Dealing with a cough is never easy. It not only saps all of your energy, it can also make breathing incredibly uncomfortable. Needless to say, this can make even doing the simplest of tasks laborious. In order to get ahead of your cough before it gets worse, it’s a good idea to start taking cough medicine. Cough medicine will help to ease your symptoms, so you can gradually regain control of your life.
To assist you with wading through all of the cough medicines on the market, we reviewed dozens of products. We considered each product’s effectiveness, ease of use, taste, and customer reviews. We also only reviewed products that can be bought online on Amazon, as we recognize a trip to the pharmacy is incredibly inconvenient to organize when you have a cough or are nursing a loved one suffering from one.
After careful analysis, it soon became clear that Robitussin Maximum Strength Cough and Chest Congestion is a winning product. It provides quick and effective cough relief in a flavor you’re bound to find appetizing. To discover more about this product and the other products that made our top-5, read on.
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The 5 Top-Rated Cough Medicines
| Editor’s Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Cough Medicine Overall | Robitussin Maximum Strength Cough and Chest Congestion | 4.7 |
| Best Cough Medicine Tablets | Hyland’s Cough Suppressant Phosphorus Tablets | 4.6 |
| Best Budget Cough Medicine | Boiron Chestal Honey Adult Cough Syrup | 4.5 |
| Best Non-Alcohol Based Cough Medicine | Nature’s Way Bronchial Soothe Non-Drowsy Syrup | 4.4 |
| Best Cough Medicine for Kids | Zarbee’s Naturals Children’s Cough Syrup | 4.7 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change
Best Cough Medicine Overall: Robitussin Maximum Strength Cough and Chest Congestion
There are an ample number of reasons we rated Robitussin Maximum Strength Cough and Chest Congestion as our top cough medicine recommendation. We aren’t the only ones who believe its worth using, either. Over 600 customers have given it an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.
This maximum strength cough syrup combines two cough-banishing ingredients to ensure your cough will quickly become a symptom of the past. That is, dextromethorphan works to suppress your coughs, while the expectorant guaifenesin helps to reduce phlegm and mucus in your lungs.
Another helpful feature is that it’s non-drowsy. Coughs can already make you feel exhausted during the day, so the last thing you want is for your cough medicine to slow you down even more. The delicious berry flavor is yet another draw card of this product, particularly when you compare it to the hard to stomach flavors found in some other options.
Robitussin Maximum Strength Cough and Chest Congestion Key Features:
- Maximum strength
- 12 fl oz. (355 mL)
- Liquid formula for ages 12+
- Features both dextromethorphan and guaifenesin
- Non-drowsy
Best Cough Medicine Tablets: Hyland’s Cough Suppressant Phosphorus Tablets
If you’re looking for reliable cough medicine tablets that will do the job, Hyland’s Cough Suppressant Phosphorus Tablets is a safe choice. Each bottle comes with 250 tablets, which equates to up to 125 doses. The tablets need to be dissolved under your tongue, with adults directed to take 4 tablets 4 times a day while children should take half this amount.
The sole ingredient used in this cough medicine is phosphorus 30X (a base of acacia gum and lactose N.F. is used). If you haven’t heard of this potent ingredient, it is commonly used in the homeopathic treatment of coughs. As The National Center for Homeopathy points out, it can help relieve symptoms such as a dry or loose cough, tickling in your throat, phlegm, and chest tightness.
Hyland’s Cough Suppressant Phosphorus Tablets Key Features:
- Primary ingredient: phosphorus 30X
- 250 tablets
- Homeopathic medicine
- Melt in your mouth
Best Budget Cough Medicine: Boiron Chestal Honey Adult Cough Syrup
When it comes to cough medicine, it’s easy to equate more expensive options as being more effective. This isn’t necessarily the case, as Boiron Chestal Honey Adult Cough Syrup demonstrates. The homeopathic medicine addresses numerous cough and chest congestion symptoms in each dose, making it a formidable defense against coughs.
The multi-symptom formula loosens chest congestion and calms dry and fitful coughs. What’s more, the formula’s natural honey base works to soothe your throat. As it can be used by anyone aged 2 and up and has no known drug interactions, it makes a great go-to cough medicine for most of your family.
Boiron Chestal Honey Adult Cough Syrup Key Features:
- Made with real honey
- Dye-free
- Ages 2+
- 6.7 fl oz. (200 mL)
Best Non-Alcohol Based Cough Medicine: Nature’s Way Bronchial Soothe Non-Drowsy Syrup
It can be challenging to find a dependable non-alcohol base cough medicine on the market. That’s why we were ecstatic to track down Nature’s Way Bronchial Soothe Non-Drowsy Syrup. The formula is 99.9% alcohol-free, meaning it can be used by children and adults alike.
One of the reasons this formula works so well is that it contains ivy extract syrup, which is a traditional ingredient that has long been used to boost bronchial health. In this formula, it acts to soothe irritation and clear your bronchial passages, in turn offering you a break from irritating and painful coughs.
Nature’s Way Bronchial Soothe Non-Drowsy Syrup Key Features:
- Features ivy leaf extract
- 6.4 oz.
- 99.9% alcohol-free
- Non-drowsy
Best Cough Medicine for Kids: Zarbee’s Naturals Children’s Cough Syrup
Any parent will know the stress that comes with trying to choose the right medicine for their sick child. If you’re after a cough medicine that will efficiently put your child on the road to recovery, look no further than Zarbee’s Naturals Children’s Cough Syrup. Take one look at the ingredients and you’ll agree that the formula is both kid-safe and parent-friendly. With no drugs, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, or dyes found in the formula, your worries as a parent can be kept at bay.
The 7.2 oz. is filled with natural, antioxidant-rich ingredients associated with cough relief such as dark honey and English ivy leaf. Parents of fussy eaters will also appreciate the fact that Zarbee’s cough medicine boasts a yummy, kid-approved cherry flavor.
Zarbee’s Naturals Children’s Cough Syrup Key Features:
- Features dark honey and English ivy leaf
- 7.2 oz.
- Free of drugs and alcohol
- Does not contain artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, or dyes
Having a cough is a pain enough, without the trouble of finding cough medicine that actually works. There are a variety of cough medicines to suit your particular needs, so be sure to consult our list above to find the one that best fits your needs. Remember, when you’re sick you need to be extra kind to yourself, so be sure to rest up, keep your fluids up, and take some cough medicine to ensure a quick recovery!
