coughing, can't sleep, med advice needed

[lazydays]

I went to my doctor today because I've been coughing badly at night even with nyquil. He gave me codeine cough medicine and said to take up to two teaspoons every four hours. I woke up after the first four hours and now I'm kind of wired. Do I wait it out or take some nyquil? I'm still coughing but I don't want to over medicate.

[lazydays]

Dang it. I thought this was the best place for medical advice at 2am.

[Ombligo]

so take some more, it's been four hours and you said directions were every four hours. You could likely go every two hours and be fine with the built in anti-lawsuit factor all medical advice now comes with.

Codeine based cough medicine has never worked that well for me. I get much better results from a home mix of honey, lemon and whiskey. A couple tablespoons as needed whether that is every 30 minutes or every eight hours.

[Winston]

I think it depends on the source of your cough. I like to separate the active ingredients in medicines so that I only treat the condition which is bothering me. If it's a chest cough you want guaifenesin (Robitussin/Tussin - not one of them with letters like "PE" following the name, just the regular). If it's because of nasal drip you want a decongestant like Sudafed (pseudoephedrine). An antihistamine can also help with nasal drip. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is the strongest antihistamine, and will make you sleepy too (its the same ingredient used in over the counter sleeping pills).

I generally stay away from combination medications like Nyquil. In this case, I would NOT mix Nyquil (10% alcohol I think) with codeine. That combination could really weird you out. I'd also check with a pharmacist before taking Sudafed or Benadryl with a codeine medicine. Guaifenesin should be OK, but make sure the prescription medicine doesn't contain it too.


Good luck.

- Winston

[OWC Jamie]

less than half a teaspoon of alcohol ?

[MacArtist]

Are you sure you don't have bronchitis.

It usually happens to me once a year (amazingly not this year). Sometimes in the fall around October. More often it's in February or early March.

I think mine is aggravated by indoor allergies and too dry of air.

I believe my doctor prescribed prednisone(sp?). It was a 6 or 7 day dose that goes from something like 6 or 7 pills on the first day to none by the end of the course.

I also turn on a cold air humidifier.

I'm not a doctor but your symptoms sound like more than a cold.

[mrbigstuff]

Hydrocodone cough syrup is the only thing that works with a rough cough (for me).

I've had decent luck with Guaifenesin alone and then with various formulations of Mucinex (some with pseudoephedrine). The Mucinex is taken if you have some form of a sinus thing going on.

[tortoise]

As an former smoker coughing can be particularly trying for me but after trying many different remedies I find the best relief with over the counter NyQuil. Use judiciously of course like any medication the minimum effective dose is the best.

[Winston]

billb wrote:
less than half a teaspoon of alcohol ?

Depends on the person. Some people can be very sensitive to alcohol with codeine. Also, Nyquil has other things in it which are designed to make you sleepy. Not a good mix with a narcotic.

What's in Nyquil:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NyQuil

Because all of the medications within the NyQuil imprint contain sedating antihistamines and/or hypnotics and alcohol, they are typically taken at night, just before bedtime.

Also, watch out for the withdrawal effects if you take a codeine medicine for more than a few days. There's a reason it's a controlled substance.


- W

[guitarist]

When I went to the hospital not long ago, I tried to ask the doctors advice about my mac. When I asked them computer questions, they looked puzzled. Why can't medical professionals take questions about mac gear? I don't get it.