Medicines Used to Fight a Bad Cough

Hi J., my step-daughter used to have a terrible cough that sounded exactly the way you explain it to be. The only way we finally got it to go away was to get her out of a smokers environment and then she had to go through treatments with a nebulizer and an inhaler until it cleared up. It took about 2 months.

Children's Chestal Honey, homeopathic cough syrup from Boiron.

Excellent syrup: relieves coughs, loosens chest congestion, pleasant tasting and the most important: no side effects...

My son had the same nasty cold and children's mucenix really worked for him. It loosened up and thinned out the phlem and he was able to get it out. I used the one that didn't have the cough suppressent. Hope that helps.

With the recent news about over the counter cough medicine not really being helpful, i've taken a more natural (holistic) approach to taking care of my kids common cold. Cold weather does not cause colds, although most colds are caught in the winter. Cold viruses thrive better in colder temps when there is less humidity in the atmosphere.
Usually when my kids start coughing and it sounds like they're coughing out a lung..they get better in a few days as it is the body's way of getting rid of the mucus.

Boosting their immune system may be the best thing. I personally, break off a gel capsule of Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids and mix it with a little bit of orange juice until it dissolves. (read the label to make sure that it doesn't have any "Extras" like phosphates, sorbitol etc. just stick with plain vitamin c with bioflavonoids and the gelatin). One pill a day for each child.

Airborne is okay i guess, if you can stand the fact that it has "sucralose". (we stay away from aspartame and artificial sweeteners)

Over the counter cold medications don't cure a cold, they just help alleviate symptoms. REal cold relief may lie in substances such as interferons, natural proteins that the body produces in response to viral infection. Interferons seem to improve the respiratory tract's ability to ward off viruses. Vitamin C promotes interferon production ( taken from Prescriptions for Nutritional Healing)

Echinacea in (a gel cap) may also be helpful. Break off a capsule and mix it with orange juice. It's a natural immune system booster. And you can find these at a health food store.

Goldenseal in a gel cap is stronger than echinacea, but it's not a good idea to take goldenseal for a prolonged period (it inhibits intestinal flora) and my kids personally hate the taste. LOL

Hyssop, an evergreen that can be taken as a tea acts as an expectorant and has antiviral properties. As is Mullein and Cod liver oil, and Elderberry. Wild Cherry Bark soothes a cough too. Health food stores should carry these teas. They come in regular tea bags, or in bulk where you have to get a tea ball to brew the tea.

there is a children's Delsym and a childrens Mucinex D or DM...try those.

are you sure the cough isn't just related to him being exposed to other children and their colds?

best of luck!

J.,

Have you tried Delsym? It works great when my kids get a bad cough.

robitussin cf is great for that cought. so is triamininc expectorant. read what it does since triaminic has meds for the symptoms. robistussin cf is a supperssant / expectorant. quiets the cought while losening the phlem making the coughs productive. also vicks coolmist humidiphyer ( ok my spelling sucks tonight :p ) works great. the cool mist doesn't irritate swollen tissues but will help cogetstion. had 1 child who had breathing issues when i put her in a steamy room and another who did better with heat. if it keeps goig ten take him back to the dr otherwise treat the congestion the best ya can.

Mucinex!! My son has a bad allergy cough this stuff works!

Dear J., I am a mother of four , aging from 22 years to 28 years. I suggest you call the pedi and have him checked, maybe he can recommend a cough medicine, ask him about childres mucinex.

hi J....
go to vitacost.com and here is a link for what
i feel is the best thing for your son.
http://www.vitacost.com/Boiron-Childrens-Chestal-Honey

it is so wonderful and natural...i have been using the adult
formula for years... i have asthma and gave up codeine cough syrup for this years ago because it was so much better and
no toxic ingredients.
i only use vitacost because their prices are the best even with the small shipping charge.

I recommend LOCAL honey- not purchased in grocery stores but at a farmer's market! Honey will naturally break up the mucus and help the cough. Local honey (within a 50 mile radius of your home) because it will contain the allergens and pollens so that your child can build a tolerance to their environment and Local because the honey is not mixed with fillers or Kayo syrup.

I also will do steam in the evenings before bed either by filling the bathroom with steam or using a warm washcloth near his mouth. Good Luck!!!!

Dear J.,

I feel your pain. My son is only 19 months now, but over Christmas He had the croup for the first time. I thought I was going to freak out. His pediatrician told me to give him Robitussin CF. I Have also heard that Delsym is a good expectorant. Maybe one of these medicines will help your son.

A. King

Regular old over the counter cough meds work great for my 2 year old when he gets the whooping cough and the one that sounds like it hurts to cough ~ You know, you have to stop what you are doing to hold your belly when you cough.
Just make sure you continue to give it to him in regular doses even waking him in the night ~ It's worth it because it works faster.

