Anything specific to help a cough

[EvianBaby]

My Dad picked up a cold which has resulted in a nasty cough for the past couple of weeks- sort of between wheezy and chesty. All he's been taking is these cold and flu hot drinks which have no effect at all.

He has COPD which I'm sure doesn't help and hearing the way he coughs is painful to listen to but he's not the type to 'bother' doctors.

Is there anything specific he could take to help eliviate it? Do any of these cough medicines have any effect?

[Ann]

Does he like honey? Try asking him to take a spoonful neat a few times a day and let it trickle down his throat. But quite honestly it sounds as if he does need to see a doctor, do you have any friends who are medically minded who could explain the seriousness of ignoring it, the elderly often take notice of people who are not "family" - I know this from experience with my stubborn father-in-law.

[methyl]

@sqad
That was a deadly serious comment. Taking an Expectorant when you don't need one is a big mistake. The Benylin kept the cough going long after it was cured naturally. Did you know that Benylin is addictive?

[methyl]

It was my Pharmacist who noticed that I was buying too much Expectorant and who refused to sell me more unless I had a proper check by the Doctor. After proper tests the referral consultant prescribed the right antibiotic ... and after eight weeks it was all over.
My big mistake was buying over-the-counter medicine without getting checked by the Doctor ... or at least talking to the Pharmacist first.

[Sqad]

@methyl......you said that Benylin "caused " your cough........that is nonsense........it may not have "cured" your cough, but it certainly didn't "cause" it as you said.

Benylin "may" be addictive if abused.......yes .....I do recall.

Surely buying over the counter medicines can be done with an element of common sense...i.e if the cough persists, then visit the doctor........not the other way round.

[methyl]

@Sqad
Back on topic. We are taking about someone who has diagnosed COPD who is taking over-the-counter remedies but still has a persistent wheezy and chesty cough. One way to make things so much worse is to take Expectorants or other drugs when you don't need them.
Time to see the doctor.

Ps. and off-topic. In my personal experience if you don't have a residual infection which would cause a cough and you take Benylin Liquid to recommended dose you will develop a cough. Dangerous stuff over-the-counter IMHO.

[Sqad]

methyl

I agree with your first statement except

\\One way to make things so much worse is to take Expectorants or other drugs when you don't need them. \\\

How will this make his condition worse? It may not "improve " his condition but I can't see how it will make it "worse"

Secondly,,,,he won't see a doctor...we ALL agree that he should....but he won't and you can't force the guy. I get the impression that he knows what he is doing and doesnt feel it is necessary to see the GP...I might be wrong......but again....the decision is HIS and the questioner wants to know if anything will alleviate it.

You last statement i don't understand..........but will respect it.

[gingejbee]

...sorry, buy steroid sprays not available in UK without a docs script....

[Sqad]

gingejbee.......thanks.....i should have guessed....

[smurfchops]

Warm water with honey, lemon and little brandy. Or gargle with a little brandy, that will help the germs. I read somewhere that a soluble disprin (or is it aspirin? whichever one you can dissolve) is a good gargle for germs as well. I found the first remedy helped my hacking cough a few weeks ago. Dont waste your money on Beechams or a shop bought cough medicine plus they taste vile. I used to like Galloways cough mixture but I think its been discontinued. Night Nurse tablets will help but again dont buy the syrup. Ugh.

[methyl]

@Sqad
I think it is safe to assume that you are not a Pharmacist.
When you are already on prescribed drugs for breathing difficulties the last thing you should do is pop down the Chemist and buy something to alleviate your symptoms.
"These cold and flu hot drinks" sounds like "Lemsip Max" "Benylin 4 Flu" or something similar where you get a stiff dose of Paracetamol and an Expectorant.
Dangerous game to play when you are on prescription medicine.
Go to see the doctor.

[Sqad]

methyl....yes....that is a safe assumption.

[EvianBaby]

Well, look what happens when you dont look at your answers for a few hours. :)

Didnt get a chance to go to the pharmacy but from answers it looks like that would have been pointless anyway.

I should point out his current meds are not related to the COPD (well i dont think so anyway). Mostly simvastatins.

I think i also have may have given the impression he's a bit frail and incapable. He's not, he is 64 and still working. He is just very stubborn and believes all remedies will just fix themselves.

He would seriously not appreciate me going behind his back to the docs so for now ill just suggest some honey based concoctions and some gentle nudges about speaking to a doc or nurse.

Thanks for all the answers, all very apprciated.

[murraymints]

manuka honey in hot water with lemon ..and at bed times with a dash of brandy..to help sleep..

[smurfchops]

Night Nurse will help sleep, but not sure with his condition ..

[scrummyyummy]

I've heard about the saltpipe on This Morning a few years ago. It might be worth a try. Perhaps you could google more about it:

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[scrummyyummy]

Here's another link about the saltpipe and it does mention COPD

http://www.thesaltpip...uk/about-saltpipe.php

[boxtops]

Methyl - sqad may not be a pharmacist, but he's been a senior clinician in the health service in his time, so don't make assumptions :-(

If this were posted in the Health topic rather than B&S, evian would see the health warning posted there, that the advice on here is no subsistute for seeing the patient's own doctor.

COPD is a serious and life-threatening condition, so please, evian - get him to see the GP, for your sake if not for his. All the adverts say that anyone with a cough for over 3 weeks should see the doc - use that as your excuse to get him to go, if you don't want him to know that you are aware about the COPD diagnosis.

[Buenchico]

From the NHS website:
http://www.nhs.uk/Con.../Pages/Treatment.aspx

[EvianBaby]

Boxtops, I appreciate your answer although im not sure if you read my responses. I already said I was aware he needs to see the doctor and am sure he is perfectly aware of that too. But as I already said, he wont do that.