Dry Cough Remedies From Your Pantry to the Pharmacy

Few symptoms are more annoying than a dry cough, which can make you feel like you’re stuck in a loop: You feel a tickle in your throat, cough to get rid of it, enjoy temporary relief — and then the tickling sensation returns, starting the cycle again.

“Coughing itself isn’t a bad thing,” says Nikki Newman, board-certified physician assistant at Beaufort Memorial Lowcountry Medical Group Primary Care. “Your cough reflex kicks in when you need to expel something from your airway or lungs that shouldn’t be there, such as allergens or phlegm, which we also call mucus. Coughing too much, however, can disrupt your sleep and cause chest discomfort, among other issues.”

Longer-lasting relief, however, may be closer than you think. You can find dry cough remedies at home or at your nearest pharmacy

Understanding Your Cough

There are two main types of coughs: wet or dry.

Wet cough is often caused by an infection, such as a cold or the flu. It may be productive, produce mucus or phlegm, and sound rattly.
Dry cough can be caused by various factors, including allergies and asthma, acid reflux, or irritants in the air. It is nonproductive, meaning it does not produce mucus, and may sound like hacking or barking.

“Dry coughing that lasts three weeks or more can cause chest pain and shortness of breath,” Newman says. “Frequent dry coughing can lead to a sore throat.

Causes of Dry Cough

As you are recovering from a cold, you may still experience a persistent dry cough. Upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold, flu and COVID-19, are some of the most common causes of a dry cough. Your cough may start out wet before transitioning to dry once other symptoms are gone, or you may have a dry cough from the beginning.

This happens because inflammation in your airways and lungs may take longer to clear up, while your cough reflex may become more sensitive. According to the National Library of Medicine, acute coughs from upper respiratory infections typically fade in three weeks. Subacute coughs can last for three to eight weeks. If your cough lasts for more than eight weeks, it is considered a chronic cough, and you should see a health care provider for evaluation.

If you are concerned about a persistent cough, your primary care provider can identify the cause and recommend treatments. However, there are also several remedies you can try at home to get relief.

Home Remedies for Dry Cough

While coughing is a natural reflex that helps your body clear irritants and mucus from your airways, a persistent or severe cough can be exhausting and irritating. Try these other home remedies to treat the symptoms of a dry cough:

Avoid harsh irritants. Stay away from smoke, dust and strong odors that may worsen your cough.
Create your own sauna. Warm, moist air can help reduce coughing. Close the bathroom door, turn your tub or shower to its hottest setting, and let the room fill with steam. Then, breathe deeply and relax in the warm water.
Gargle with salt water. To help reduce inflammation and ease throat irritation, try gargling with warm salt water.
Get rid of dry air. Create a throat-soothing environment throughout your home with a humidifier, which adds moisture to the air.
Keep the fluids coming. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and lubricate a sore throat. Hot beverages are especially beneficial for managing a dry cough — just be sure not to burn your throat. Other good options are warm tea, broth or milk.
Use cough drops or hard candies to suppress that tickling feeling. Sucking on cough drops encourages your salivary glands to make more saliva, which helps keep your throat lubricated. In addition, many types of cough drops contain honey, menthol or other throat-soothing ingredients. Looking for an excuse to enjoy your favorite hard candy? Sucking on hard candies also increases saliva output.

“Acute, dry coughs are common, and many people can treat them at home until they go away on their own,” Newman says. “You can start by using remedies you may already have in your home. Honey, for example, has anti-inflammatory properties that can help calm the tickling feeling in your throat and reduce coughing. You can eat a spoonful of honey or stir it into a cup of your favorite tea.”

Navigating the Cough Medicine Aisle

If you’re struggling with a persistent cough, you’ll find a diverse range of cough medicines available at the pharmacy to help relieve your symptoms.

“Home remedies for dry cough may not always be enough on their own to control symptoms,” Newman says. “You may need to combine them with an over-the-counter medication to get the best results.”

To choose the best one for you, look for medicines containing dextromethorphan, an antitussive (also known as a cough suppressant) that can stop your urge to cough if you need relief from a tickling feeling in your throat. On the other hand, if you’re dealing with cough-inducing mucus, an expectorant called guaifenesin may help break it up. Some cough medicines include both dextromethorphan and guaifenesin.

Over-the-counter cough medicines are safe for most adults. If, however, you experience side effects, such as dizziness or mood changes, stop the medication and consult your primary care provider. Follow the manufacturer’s dosing instructions and avoid taking cough medicine for a prolonged period of time.

“Remember that home remedies and over-the-counter treatments aren’t effective in every case,” Newman says. “If you try various dry cough remedies and they don’t work for you, especially if the cough doesn’t go away after three weeks, see your primary care provider so they can determine the cause of your symptoms and which treatment makes the most sense for you.”

Having trouble calming a dry cough using home or over-the-counter remedies? Find a Beaufort Memorial primary care provider who can help.