Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Post Nasal Drip And Cough
Posted on
Fri, 14 Oct 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 14 Oct 2016
Answered on
Wed, 2 Nov 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : Hi doctor,
I'm a 32 years old woman, it's the flu season here in Norway, everyone is sneezing and coughing in my workplace and in the house.
I felt the first signs of getting sick last week on Wednesday 5th October. my symptoms are the following:
- sore, scratchy, itchy, tickly throat with mild body ache and no fever
- I constantly try to clear my throat, feels like something is stuck, but nothing comes out.
- Cough feels dry and chesty, coughing gets really bad at night (persistent and dry) and makes sleeping hard, so I haven't had good night sleep for a while now.
- I feel like I have a post nasal drip.
I generally feel better, but the problem is the coughing and I feel kind of congested if that's the right word to describe what I feel. The cough did not get any better since October 5th, last night I had at awful coughing that interrupted my sleep at least 4 times.
I've seen a doctor here twice, she looked into my throat, listened to my breathing and said my tonsils are a little bit swollen but no white patches and it's probably just a viral infection that will pass on its own.
They are quite strict in Norway about medicine, I asked for a prescription but I couldnt get one, so I'm relying on OTC cough syrup named (Solvipect) and throat lozenges named (zyx) which have no noticeable effect.
Other things i've been doing everyday: cleaned & dusted the house, change bed sheets and pillow covers every 2 days, I stay away from diary products and alcohol, have chicken soup with garlic & onion, drink fennel an chamomile tea, drink ginger and honey tea, gargle with salt water, take honey before bed and rub tiger balm on my chest, back & throat.
I hope you can help me.
Thanks in advance and I hope to hear from you soon.
I'm a 32 years old woman, it's the flu season here in Norway, everyone is sneezing and coughing in my workplace and in the house.
I felt the first signs of getting sick last week on Wednesday 5th October. my symptoms are the following:
- sore, scratchy, itchy, tickly throat with mild body ache and no fever
- I constantly try to clear my throat, feels like something is stuck, but nothing comes out.
- Cough feels dry and chesty, coughing gets really bad at night (persistent and dry) and makes sleeping hard, so I haven't had good night sleep for a while now.
- I feel like I have a post nasal drip.
I generally feel better, but the problem is the coughing and I feel kind of congested if that's the right word to describe what I feel. The cough did not get any better since October 5th, last night I had at awful coughing that interrupted my sleep at least 4 times.
I've seen a doctor here twice, she looked into my throat, listened to my breathing and said my tonsils are a little bit swollen but no white patches and it's probably just a viral infection that will pass on its own.
They are quite strict in Norway about medicine, I asked for a prescription but I couldnt get one, so I'm relying on OTC cough syrup named (Solvipect) and throat lozenges named (zyx) which have no noticeable effect.
Other things i've been doing everyday: cleaned & dusted the house, change bed sheets and pillow covers every 2 days, I stay away from diary products and alcohol, have chicken soup with garlic & onion, drink fennel an chamomile tea, drink ginger and honey tea, gargle with salt water, take honey before bed and rub tiger balm on my chest, back & throat.
I hope you can help me.
Thanks in advance and I hope to hear from you soon.
Brief Answer:
Use a mucolitic or an expectorant- will help with post nasal drip and cough
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,
Thank you for using HCM to post your question. I read it carefully and I understand your concern.
I have to say- congratulations on how you are taking care of your health. You seem to be doing things very well.
In a viral infection the cough is the symptom which lasts longer (2-3 weeks-depends on the person) because the lungs need their time to heal. The fact that the doctors have listened to your lungs and they didn't hear pathological sounds it is very reassuring that it is just a viral.
So what is left it is to treat the cough as a symptom.
I generally recommend to my patients Acetylcisteine 200mg, 3 times day or Carbosyteine. I suspect you may need a prescription for these. So what I would recommend it is to go talk with the local pharmacist and see what they can give you from the class of expectorants or mucolitic.
If you start having fever again, shortness of breath, being tired, if worse or not better then this is the time when you need to see a local physician again.
I hope this is helpful.
Let me know if you need more clarifications. Otherwise please kindly close and rate the answer.
Regards,
Dr. Papaqako
Use a mucolitic or an expectorant- will help with post nasal drip and cough
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,
Thank you for using HCM to post your question. I read it carefully and I understand your concern.
I have to say- congratulations on how you are taking care of your health. You seem to be doing things very well.
In a viral infection the cough is the symptom which lasts longer (2-3 weeks-depends on the person) because the lungs need their time to heal. The fact that the doctors have listened to your lungs and they didn't hear pathological sounds it is very reassuring that it is just a viral.
So what is left it is to treat the cough as a symptom.
I generally recommend to my patients Acetylcisteine 200mg, 3 times day or Carbosyteine. I suspect you may need a prescription for these. So what I would recommend it is to go talk with the local pharmacist and see what they can give you from the class of expectorants or mucolitic.
If you start having fever again, shortness of breath, being tired, if worse or not better then this is the time when you need to see a local physician again.
I hope this is helpful.
Let me know if you need more clarifications. Otherwise please kindly close and rate the answer.
Regards,
Dr. Papaqako
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
