What treatments are there for chronic cough?

Management of chronic cough is aimed at treating the underlying problem and will be individualized. Treatment options include:

Antihistamines, glucocorticoids and decongestants. These drugs are standard treatment for allergies and postnasal drip.

Inhaled asthma drugs. The most effective treatments for asthma-related cough are glucocorticoids and bronchodilators, which reduce inflammation and open up your airways.

Antibiotics. If a bacterial infection is causing your chronic cough, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

Acid blockers. When lifestyle changes don’t take care of acid reflux, you may be treated with medications that block acid production. Some people need surgery to resolve the problem.

Cough suppressants. If the reason for your cough can’t be determined and it’s causing serious problems for you, such as keeping you from sleeping, your doctor may prescribe a cough suppressant.

However, there’s no evidence that over-the-counter cough medicines are effective.

Other newer agents: There are newer agents that have been trialed in smaller studies and can be used if other treatments are not appropriate or have not worked so don’t worry, there are a number of options.