datahawk: (Frustrated)
DataHawk ([personal profile] datahawk) wrote2004-04-15 06:23 pm

Does anyone have an idea?

I'm coughing so bad I haven't slept for two days. My doc suggests? Robitussin. Doesn't work, I've been taking it since Monday. This is driving me crazy and hurts like a mother smucker. Any one have any ideas? Any thing at all? I'm desperate.

argh

[identity profile] ashmcairo.livejournal.com 2004-04-15 04:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Tea with lots of honey to sooth the throat. Also try gargling/rinsing your mouth with salt water or even hydrogen peroxide to kill whatever is causing that cough.

Cough Suppressant of Choice

[identity profile] steviemaxwell.livejournal.com 2004-04-15 04:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Delsym. Might not relieve the pain, but it worked wonders for my cough when I had bronchitis. The orange flavor it has is also a plus.

[identity profile] artyskox.livejournal.com 2004-04-15 04:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Despite what other people say.. I dont think Tussin does a thing. When I was sick this summer I lived off of day/nightquil.

Tell the doctor it really hurts bad and can't sleep at all. I had something like that happen to me and they gave me some sort of nightquil/hydrocodone prescription. Worked wonder for me... but it was perscription still..

[identity profile] wyldekyttin.livejournal.com 2004-04-15 05:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Pour a shot of whiskey. Dribble honey into the glass. Throw it back. The honey has antibacterial properties, and the whiskey will break up the chest congestion. If that doesn't work, I have, ahem, perscription items you are welcome to the use of. Also water water and then, when you're sick of it, some more water. I can dig through my herbal collection and concoct you something utterly vile that will help with the chest pain.

[identity profile] werellama.livejournal.com 2004-04-15 06:46 pm (UTC)(link)
10 shots of Jaegermeister.

[identity profile] foxish.livejournal.com 2004-04-15 07:11 pm (UTC)(link)
I have one, but it's sick like hell...

Try heated vinegar. And yes, DRINK it. It'll taste awful, smell worse, but it'll heat your chest up and the fumes will help break things up. I think.

[identity profile] infintysquared.livejournal.com 2004-04-15 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
As a subject I guiltily admit I know FAR too much about, Tussin that is...

Basically, Robitussin and most of the generics rely on dextromethorphan, which supresses several reflexes, the cough being the one most readily hit.
In my experience if a double-dose of Robitussin Max doesn't hit it (triple dose of the standard DM is the same as a double of Max), then it's not going to touch your cough at all.

Delsym is just Robitussin with the DXM time-released, and it's said to have the consistency of orange-flavored semen. You're welcome to make a subjective judgment thereof.

Most prescription-strength cough syrups are either souped-up Robitussin, Codeine, or Hydrocodone, a.k.a. Liquid Vicodin. The opiates are actually fantastic cough supressants, if you don't mind the stupefying buzz and risk of addiction.

The tea with honey will help to soothe a sore and scratchy throat, and that might help with the cough if that's the root cause.

The hot vinegar will help to break up phlegm and bring it up.


I don't know if you've got a dry cough or a wet cough, i.e. if you're bringing stuff up when you're coughing or just hacking.

For a persistent wet cough, the vinegar solution might help, as might the VapoRub you mentioned. I don't know, I've never tried either.

For a persistent dry cough that Tussin won't touch, all I can say is keep up with the tea and other warm drinks to soothe your throat until you can get to the doctor for something better.

(Anonymous) 2004-04-16 09:45 am (UTC)(link)
Were you inoculated for whooping cough? It's an outside chance, but I only bring it up because a friend of mine had it recently - you're unlikely to get it if you were inoculated when you were a kid, but not everyone has been and adults can get it. Though it needs to go on for quite a few days before you really need to worry about it.

- whinge

[identity profile] straifywoof.livejournal.com 2004-04-16 04:42 pm (UTC)(link)
First off, what Robitussin. Second off, any other symptoms. You're a big girl, so the recommended dosage for dextromethoriphan might not be enough. I know that shit doesn't do jack for me. If worse comes to worse, I have some stuff you can come pick up, just gotta keep it on the hush hush. Homatropine/Hydrocodone works wonders, just usually need the doccie's permission. But as long as you don't have a codine allergy or chronic resperatory problems, you should be okie.