Cough medicine

[Ephemera]

Any ideas of cough medicine that husband can take that does not make RLS worse. In UK. Hay fever and chesty cough.

[SueJohnson]

Look for a product that only contains Guaifenesin, Benylin Mucus cough Max is one.

[ChrisColumbus]

Boots Chesty Cough Relief contains 100mg of guaifenesin per 5ml and is non-drowsy. The potential downside of all cough syrups is the amount of sugar they contain - in this case 1.8g of sucrose per 5ml spoonful - which needs to be taken into account if your husband has diabetes or is intolerant of sugar. For hay-fever a branded or generic tablet containing cetirizine can help.

The Benylin that Sue references above contains the same amount of guaifenesin but even more sugar: 2g of sucrose plus some glucose. Not a problem as long as your husband isn't diabetic or intolerant of sugar.

[Ephemera in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Found one in Asda, own brand. Hope it works as the coughing is bringing him down along with lack of sleep and RLS!!!

[ChrisColumbus in reply to Ephemera]

ASDA Chesty & Mucus Cough Relief? Contains 100 mg guaifenesin per 5ml - plus both sugar (glucose) and artificial sweeteners - so I hope that it works!

[ChrisColumbus]

NOTE: if your husband is diabetic or sensitive to sugar, he *might* be better with Covonia Chesty Cough Sugar Free Syrup. Each 15ml dose of cough syrup contains 200mg of guaifenesin but no sugar. However, it does contain artificial sweeteners sorbitol (E420), sodium cyclamate and sodium saccharin.

[Simkin]

Annoyingly, I found any cough medicine that contains products to help you sleep makes my legs go into overdrive.My husband takes Night Nurse & is out like a light for 8 hours or night time Benylin.

I have to look for products that say "Daytime use non-drosy" such as Benylin daytime or Conovia Daytime use, or if I have cataarh due to heavy cold I can take Day Nurse.

My chemist recommended

"Buttercup" Broncho Stop. Cough Syrup.

For All Coughs Chesty & Dry.

She said it was a traditional herbal medicinal product & would "ease & sooth" without "aggravating".

It certainly did soothe my chesty cough.

I think I bought it in Boots or Superdrug.

Also make sure you buy non-drosy cough lozenges.

[Ephemera in reply to Simkin]

Purchased the Buttercup cough syrup today, 🤞it works and does not make the rls worse.

[Simkin in reply to Ephemera]

Oh I do hope so .....

[Simkin]

DroWsy not drosy - typing error!

[MumofBella]

It’s not necessary to take anything really, his own body will heal itself. No - I’m not some nut! Apart from necessary drugs like blood pressure pills we don’t take anything, our cupboards are bare. Best thing is for him to stay hydrated, plenty of liquids.

[Ephemera in reply to MumofBella]

I agree with you and I do not take anything and refuse to go to a GP but my husband has not slept for 6 days and nights because of RLS and cough so needs something.

[MumofBella in reply to Ephemera]

Sorry to read that, it’s awful and I sympathise. My own RLS has gone berserk and the pain I get with it has increased as well so I know what it feels like to lose sleep night after night.