Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

What Causes Severe Cough And Congestion In Spite Of Taking Mucinex And Claritin?

My mother is 88 and is in a nursing home. About 2 months ago she started with thick, clear string phlegm. It is constant and is now affecting her health. She has lost weight as she is having difficulty eating and drinking because the phlegm is so thick she throws up. The doctor and nurses say it is allergy related and have prescribed mucinex,, claritin, zertec, and flonaise, at different times, but nothing seems to be working. Should I have her tested to see what allergies she has or what she may be allergic to? I don t know what to do about it.
posted on Sun, 3 Jan 2016
Twitter Thu, 28 Jan 2016 Answered on
Twitter Thu, 28 Jan 2016 Last reviewed on
Report Abuse
Dentist,  's  Response
Hi Dear,

Welcome to HCM.

Understanding your concern. As per your query your mother have symptoms of severe cough and congestion in spite of taking Mucinex and Claritin which is due to sinusitis/ upper respiratory tract infection. As your child not getting relief, I would suggest you to take steam inhalation and use humidifiers. Give throat lozenges. Do warm saline gargles along with vaporizers. Your mother's symptoms will resolve in one week. Visit ENT specialist once and get it examined if symptoms keeps on persisting. You should get chest x-ray done if cough and congestion will be there. Go for blood and sputum test as well. You should take diet rich in multivitamins and take cough expectorants.

Hope your concern has been resolved.

Get Well Soon.

Best Wishes,
Dr. Harry Maheshwari
I find this answer helpful
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Loading Online Doctors....
What Causes Severe Cough And Congestion In Spite Of Taking Mucinex And Claritin?

Hi Dear, Welcome to HCM. Understanding your concern. As per your query your mother have symptoms of severe cough and congestion in spite of taking Mucinex and Claritin which is due to sinusitis/ upper respiratory tract infection. As your child not getting relief, I would suggest you to take steam inhalation and use humidifiers. Give throat lozenges. Do warm saline gargles along with vaporizers. Your mother s symptoms will resolve in one week. Visit ENT specialist once and get it examined if symptoms keeps on persisting. You should get chest x-ray done if cough and congestion will be there. Go for blood and sputum test as well. You should take diet rich in multivitamins and take cough expectorants. Hope your concern has been resolved. Get Well Soon. Best Wishes, Dr. Harry Maheshwari