24 answers

Medicines Used to Fight a Bad Cough

My son is six and has a very bad cough that is keeping him from school. It is the type of cough that sounds like he is going to cough out a lung. I need a cough medicine that will help him loosen the phlem.

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Thank you everyone for your advice. Free medical care doesn't always mean good advice. I have issues with military doctors ever since my kids were babies. I just got him some Mucinex and stopped the coughing. Also got a hold of a nurse since they had no same day appts. She said if he wasn't having a hard time breathing probably just a cold. Well now it went to his nose and he has a fever but not high. So she said Mucinex and Tylenol or Motrin for the fever. If it lasts for two weeks to bring him in. Well he has missed almost a whole week of school and they have spring break starting on the 31st.

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Hi J., my step-daughter used to have a terrible cough that sounded exactly the way you explain it to be. The only way we finally got it to go away was to get her out of a smokers environment and then she had to go through treatments with a nebulizer and an inhaler until it cleared up. It took about 2 months.

Children's Chestal Honey, homeopathic cough syrup from Boiron.

Excellent syrup: relieves coughs, loosens chest congestion, pleasant tasting and the most important: no side effects...

My son had the same nasty cold and children's mucenix really worked for him. It loosened up and thinned out the phlem and he was able to get it out. I used the one that didn't have the cough suppressent. Hope that helps.

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Take him in and they'll probably give him a breathing treatment and possibly some meds. The best kind I have seen, I don't know the name, but they are tiny yellow balls. They seem to work really great.
In the meantime, turn the shower on as hot as it goes and close him in the bathroom to breathe in the steam. (don't put him under the water; just in the room)
Also, during this time, try to avoid dairy. But definitely take him in to the doctor. It says you're military so it's free. Take advantage. Call the appointment line and they have same day appointments available if you request it.
Hope he starts feeling better soon!

YOU HAVE FREE MEDICAL SEE A DOCTOR:THE BEST IS PERSCRIPTION ONLY

mY DAD MADE HIS OWN HONEY,LEMON JUICE AND JACK DANIELS, THE JACK CUTS THE PHLEM AND MAKE THEM SLEEPY. THE LEMON AND HONEY JUST ADDS FLAVOR

My son had the same nasty cold and children's mucenix really worked for him. It loosened up and thinned out the phlem and he was able to get it out. I used the one that didn't have the cough suppressent. Hope that helps.

Hello
Have you heard or tried 'Mucinex' for children? It works well (on tight coughs) and loosens the phlem quickly and allows the cough to be more productive (ie getting the phlem out). My two and half year old just got over a bad bout while travelling and the poor thing needed relief (couldn't sleep for coughing all night) and it worked wonders. She could cough without crying afterwards cause 'it hurt'. Breaks your heart when kids are sick so all you want to do is make them better!
Hope your son feels better soon!
ps vaporizers work well too!

Both my boys (4 yrs old and 19 months old) got a cold with a cough that seemed to last forever. I gave them Children's Mucinex (expectorant) during the day and at night I gave them Childrens Delsym (cough suppressant). This way during the day they were trying to hack it out but at night they were able to sleep through the night without any coughing fits.
Best of luck!
Jen

mix Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey(1/2 & 1/2), and put 2 tablespoonsful in a glass of water (4 to 8 oz.) and drink. If already coughing you may have to drink several times a day. I have allergies,asthma and bronchitis, and was taking meds (both script and non-scrip) like "they were going out of style" until I read this iin the "Vinegar Book". I never have to take anything else anymore.After you're over this cough you should drink this nearly every day as a preventative!! I mix mine in a pint jar, and turn it upright, then upside-down so it will mix good & before empty mix another.

Children's Chestal Honey, homeopathic cough syrup from Boiron.

Excellent syrup: relieves coughs, loosens chest congestion, pleasant tasting and the most important: no side effects...

Grew up in a military family so I really understand where you are coming from re:the medical care (or lack thereof).

If you need a cough medicine to help loosen the phlegm, then Triaminic is the LAST thing you should be giving him. It is a cough SUPPRESANT...you need a cough EXPECTORANT. My 7 yo had the same type of cough you described-doctor did prescribe albuterol and an antibiotic (since it had lingered for 5 weeks, it had turned into a bacterial infection). But she did recommend Mucinex as something to give over the counter for loosening up the congestion.

Good luck-I know how frustrating it is to deal with sick kids!

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