I also use a Vick's vaporizer at night which helps him sleep and break up the congestion. Plus, rub a SMALL amount ~ Although at your son's age a normal amount should be fine ~ of Vick's Vapor Rub on his chest.

well you have to get the ones with expectrant in it to bring up the phelm. hope that helps. you can ask your local pharmicist to help you.good luck I hate thohse kinds of coughs. also have you ever heard this at night put vapor rub like vicks sauve on his feet and then place socks on them they say it works to help ease the coughing--hey when they are coughing that bad you'll try ANYTHING --right.

Hi! My name is Mayra. I have a 9 year old girl and a baby boy who is 11 month. My baby boy had a cough similar to your son and back home (Puerto Rico) is called "tos de cruv" which is a cough that sounds like a big dog barking. The pediatrician gave him therapy with saline solution every six hours (sharp) and some medicine to control his cough. Talk to your pediatrician firts to investigate about "tos de cruv". Hope he feels better.

My daughter had this and I didn't think it was too bad since she was playing and had no fever. I finally took her to the doctor because it was bad at night. She had pnemonia!! I was shocked and felt terrible that i had not taken her sooner. If he sounds like he has a lot of phlem I would definelty take him in. I also recommend Mucinex for kids. It helped me when i had the flu.

You might want to ask your doctor...a few years ago, mine prescribed Albuterol (liquid) for my son's bad cough. It got us through the really tough nights until the cough went away. Also, if you haven't already, it would be good to have your son checked out by an MD to make sure the cough isn't a sign of something more serious.

For a quick fix, I've recently read that a couple spoonfulls of honey is effective in calming coughs in children. Worth a shot! Good luck.

I have found that children's mucinex works best for my 5 year old

You didn't mention if he's been to the dr yet for this cough. It could be he has an URI, upper respiratory infection, bronchitis, etc, which could turn into pheumonia if not treated. The dr will give you a cough expectorent if needed to help get it up. you don't want to suppress the cough except at night when sleeping. good luck

Try Delsom and have him breath steam. Steam will help loosen, but the cough will sound much worse.

Grew up in a military family so I really understand where you are coming from re:the medical care (or lack thereof).

If you need a cough medicine to help loosen the phlegm, then Triaminic is the LAST thing you should be giving him. It is a cough SUPPRESANT...you need a cough EXPECTORANT. My 7 yo had the same type of cough you described-doctor did prescribe albuterol and an antibiotic (since it had lingered for 5 weeks, it had turned into a bacterial infection). But she did recommend Mucinex as something to give over the counter for loosening up the congestion.

Good luck-I know how frustrating it is to deal with sick kids!

mix Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey(1/2 & 1/2), and put 2 tablespoonsful in a glass of water (4 to 8 oz.) and drink. If already coughing you may have to drink several times a day. I have allergies,asthma and bronchitis, and was taking meds (both script and non-scrip) like "they were going out of style" until I read this iin the "Vinegar Book". I never have to take anything else anymore.After you're over this cough you should drink this nearly every day as a preventative!! I mix mine in a pint jar, and turn it upright, then upside-down so it will mix good & before empty mix another.

Both my boys (4 yrs old and 19 months old) got a cold with a cough that seemed to last forever. I gave them Children's Mucinex (expectorant) during the day and at night I gave them Childrens Delsym (cough suppressant). This way during the day they were trying to hack it out but at night they were able to sleep through the night without any coughing fits.
Best of luck!
Jen

Hello
Have you heard or tried 'Mucinex' for children? It works well (on tight coughs) and loosens the phlem quickly and allows the cough to be more productive (ie getting the phlem out). My two and half year old just got over a bad bout while travelling and the poor thing needed relief (couldn't sleep for coughing all night) and it worked wonders. She could cough without crying afterwards cause 'it hurt'. Breaks your heart when kids are sick so all you want to do is make them better!
Hope your son feels better soon!
ps vaporizers work well too!

YOU HAVE FREE MEDICAL SEE A DOCTOR:THE BEST IS PERSCRIPTION ONLY

mY DAD MADE HIS OWN HONEY,LEMON JUICE AND JACK DANIELS, THE JACK CUTS THE PHLEM AND MAKE THEM SLEEPY. THE LEMON AND HONEY JUST ADDS FLAVOR

Take him in and they'll probably give him a breathing treatment and possibly some meds. The best kind I have seen, I don't know the name, but they are tiny yellow balls. They seem to work really great.
In the meantime, turn the shower on as hot as it goes and close him in the bathroom to breathe in the steam. (don't put him under the water; just in the room)
Also, during this time, try to avoid dairy. But definitely take him in to the doctor. It says you're military so it's free. Take advantage. Call the appointment line and they have same day appointments available if you request it.
Hope he starts feeling better soon!