Suggest Treatment For Dry Cough

Posted on Sat, 22 Mar 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 22 Mar 2014 Answered on

Fri, 11 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I have a cough with no mucus. I have seasonal allergies and I had an episode last week. I have taken Claritin D and it cleared my nasal stuffiness and sinus headache but this cough won't go away. I live in GA. what can I take to get rid of this dry cough?

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Asthma. Detailed Answer: Hello! Thank you for the query. If the cough appears with seasonal allergies, asthma is the most probable reason of your cough. Due to factors like allergens, physical activity, cold air, air pollution your bronchi gets narrow (as they are overactive). This leads to severe cough, occasional wheezy breath, shortness of breath. Mucus production can be present, but not always appears. If you smoke, this may trigger such bronchi reaction. This disease needs to be treated, otherwise due to chronic inflammation can lead to lungs destruction. Chronic lungs infection can also give dry cough. It is more possible if you have had any infection before it has started. I suggest you to consult pulmunologist. Chest X-ray and spirometry should be done. Medicines (inhalers with steroids and beta-mimetics) which can help are on prescription only. Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions. Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (22 minutes later)

I don't smoke and I do have some post nasal drip. I've never had asthma. my nose is stuffy at night. is there something over the counter that I can take?

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (38 minutes later)

Brief Answer: . Detailed Answer: If you havent had spirometry, you can not know either you have had asthma or not. It may be with you for quite long time. Post nasal drip is common associating asthma condition. So this does not rule asthma out. To help with the nasal mucus production you may use Oxymetazolini hydrochloridum nasal drops, pseudoephedrini hydrochloridum tablets. This should be OTC however I do not know which country you are from so its hard to tell. To help with cough you may try Codeini phosphas. Hope this will help. Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (10 minutes later)

I live in GA in the United States.

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: . Detailed Answer: Oxymetazoline nasal is OTC known under many brand names (Afrin, Oxyfrin, Mucinex, Sinex) Codeine anti-cough agent is OTC under brand name Cheratussin AC Pseudoephedrine is OTC under brand names Silfedrine, Sudafed, Decongestant, Sudodrin, SudoGest Hope this will help. Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar