Ingredients in Cough Medicine

Over the counter cough medicines work by suppressing coughs and thinning mucus, and these effects are temporary. Most coughs do not require medical treatment and will improve over time by letting the illness run its course. In 2008, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association labeled over the counter cough and cold medicines to indicate they should not be used in children age 4 and under due to safety issues with the active ingredients.

Antitussives

• Antitussives are ingredients in cough medicine that suppress coughing, and dextromethorphan is the most commonly used antitussive in over-the-counter cough medicines.

Expectorants

• The only over-the-counter expectorant that can be used as an ingredient in cough medicine is guaifenesin, which thins mucus in the nose and throat.

Pain relievers

• Many cough medicines contain pain relievers--such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen--to reduce chest pain from coughing and other aches and pains from colds.

Decongestants

• According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, decongestants may be added to cough medicines to reduce inflammation of the sinuses and relieve nasal congestion.

Antihistamines

• Antihistamines may be added to cough medicines to reduce sneezing, itchy eyes and runny noses along with coughs caused by allergies.

Side effects

• Combination cough medicines can thicken mucus and make it harder to clear from the sinuses and lungs, which may actually make coughs get worse.

Considerations

• Not all coughs should be treated with cough medicines--such as coughs from smoking, asthma and air pollution--since coughing is the body's natural reaction to get rid of something in the lungs that does not belong.