Groundbreaking study finds NO evidence cough mixtures speed up recovery or ease symptoms

Put that cough mixture back on the shelf: Groundbreaking study finds NO evidence it speeds up recovery or eases symptoms

• Coughs take the same amount of time to go if such mixtures are taken or not
• Chesty and dry coughs are one of the main reasons people visit their GPs
• Around $4 billion is spent worldwide every year on cough medication 

Groundbreaking research suggests there is no evidence that cough mixtures, drops or syrups speed up a sufferer’s recovery time or ease their annoying symptoms.

Both dry and chesty coughs take the same amount of time to go regardless of whether a patient takes medication or not, according to the first study of its kind.

Coughs are one of the main reasons why a person visits their GP, with $4 billion being spent globally on medication for the minor complaint every year.

After analysing six studies with more than 700 patients, the researchers concluded ‘there is no beneficial treatment for cough’.

Instead, sufferers should focus on self care, such as drinking lots of water and getting plenty of rest.  

Groundbreaking research suggests there is no evidence that cough mixtures, drops or syrups speed up a sufferer’s recovery time or ease their annoying symptoms (stock)

The researchers, from the University of Basel, analysed studies with a total of 724 patients who were suffering from coughs that lasted between three and eight weeks. These coughs were caused by viruses rather than conditions such as asthma.

They assessed the effectiveness of all forms of cough drugs, aside from traditional Chinese or Asian medications.

Such drugs included the painkiller codeine; the oral tablet montelukast, which appears under the brand Singulair; and the nasal spray budesonide, as well as inhalers.

Results suggest that no cough medicine speeds up a patient’s recovery or eases the severity of their symptoms. 

Overall, all of the studies’ participants saw their symptoms improve regardless of whether they took medication.

Cough treatments also do not improve a patient’s lung capacity or make breathing any easier. 

Writing in the British Journal of General Practice, the scientists said: ‘Evidence on treatment options for subacute cough is weak. There is no treatment showing clear patient-relevant benefits in clinical trials.’

Both dry and chesty coughs take the same amount of time to go regardless of whether a patient takes medication or not, according to the first study of its kind (stock)

Speaking of the findings, Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the Royal College of GPs, added: ‘It’s not uncommon for a persistent cough to develop after a viral infection. 

‘GPs understand that this can be really irritating for patients, but as this study shows, there is often very little family doctors can do to cure these types of coughs, which usually disappear on their own after several weeks and the greatest benefit comes from basic self-care.’

In addition to cough medication being ineffective, 14 per cent of people experience side effects from such drugs. Although these are usually mild, they can include fainting, chest discomfort and nausea. 

To ease annoying coughs, Professor Stokes-Lampard recommends patients ‘stay well-hydrated and get plenty of rest’.

She also warns coughs that do not go away may be a sign of something more sinister, such as lung cancer. 

‘Current NHS advice is for patients is to seek medical attention if they have had a persistent cough for longer than three-weeks, although many innocent coughs last much longer, but if patients are coughing up blood, or the cough is accompanied by chest pain, they should make an urgent appointment to see their GP,’ Professor Stokes-Lampard added.

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