So what do you make of this?

[jd11365]

http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/URItheFlu/tb2/2454?pfc=111&spc

[bunnisa]

In our house, we avoid anything that just supresses symptoms -- I tend to believe that using those meds just prolongs the healing process.

We do make exceptions for cases where we absolutely can't function or sleep, though!

Bethany
mom to one and one on the way!
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"And children are always a good thing, devoutly to be wished for and fiercely to be fought for."
-J. Torres

[chlobo]

Bethany,

What do you use if your kids have a terrible cough that keeps them up? I've been trying to find a good alternative for that.

[barbarhow]

I've always found that a cold lasts 9 days whether you take anything or not-3 days coming, 3 days with you and 3 days going. Some of the meds might help you sleep but I have never found them to be particularly helpful.
Barbara-mom to Jack 3/27/03, a Red Sox fan
and Anna 5/12/05, my little Yankee fan!

[brittone2]

Hi Carren :)

I don't have any personal experience with it and I don't know much about the age ranges, etc. to use it for, but I know slippery elm tinctures are sometimes used as an alternative to cough meds. It might be worth looking at more closely.

[tarahsolazy]

I was taught that same thing in residency, I've never recommended or taken cold or cough medicines since I was a kid.

[amp]

I remain convinced that when I am up half the night coughing, cough medicine is the only thing that gives me even a hint of relief and I will continue to take it.

Luckily, I haven't had to really deal with that with Jacob. His colds/illnesses haven't really been cough related.

[kristy]

My oldest son has had bad croup since he was 3 years old. We would put a healthy, happy child to bed at night only to be awakened a few hours later by a kid who can not breath. It is so bad that we have had to call the ambulance on several occasions. Scary, scary, scary.

The most recent episode happened a few months ago. After that episode, a new doctor told us to NEVER give our son cough medicine. Cough medicine can actually make croup worse. I almost fell over. We had actually been giving our child cough medicine whenever we noticed slight cold symptoms. What we were giving him to prevent croup may actually have helped to cause it! He now gets breathing treatments when we suspect a croupy night might occur. For our other son (who does not get croup) we stick to old fashioned humidifiers and steam from the shower when necessary. Cough medicine has pretty much been banned from our house.

Kristy
Andrew (05/26/00)
Sean (10/18/02)

[ribbit1019]

I have never been a cough syrup fan. DH however believes in the power of Nyquil and I suspect will continue taking it.

Christy
Maddy born 6/09/04
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Little Man due 3/02/06
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Co-Owner Ribbit Baby

"I did then what I knew how to do. When you know better, you do better." ~ Maya Angelou

[chlobo]

This is so interesting. If this is the case then why are these OTC cough medicine's so popular? Is it just good marketing?

[hez]

Ditto DH & me (he takes medicine, I avoid it unless I'm feeling so sickly that *anything* will help, including the *thought* that something I take is helping ;)).

Payton's gotten cough syrup on occasion, but usually dosed by DH (the medicine fan) not me (the 'gut it out' fan).

[mudder17]

I've used a cough medicine (Chinese) that mostly contains slippery elm and it does work well. It seemed to affect my cough much better than robotussin. And yes, taking care of the sinus drip is actually much more effective since that's the main cause of my coughs (at least initially) when I have colds.


Eileen

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif for Leah
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Kaya's a cousin! 10/1/05, 5lb13oz

[Moneypenny]

Luckily, DD hasn't ever really had a cold so we haven't had to deal with that. Occassionally if I get a really bad cough, my doc will give me prescription Guafenasine (I'm not spelling that right). It's the opposite of a supressant and actually makes you cough up all the gunk and get it out. For mild colds, DH and I swear by my mother's remedy: smear a lot of Vick's on your chest, put a moist warm towel on top, and take a nap!
Susan
mama to my cutie pie, Avery
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17 months and counting!

[dogmom]

My DH a wimp when it comes to sore throats. (Of course as a decades long sufferer of chronic tonsillitis, I have a high pain threshold for that.) Soon as he starts getting a sore throat with a cold he starts to whine. There is some med that came out a few years ago that he bought that was called soemthing like, "Liquid Throat Med by Tylenol" or something silly. He bought it, took it, and declared it was great. I looked at the ingredients, it was just liquid Tylenol! At $4 a bottle! I just shut my mouth and let him go on taking it.

I swear, for adults, the only reason to take cold medication is to get the right combination of antihistamine/cough stuff/alcohol/whatever to knock you out for one night to get a decent amount of sleep for a change. THAT actually makes me feel better, more than 8 hours of sleep.

Jeanne
Mom to Harvey
1/16/03

[alkagift]

Completely makes sense to me. I have awful coughs for weeks after getting rid of the bad part of the cold and the doc has always said, even when I think I'm just going to fall over if I cough anymore, "here's some Benadryl, take this for a week and call me if it doesn't help." I take it at night when necessary and it makes me sleep and keeps me from coughing. Bonus!

Allison
Mommy to Matthew, who is TWO!

[lisams]

We don't use cough syrup period. Gave it to DD once and she ended up with pneumonia and I've always wondered if suppressing the cough let the junk settle in her lungs instead of letting her cough to break it up and let it work it's way out. Never ever will I use it again.

Also learned that cupping your hand and "thumping" the child's back (not flat handed slapping which does nothing) helps loosen stuff up to make the coughing more productive.