What Happens If You Take Too Much Cough Medicine – Anyone who has been sick knows how uncomfortable a cough or sore throat can be. It can keep you up at night, be an obstacle to maintaining focus, and slow down your day. That’s why it makes sense to get instant relief from annoying and painful cold and flu symptoms when you take cough drops. According to MadeHow, cough medicine ingredients are similar to hard candy and contain sugar, corn syrup, flavors and colors. Common active ingredients that give the drops a soothing quality are menthol and eucalyptus oil. Now that we know that cough drops are basically hard candies with added essential oils, you might be wondering, is it possible to eat too much?
Healthline notes that an overdose of cough drops containing menthol is possible, but highly unlikely. Menthol overdose can occur when a large dose of pure menthol is consumed. The lethal dose of the substance is estimated at around 1,000 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Cough drop recipes usually dilute the menthol with water and other ingredients, meaning cough drops typically contain between 3 and 10 milligrams of menthol per drop.
What Happens If You Take Too Much Cough Medicine
So unless you cough up breakfast, lunch, dinner and in between for the rest of the week, the chance of an overdose is very low. The death card may not be on the table, but some unpleasant symptoms may arise if you rely too much on these soothing lozenges. Healthline lists abdominal pain, vomiting, rapid heart rate and confusion as some of the overdose side effects to watch out for. Cough drops should be treated like any other medicine and carefully read the instructions on the package.
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Medical News Today reports that in rare cases, exposure to menthol has caused allergic skin reactions or contact dermatitis. The menthol ingredient may also irritate people with more sensitive skin. And as mentioned earlier, cough drops contain the same ingredients as caramel, which means the sugar is hidden behind other throat-soothing actives. Healthline does not recommend taking cough drops regularly because the added sugar can promote weight gain. Now that we know that cough drops are not dangerous to our health when consumed in moderation, we can happily continue using them when we need to mask annoying cough symptoms and get on with the day.
Cough drops themselves can cause stomach pain, nausea or vomiting if taken in excess, Healthline reports. However, excessive use of sugar-free cough drops can cause some very unpleasant digestive problems. According to a study published in the journal Lipids and Edible, instead of sugar, these products contain sorbitol – a sugar alcohol that promotes the slow absorption of water in the small intestine, which in turn activates our intestines and creates a laxative effect. Oils.
Although doctors sometimes use it to treat constipation (via the Cleveland Clinic), consuming large amounts of sorbitol can cause diarrhea, cramping, and gas. However, for some people even small amounts of sorbitol are enough to cause indigestion – even less than the average dose of a laxative (per lipid and cooking oil). In addition, gastrointestinal side effects can be exacerbated, especially with certain medical conditions such as diabetes. That’s why it’s important to be aware of our sorbitol intake and go easy on sugar-free cough drops. From the drugstore to home remedies, find out what you should include in your arsenal for quick cough relief.
Which cough medicine works best? It depends on the type of cough and the time of day. Dragana Gordic/Shutterstock
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When you’re dealing with a cough, that pesky tickle in your throat can come at the worst possible timeālike during a Zoom meeting or when you’re desperately trying to fall asleep.
As unpleasant as coughing can be, it is a healthy response to throat or airway irritation. Stimulate excitatory nerves that send messages to your brain; Your brain then tells your chest and abdominal muscles to push air out of your lungs to relieve the irritation, the Mayo Clinic says.
Many conditions can cause a cough, including colds, flu, allergies, postnasal drip (when mucus goes from the back of the nose into the throat), and acid reflux (when stomach acid moves up into the esophagus). and irritates the trachea).
A cough can also be a symptom of COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Therefore, if you suspect you have COVID-19, be sure to get tested and self-isolate while you wait for the results.
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Whatever the reason, a cough can be pretty annoying if you have it (and pretty annoying for your bed or office partner). Good news? “Most coughs go away in a few weeks, no matter what you do,” says Olvin Carrasquillo, MD, MPH, director of internal medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida.
Do it to make you feel better and breathe easier, at least temporarily, he adds. Below are 10 things you can try, day and night.
If your cough makes it difficult to function during the day (or becomes a chore at work), try one of these hack management remedies.
Over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines (such as Mucinex or Robitussin 12 Hour Cough and Mucus Relief) contain guaifenesin, which thins the airway secretions in your airways. This can help you cough up excess mucus more effectively and breathe easier.
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For temporary relief from a dry cough, try an over-the-counter cough medicine that contains dextromethorphan, which suppresses the cough reflex.
One caveat to remember: Don’t give cough medicine to children under four, says the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP); For children ages 4-6, use cough medicine only if recommended by your child’s doctor.
Warm drinks such as tea or lemon water can soothe a throat that feels raw or sore from a cough. Warm liquids also help loosen mucus, making coughing easier. If you add a few drops of honey, you have a natural cough remedy (more details below).
Adequate fluid intake is always a good idea, even more so if you have a cold. Staying well hydrated will help thin the mucus and in turn make the cough more productive. Water is ideal, but soothing chicken soup is also important.
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Cough drops are good for soothing a dry, irritated throat and reducing the constant urge to cough. Are there lozenges? Do not worry. The Cleveland Clinic notes that all hard candies stimulate saliva production and provide the moisture you need to soothe a dry cough.
We all know that sleep is the best medicine, especially when it comes to colds. If a nagging cough is keeping you up all night, try these nighttime remedies to get rid of it.
These versions often contain an antihistamine, which can make you drowsy. This isn’t ideal during the day, but can be helpful at night if you have a dry cough that keeps you awake.
If you have a productive or wet cough (where you have mucus), you may do better with cough suppressants both during the day and at night. The drying effect of antihistamines can thicken and harden mucus in the airways, which can make your cough worse, says the American Academy of Family Physicians.
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Adding honey to a cup of tea is an old way to relieve sore throats and coughs. There’s science to back that idea up: A review study published in April 2021 in BMJ Evidence-based Medicine found that honey is better than over-the-counter medications at reducing the frequency and severity of coughs caused by upper respiratory tract infections.
You can try consuming a teaspoon or two of honey before bed, on its own or mixed with a cup of tea or hot water. (Don’t give honey to babies under a year old; it won’t help symptoms and can cause a condition called infant botulism, the AAP warns.)
Keeping a cool mist vaporizer or humidifier next to your bed can help keep your airways moist and reduce the likelihood of waking up with a dry cough. It helps with productive cough because it thins mucus and makes coughing easier.
(A vaporizer can also relieve coughing during the day, so you can install it where you spend a lot of time, such as the office or family room.)
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The cough is often worse at night because lying down due to gravity causes mucus to collect in the throat instead of being drained. This triggers the cough reflex as a way to expel this mucus.
Elevating your head can help solve the problem. Sleeping this way helps relieve GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease),