No evidence cough syrups work, expert panel says

From Reuters Health:
Over-the-counter cough medicines do little good and may harm children, U.S. experts said in new guidelines released on Monday.

Adults are better off using older nonprescription antihistamines and decongestants to stop the flow of mucus that causes the cough, the American College of Chest Physicians said in its guidelines.

"Cough is the number one reason why patients seek medical attention," Dr. Richard Irwin of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, who chaired the guidelines panel, said in a statement.

"There is no clinical evidence that over-the-counter cough expectorants or suppressants actually relieve cough," Irwin added. ...more