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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does An Expectorant Help To Loosen Congestion?

I have had a bad chest and head cold with fever for past 5 days. Fever broke, chest congestion remains very problematic, whereas I can t sleep. Does it make sense to take an expectorant to loosen congestion at same time as a suppressant to stop coughing or do they counteract each other? If I stop expectorant coughing becomes unproductive and painful.
Fri, 23 Jun 2017
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello,
yes it is a bit confusing that expectorants and cough suppressants are often packaged together. The reason for this is that prolonged coughing is exhausting and can interfere with sleep. Expectorants help loosen up mucus and make it easier to cough up so that it too may actually lessen coughing. We tend to cough more with thick mucus sticks to the bronchial tubes and we cough to try to dislodge it. Also make sure to stay really well hydrated and avoid caffeine and alcohol which are drying.
Regards
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Does An Expectorant Help To Loosen Congestion?

Hello, yes it is a bit confusing that expectorants and cough suppressants are often packaged together. The reason for this is that prolonged coughing is exhausting and can interfere with sleep. Expectorants help loosen up mucus and make it easier to cough up so that it too may actually lessen coughing. We tend to cough more with thick mucus sticks to the bronchial tubes and we cough to try to dislodge it. Also make sure to stay really well hydrated and avoid caffeine and alcohol which are drying. Regards