Managing Cough as a Defense Mechanism and as a Symptom

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Cough medicines

There are medicines to help you stop coughing (antitussives) and others to help you cough more effectively (protussives). Some medicines are available without prescription, while others must be prescribed by a physician. No cough medicine should be taken for long periods of time (3 weeks or more) without a medical examination. You could be taking the wrong medicine without realizing it, or you could be inadvertently using cough medicine to cover up a serious problem such as asthma or lung cancer.

For tobacco smokers, the most effective way to stop coughing is to stop smoking.

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