A nasty cough can completely drain you of energy and if you’ve ever had to navigate through the day while managing a cough, it’s likely that you felt significantly more tired at the end of the day than usual. This is because a cough is a symptom associated with the lower respiratory tract, and that includes your lungs. Based on research, compromised lung function usually means compromised activity performance.
Despite coughs being a major struggle to deal with, they’re generally easy to relieve. All you need is the right cough medicine. That now leads to the question – which cough syrup is really the appropriate choice for you? Get rid of your cough fast and give yourself a breather by following this guide on buying the best cough medicine for adults.
Best Cough Medicine for Adults: A Reviews
1. Boiron Chestal Honey Cough and Chest Congestion
With ingredients targeting dry, productive, and spasmodic coughs, Chestal Adult Honey Cough and Chest Congestion Medicine is the ideal cough medicine to have in your home or office for those sudden coughing episodes.
Its formula is intended for use on coughs caused by colds, flu, and other non-allergic conditions.
Review
This particular cough syrup comes in a sweet honey flavor, making it easy on the taste buds and pleasant to use.
Made from natural ingredients, Chestal Adult Honey Cough and Chest Congestion Medicine causes zero side-effects. It also doesn’t interact with any other medicine you may have in your system for utmost safety.
Considered the best cough medicine for adults based on consumer reviews, Chestal Adult Honey Cough and Chest Congestion Medicine provides quick relief at a reasonable and affordable price point.
Pros:
- All-natural ingredients
- Fast-acting formula
- Also ideal for minor sore throat relief
- No known drug interaction
Con:
- Has a bit of a sugar-y taste
2. BUCKLEY’S Original ‘COMPLETE’ Syrup for COUGH
Buckley’s is a Canadian-based brand that has been around for over a century and honest with its advertisement. Specifically, with their products being effective but taste awfully.
Each of its product, including the Original ‘COMPLETE’ Syrup for COUGH is free from sugar and alcohol.
Review
For those who frequently experience dry cough, Buckley’s Original Complete Syrup for Cough is an effective solution. Ranking at number two on the list of best medicine for cough, this formula particularly targets cough, but also relieves symptoms caused by colds and flu.
While it’s an effective solution for dry cough, it also causes several side-effects that can be inconvenient for some. What’s more, the formula also targets headaches, body pain, and fever.
If you don’t need these benefits, the added active ingredients could cause toxicity in the long run. For that reason, it may not be ideal to use Buckley’s as a frequent medicine for recurring cough.
Pros:
- Provides quick relief
- Works for most respiratory symptoms
- Can help with minor pain
- Easy to swallow
Cons:
- Unpleasant taste
- Awful smell
- Has side effects
3. Hyland’s Defend Cold & Cough Relief Liquid
Since 1903, Hyland’s has been producing health and wellness products for babies, kids, adults, and athletes. They formulate their products using natural ingredients to ensure their customers’ safety.
Its non-drowsy all-natural formula makes Hyland’s Defend Cold & Cough Relief Liquid another top pick as the best over the counter cough medicine.
Review
Used commonly for productive cough, Hyland’s offers relief versus coughing episodes that are caused by aggressive mucus production.
It pays to keep in mind however, that Hyland’s Defend Cold & Cough Relief Liquid is a homeopathic medicine. This means that while the natural formula might work on some, it can also be ineffective for others. Be sure to try the product out first before using it as your anti-cough staple to determine how well it works for your body.
Pros:
- All-natural active ingredients
- Works for a wide-range of symptoms
- Quick relief
- Great taste
- Non-drowse formula
Cons:
- A bit expensive
- Might not be effective for some
4. Vicks NyQuil SEVERE Cold & Flu Liquid Berry Flavored Medicine
Yet again, Vicks proves why it has staying power in this industry with its NyQuil Severe Cold & Flu Liquid in berry flavor.
Review
This powerful concoction delivers maximum strength to help relieve the nine symptoms of the common cold and the flu, including sneezing, coughing, minor body aches and pains, sinus pressure, fever, sore throat, headache, runny nose, and sneezing.
The common cold and the flu can hit differently at night. That is partly because nights are for rest time, and fitful coughs and other symptoms may keep us from resting.
