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Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are huge business. But do they work? Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are huge business. You've just got to look at the space pharmacists give them on their shelves. But do they work? Two researchers in Britain have reviewed the evidence on whether an adult with an acute cough due to an upper respiratory infection is helped by an over-the-counter cough medicine. They analysed results on over 2,000 people, and found that preparations containing antihistamines were no better than taking a smartie, and combinations involving so called anti-cough medications (decongestants or substances that are supposed to help you howk up more phlegm) showed little if any benefit. There weren't many risks from the medications — they were generally quite safe — they just didn't seem to work. Now we're not talking here about a cough that is associated with a very high fever and rapid breathing. That could be a sign of pneumonia, and you need to see your GP about that. But the message for a common-or-garden cough and cold is that on the current evidence, you'd be just as well taking a cup of tea with honey and a couple of paracetamol. (That's the Swan remedy — free of charge, and allows you to save your money for more useful things like funding your teenage children's social lives.)
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