cold.' Which is annoying but quite normal- coughing is a defence mechanism to keep infection from getting to the lungs.
If the cough is due to a viral or anti-bacterial infection then why would ant-histamines, which are used to dampen down an allergic response, not an infection, have any effect?
I find the codeine thing a bit puzzling too, but I suppose if these things work then why not take them?
I have had a cough all my life and was always told to take nothing over the counter.
Recently though, it is due mainly to reflux for which I do have medication and that seems to work. The human body is a marvellous thing.

twiglet77

missdeke

I have had a persistent cough for almost 15 years. I didn't even have a cold when it started. I've seen specialists and had all sorts of tests. The only thing that anybody came up with was the camera showed my vocal chords were raw and swollen and I was told the only way that would improve was to stop coughing. So no help there!!! Another specialist advised taking 180 mg of Fexofenadine 4 times a day which makes your skin, eyes and throat excessivley dry, so that didn't really help either. I've tried every medicine and tablet that you can buy, and even tried all the crackpot remedies that the internet can come up with, even leaving banana skins soaking in water and drinking the gloopy mess that leaves.

Then in 2022 I fell and sheered the top of my femur off which resulted in a hip replacement, the medication they sent me home with was cocodamol with instructions to gradually reduce it from the 8 a day until I had none left. At that point I realised I hadn't been coughing since I'd been in hospital and as I continued taking them I still wasn't coughing. As soon as I had run out my cough came back, so I spoke to my GP and he agreed to prescribing 1 cocodamol twice a day and at last my cough is under control. My GP is happy to continue prescribing as I have shown no sign of having to increase the dosage.

So I can only suggest getting your husband some cocodamol and see if that works as well as it has for me. Coughing all day and all night is so tiring and in my opinion if medication works thenit's best to take it.

May I ask what dosage of cocodamol please? I know it can be bought from a pharmacy without prescription but a GP can prescribe one with a higher level of codeine.

When I have occasionally bought it over the counter they always say use for a maximum of three days anyway!

The tablets are 500 mg paracetamol 30mg codeine. The reason they say don't take for more than 3 days is because it is an addictive substance and needs to be prescribed and monitored for longer term use.

I have had a persistent cough for about 16 years. I've had lots of specialists look at my throat but no explanation except the speech a language therapist said it may be connected to the vagus nerve. But no treatment offered. At one point one of the vocal cords in my throat wasn't closing properly and I was given exercises for that. It took a while but the vocal cord recovered but the cough remained. I was told that coughing makes you cough; the more you cough the more you cough! It's best to try and stop it starting, which is tricky and not possible if it's at all productive. However, one surprising thing that has helped with this horrible tickly cough is that I have found an over the counter medication called ColdZyme helps quite a lot. It is a throat spray that is meant to prevent /treat viral infections but the unexpected bonus for me is that if I use it as soon as I feel even a tiny tickle in my throat, I don't cough. It's an over-the- counter medication and it's also available from Amazon. Coughing constantly is exhausting so I hope your DH finds something that helps.

Oh I feel your pain. I’ve had a cough since October. I have been prescribed a steroid inhaler as well as a reliever, but if it’s working it’s very minimal. Some people just seem prone to coughs. My voice is raspy and croaky and people think I have a sore throat, but it’s just the constant coughing. (I actually sound like a seal!) oh, and I wee every time I cough too. It’s really wearing me down and I can get quite tearful at times. I think the idea of cocodamol is a good one. I will look into that.

Sipping water. Blowing nose to prevent nasal drip. But take a pain killer of your choice before lying down. It helps if you cannot feel the irritation

Erica23

Has he tried a daily antihistamine. Sometimes it helps by drying the nose and throat.

Trouble with taking anti-histamines is that too long or too often and your body starts to make more mucus to fight it.

I had a persistent cough for a very long time. With an unrelated medical problem I was eventually diagnosed with a heart condition and was put on heart medication. Eventually I realised I had stopped coughing and I have never coughed again! Amazing!
I hope your husband stops coughing and starts to improve soon.

This may sound harsh but it is actually more a note to self as I’m in the same boat currently!
But I have to try and not cough as it can become a habit that needs to be broken. Also common!

missdeke

I have had a persistent cough for almost 15 years. I didn't even have a cold when it started. I've seen specialists and had all sorts of tests. The only thing that anybody came up with was the camera showed my vocal chords were raw and swollen and I was told the only way that would improve was to stop coughing. So no help there!!! Another specialist advised taking 180 mg of Fexofenadine 4 times a day which makes your skin, eyes and throat excessivley dry, so that didn't really help either. I've tried every medicine and tablet that you can buy, and even tried all the crackpot remedies that the internet can come up with, even leaving banana skins soaking in water and drinking the gloopy mess that leaves.

Then in 2022 I fell and sheered the top of my femur off which resulted in a hip replacement, the medication they sent me home with was cocodamol with instructions to gradually reduce it from the 8 a day until I had none left. At that point I realised I hadn't been coughing since I'd been in hospital and as I continued taking them I still wasn't coughing. As soon as I had run out my cough came back, so I spoke to my GP and he agreed to prescribing 1 cocodamol twice a day and at last my cough is under control. My GP is happy to continue prescribing as I have shown no sign of having to increase the dosage.

So I can only suggest getting your husband some cocodamol and see if that works as well as it has for me. Coughing all day and all night is so tiring and in my opinion if medication works thenit's best to take it.

May I ask what dosage of cocodamol please? I know it can be bought from a pharmacy without prescription but a GP can prescribe one with a higher level of codeine.

When I have occasionally bought it over the counter they always say use for a maximum of three days anyway!

I had a cough for ages I bought some Lungwort from British supplements ( as they are very pure. Three weeks in cough gone and no phlegm. Also the Chinese shops sell a brilliant cough mixture that’s just made from plants.

The only thing that stops me from coughing is alcohol. Best keep it for night time though .

I have the nasty bug that feels more than a cold with a really rasping cough that hurts right to the bottom of my lungs, sore throat,loss of voice, night sweats, exhaustion but not actual flu when you can't even raise your head from the pillow. My husband brought back a whole variety of throat sweets and the ones that work best are called soothers. I found the strawberry ones and the cherry ones were the best with a cup of hot tea. I am five days into the bug now and today I am starting to feel just a little bit better.

Variations of good honey, lemon and ginger will help a bit.
You can buy small plastic cups, with a lid funnel to use as a 'sniffy', by putting in hot water and olbas oil drops, as mentioned upthread.
A tiny piece of raw union, now and again, if your stomach can cope.
Lots of other good suggestions in this Thread.
Hope you find your magic solution.

I find Mullein loose leaf Tea helps my coughs/chest infections. It is known to ease lung conditions. If you do a search you can find the info.
I buy organic Mullein from Amazon. Add good quality honey for required sweetness.
amzn.eu/d/fiT4YQq

I find teapigs lemon and ginger tea very comforting. And I’ve heard pineapple juice is good for coughs.

Honey dissolved in hot water with a cinnamon stick is very soothing for the throat.

Robitussin is good and steaming with a few menthol crystals in hot water (available from chemist) to dilate airways, especially before bed when that niggly tickling seems to start. It makes your eyes water for few minutes but effective.