Pastillas para la tos

Coughing occurs when your throat and airways become irritated due to infections, allergies, heartburn and other causes. This irritation activates nerves communicating with your brain, triggering the cough reflex to help expel whatever is irritating your throat. However, in the case of a virus, such as a cold or flu, it may not be possible to remove the source of the cough, leading to prolonged and uncomfortable symptoms.

Cough suppressant pills block the cough reflex by reducing the responsiveness of the nerves that trigger it. Because of the way these medicines work, they're effective for dry and wet coughs, even without an added expectorante, but they're best for nonproductive coughs.

The best cough pills generally depend on your symptoms. Cough suppressants are usually ideal when you don't have a lot of mucus or congestion causing coughing, as these medications can help reduce the urge to cough directly.

Expectorants, such as CVS Health Mucus Extended Relief, work best when coughing results from a buildup of mucus, most commonly from nasal congestion running down the back of your throat, known as postnasal drip. While decongestants can help reduce the amount of mucus in your airways, expectorants help thin existing mucus, making it much easier to expel.

It's usually easy to tell when you have this type of cough because you'll feel mucus moving while coughing, especially after a deep cough. You may also experience wheezing and other symptoms, though these can also result from the inflammation in your airways associated with a cold. If your cough is dry, you won't feel any movement, but you may experience a frequent tickling sensation making you want to cough.

Cough pills containing dextromethorphan generally kick in quickly, in as little as 15-30 minutes. Expectorants often take a little longer to work because they need to break down the mucus in your throat before the urge to cough goes away.

However, many medications for chesty coughs, such as Mucinex DM Maximum Strength, contain an expectorant and a cough suppressant, offering faster symptom relief to help you stay comfortable while recovering from a bad cold.