The NyQuil Severe Cold & Flu syrup is especially formulated to reduce the symptoms of your illness when the sun goes down and your body gears for rest and recovery. It also acts quickly to stop flu and cold symptoms on their tracks before they get worse.
Despite many brands’ attempts to hide the real flavor of their formula behind fruity names, there’s no denying that unappealing “taste of medicine” on your tongue after taking your dose.
The elderberry flavor in this Vicks product hides it better than most brands.
Pros:
- Cooling and refreshing
- Great for nighttime relief
- Can reduce the severity and duration of nine different symptoms
Cons:
- The elderberry flavor might still not mask the taste of medicine
- Can make you drowsy
5. Amazon Basic Care Daytime & Nighttime Cold & Flu Relief
This day and nighttime combination pack is the perfect solution to those fitful coughs that keep you from working during the day and prevent a restful night’s sleep.
The AmazonBasics Daytime & Nighttime Flu Relief contains active ingredients similar to the Vicks DayQuil & NyQuil Cold & Flu Relief, which means it also packs quite a punch.
Review
Daytime and nighttime-specific formulas help you cope and stay active during the day and grant a restful sleep at night.
AmazonBasics leaves no stone unturned as far as flu and cold symptoms go. This miracle duo is formulated to address the different symptoms that plague you during the day and night.
It helps curb the duration and severity of cough, fever, sore throat, nasal congestion, and body aches and pains. That’s when cold and flu symptoms tend to strike the hardest. Keep that runny nose, sore throat, cough, and fever at bay using this AmazonBasics fast-relief formula.
Since maintaining a healthy diet is crucial in speeding up recovery, this medicine is gluten-free.
Pros:
- Reduces nighttime symptoms
- Fast, maximum relief
- Relieves multiple flu and common cold symptoms
- Daytime and nighttime-specific formula
Con:
- May not be as fast-acting for some users
6. Tylenol Cold + FLU Multi-Action Day Caplets
This twin pack of Tylenol Cold + Flu Pain Reliever and Fever Reducer contains 24 caplets and can reduce the duration and severity of flu and common cold symptoms.
It also helps loosen mucus in your system, making it easier for you to get rid of. But those aren’t the only reasons to have it on hand.
Review
Among the nine symptoms this product aims to abate are fever, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, and body aches and pains. It functions as an expectorant, loosening phlegm, so your coughs become more productive.
Here are other features that make this Tylenol entry a must-have in your medicine cabinet:
- 325mg of acetaminophen relieves aches and pains quickly and reduces the intensity and duration of fever
- 10mg cough suppressants to prevent those fitful coughs from keeping you up at night
- Dextromethorphan HBr calms down coughs effectively
- Great medicine for the common cold and flu that can also be taken by kids ages 12 and up
Pros:
- Provides multi-symptom relief
- Non-drowse
- Minimizes symptoms of the flu and common cold
- Fantastic all-natural remedy
- Doctor-recommended brand
Cons:
- May not be as effective for some users
- The mint flavor may not appeal to some
7. Robitussin Maximum Strength Honey Cough + Chest Congestion DM
You know it works when you see the brand Robitussin preceding the name. True enough, the Maximum Strength Honey Cough + Chest Congestion does exactly what it says, and then some.
Review
This one’s made with real honey that loosens phlegm so you can cough it up effectively. As the sun goes down and your body gears up for rest and recovery, you can rely on this fast-acting medicine to keep those sporadic coughs from ruining your night.
It also decongests the chest to help you better cope with symptoms during the day and provide a restful sleep at night.
Like the last medicine, Robitussin Maximum Strength is also free from gluten. Each dose of this miracle medicine also contains 19.2% real, grade-A honey.
Pros:
- Delicious honey flavor
- Works fast
- Provides multi-symptom relief
- Helps remove mucus from your system
- Great for daytime coping and nighttime resting
- One of the most trusted brands
Con:
- Flavor may be too sweet for some
8. Sambucol Cold & Flu Relief Tablets
Here’s a brand you may not hear about often, but it provides a pleasantly surprising and strong entry with the Cold & Flu Relief tablets. The whole box contains 60 quick-dissolving elderberry-flavored tablets that reduce the intensity and duration of the common cold and flu symptoms.
Review
Having several months’ supply of cough medicine in one box is merely one of the many reasons to have this product on hand. It also addresses the different symptoms of an illness, including fever, nasal and chest congestion, cough, runny nose, sinus congestion, chills and many others.
Cough medicine is medicine. No matter the flavor, chances are you will still feel the medicine on your tongue. Not with this one. The elderberry overrides the unappealing taste, making this product great for kids (ages four and up).
The medicine also reduces the duration and severity of symptoms. That is when taken during the onset of said symptoms.
Taking this medicine at the first sign of the flu or common cold increases your chances of stopping the illness’ progression.
Additionally, neither does it make you feel sleepy nor overly reliant on it.
Pros:
- Optimal healing when taken during the onset of symptoms
- Frees you of all kinds of congestion
- Kids won’t think it’s medicine
- Works on allergies
Con:
- A bit too pricey
Buying Information for Cough Medicine for Adults
Cough medicine can be commonly found in drugstores and even grocery stores as over-the-counter purchases. However, this doesn’t mean that any random bottle you find on your local store’s shelf is good enough for your needs.
Consider these 3 factors when making a purchase to narrow your options and find the best cough medicine for adults.
Syrup vs Tablets vs Effervescent
Cough medicine is commonly available in three forms, namely as a syrup, tablet, or effervescent. Each has its own pros and cons, and some people might find that a particular choice works better on their body than others.
Syrup
This is the most common form of cough medicine even for adults because of the fact that syrup is more readily absorbed by the body.
This reduces the time it takes for the medicine to produce results. What’s more, syrup makes direct contact with the back of the throat, coating it and soothing sore throat muscles to suppress coughing. For this reason, syrup is the ideal choice for people who want immediate relief.
Tablets
Tablets, capsules, caplets, and gel tabs are a less common form of cough medicine. Because they can take some time before they’re fully metabolized by the body, solids like tablets are much slower to take effect.
What’s more, they don’t provide the soothing effect that syrup can achieve. Despite this, many choose to take in tablets and capsules, especially if they need relief while they’re on the go.
Effervescent
This can be purchased as a tablet or powder, which is then dissolved in water. The lengthy process can make it tedious to prepare a dosage, making it a poor choice for individuals at work. Regardless, effervescent can be as effective as syrups and often taste better, too.
Suppressant vs Expectorant
Different kinds of cough require different forms of treatment. A dry cough needs to be suppressed so that the throat can rest and heal, especially if scarring has developed.
A productive cough requires an expectorant to clear out mucus. This will prevent the body from triggering the cough reflex to expel phlegm. Consider whether you have a wet or dry cough to determine which of the two you require.
Antihistamine
If your cough is caused by an allergic reaction, a cough syrup that incorporates antihistamine into its formula should be your top priority. This won’t only help relieve your cough, but will also calm your allergies.
Be careful, however – a cough that isn’t caused by allergies can’t be cured by an antihistamine. Taking an anti-allergy cough syrup may relieve your cough in this case, but will also cause several side-effects depending on the formula. Avoid antihistamine ingredients if your cough is caused by colds, flu, or other factors not related to allergies.
Best Cough Medicine FAQs
1. Who shouldn’t take cough medicine?
The FDA does not advise OTC cough medicine for kids under two, as these could cause adverse effects that could potentially be life-threatening.
2. How frequently can you take cough medicine?
You can take cough medicine as frequently as six times a day. That is given that you are taking the appropriate dosage for you.
3. When should cough medicine be taken?
Cough medicine or suppressants are best taken when you have a dry cough that you can no longer hold back.
4. Can you take cough medicine even if you don’t need it?
That is ill-advised. Taking flu medicine when you don’t have the flu or exhibit its symptoms can potentially cause confusion and paranoia.
5. What are some cough precautions?
Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or tissue if you’re about to sneeze or feel a cough coming. In case you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your elbow instead of your hands. Wash up with soap and water afterward.
The Right Cough Medicine for You
Not one cough medicine works for everyone. The right one will depend on the type of cough and other symptoms you’re experiencing. It also depends if you have dietary restrictions.
That said, the Boiron Chestal Honey Cough and Chest Congestion is an all-natural medicine we highly recommend.