<p>Hot tea with plenty of honey, fresh-squeezed lemon, and a generous shot of rum or whiskey (I prefer bourbon). This is an old-fashioned home remedy but it’s very effective, especially just before bedtime. The honey and lemon soothe and coat the throat, the alcohol has a desirable sedative effect, and both the alcohol and honey are anti-bacterials.</p>
<p>I know it isn’t the smartest sleeping with the cough drop. If I didn’t have it in my mouth I don’t think I would get any sleep at all. After many nights of coughing so much that I wasn’t getting any sleep I appreciate the sleep. I love to sleep and usually have no problem sleeping. I get very unhappy when I can’t sleep.</p>
<p>Hot lemonade is my personal favorite, and Delsym is usually very effective for me. I do try to sleep on the couch or recliner, sort of turn it into a nest with quilts. Much easier to sleep sitting somewhat upright, and Dh gets some sleep, too.</p>
<p>A steamy shower before bed. If I wake up coughing, I fill the sink with HOT water and breathe it in with a towel over my head to prevent steam escape. The only cough syrup that ever works for me is Robitussin DM (bonus is that it breaks up the crud in your chest)</p>
<p>try delsym cough syrup-- pediatrician recommended it and it worked.</p>
<p>Third vote for Delsym- only one I can stand the taste of.</p>
<p>That said, I developed an intermittend, annoying cough after a bouth of bronchitis a long time ago. Apparenty its like mild asthma or reactive airway disease. One puff on an inhaler and- presto- all gone.</p>
<p>Throat is getting awfully raw so maybe something like Chloraseptic is worth a try. And Delsym was recommended by the pediatrician years ago, and agree it’s the only cough syrup that doesn’t make me gag. Didn’t help much last night, but then I’m bad about measuring dosages. Just took a couple of swigs. And I think my mom would suggest something like a hot toddy–never tried the brandy thing, maybe because we don’t have any brandy in the house, so maybe something hot with rum before bed. So. . . making shopping list. . . lemon, chloraseptic lozenges, vaporub. Or maybe I’ll just get DH to hit me with a baseball bat. . .</p>
<p>My grandmother used to make a cough remedy that included whiskey, lemon, honey and rock candy. I don’t know the recipe but she swore by it and my aunt still uses it today. I have used Delsym with fairly good results and Benadryl works well, especially for a dry cough. It helps to stop that tickle that causes a cough. I have found that sleeping in the recliner helps to keep the drainage from pooling in the back of my throat and seems to decrease the cough. Good luck - I know it’s miserable to cough all night (and day!) FEEL BETTER SOON!</p>
<p>H swears by a hot cup of Swiss Miss. It doesn’t work for me. </p>
<p>Codeine, hot tea, honey, robitussin…that’s more my style. Hope you’re feeling better soon!</p>
<p>On a trip to Germany, I got a nasty cold and bad cough. I got a package of the best cough drops I have ever had. They’re called Soldan Em-Eukal, and I think you can mail order them. (Sorry…that doesn’t help much in the short term!)</p>
<p>After a miserable afternoon (coughing til you gag–yuck), a cup of hot apple cider with rum helped significantly. Also went and got the Vaporub–why did we ever stop using this? Tried the feet thing but actually read the directions so also put some on chest/neck. Didn’t cough much at all last night, but I think couldn’t sleep because of the Mucinex DM. Oh well. Just re-vapo’ed and am still doing better. I’ll have to try the Swiss Miss later today! (Who cares if it doesn’t help the cough??)</p>
<p>Once I was in an Imax theater. sucking on a cough drop. Tipped my head back to look up at the screen, and the cough drop lodged in my throat. Thought it was going to be the end of me right there in the theater seat. I managed to cough it out, but it was scary. I would not sleep with a cough drop in my mouth after that. It also has to be really bad for your teeth…</p>
<p>MyLB, “Miami–by menthol drops to you mean cough drops with menthol?” - Yes, breezers ddi not help. I completely avoid ed going thru cough spell during my last very severe cold that lasted almost whole month and included feeling exhasted and drained of energy. I went thru several bags of cough drops with menthol.</p>
<p>MyLB: our very nice pediatrician back in the 50s-60s told my mother that he didn’t think Vaporub really helped, but it made mothers feel better to do something, so go ahead and use it.</p>
<p>After one night of Vaporub I felt considerably better, although maybe it just coincided with the cold running its course. Did it again last night, and I gotta say I’m a believer. Have since asked some friends, at least one of whom says she keeps it and a nasal spray in her nightstand. (I became a nasal spray convert back in college. That stuff is magic. Just not needed for this particular cold–throat/chest only.)</p>