Doctors Express The Effectiveness Of Drugs To Overcome Dry And Concrete Coughs

Illustration of a man coughing (Pexels/Vlada Karpovich)

JAKARTA - It rains more often this December, which makes many people get flu and cough. This condition will be very troublesome because it can interfere with activities, especially coughing which can also make people around uncomfortable.

To deal with coughs, people often rely on cough medicine as a solution. Professor of respiratory treatment at the University of Manchester, forced Smith, said that most coughs come from the flu virus that can recover naturally.

Cough medicine cannot treat the virus because it causes it, but can calm the throat and reduce itching sensations that trigger cough. For dry cough, it is recommended to use volcanic cough.

"If the cough is dry, choosing a thick sweetener warranty like glycerol can help 'coat' the throat and protect against drought," Smith said, quoted by the BBC, Monday, December 8, 2025.

However, what needs to be considered on the label is the sugar content which is often very high in sugar-free coughs. Sugar-free cough medicine can be a good choice, if you pay close attention to sugar content.

In addition, cough medicine is also often advertised containing certain active ingredients. Such as dexstrometorfan, which is claimed to suppress cough reflexs, although the impact is minimal.

"Dose is always important, especially with dexstrometorfan which can lead to addiction. Don't exceed the recommended dose on the label," he said.

Meanwhile, coughing has peaked and feels short of breath due to secondary infections such as bronchitis, which causes inflammation in the respiratory tract, or excessive phlegm buildup in the nose and sinuses.

Levomenthol is an ingredient found in some cough mildos for coughing fast. It offers a cold sensation at the back of the throat, which reduces itching by covering irritation.

Although the use of drugs to relieve cough needs to be done, Smith also reminded that coughs do need to occur.

Cough is the body's way of removing mucus. If the cough breaks, it releases it, it can relieve the respiratory tract.

"I prefer to get him out. I'm not going to try to hold him back, but to get him out," he said.

The condition that needs to be watched out for is the color of the phlegm on coughing. If it is dark brown, then maybe because there is blood in it, you have to immediately check yourself with a doctor.