Cochrane Database Syst Rev November 2014 PMID 25420096

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications for acute cough in children and adults in community settings.

Susan M Smith, Knut Schroeder, Tom Fahey

Mentions

219
Peak: 5 in Feb 2025
across 6 sources since Jan 2017

Extended reach

745,093
potential audience

Total likes

2,883

Video views

630,023

Mentions per month

Jan 2017 – Oct 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News131 articles
  • Facebook38 posts
  • X / Twitter29 posts
  • Blogs17 articles
  • YouTube3 videos
  • Bluesky1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The collective discourse emphasizes the ineffectiveness of OTC cough medications, with phrases like 'do not work' and 'not effective,' reflecting widespread skepticism. The tone remains dismissive, as seen in comments about how these remedies are just marketing strategies, which indicates minimal engagement or perceived impact on change.

AgreementStrong disagreement

Most discussions highlight that OTC cough medicines are ineffective, reflecting strong disagreement with their use.

InterestLow interest

Posts generally show low interest in the efficacy of these medications, focusing instead on their lack of benefit.

EngagementLow engagement

The discussions display dismissive attitudes and lack detailed analysis, indicating superficial engagement.

ImpactLow impact

The overall tone suggests these discussions view the publication as having little influence on current practices or perceptions.

Abstract in brief

  • The review analyzed 29 randomized controlled trials involving over 4,800 people, mainly focusing on the effectiveness of OTC cough medicines for acute cough caused by upper respiratory infections in children and adults, and found limited and inconsistent evidence supporting their use.
  • Due to differences in study design, participants, and outcomes measured, the researchers couldn't combine the data for a comprehensive analysis and highlighted that many studies had poor reporting, making it hard to assess their quality.
  • Overall, the findings suggest that OTC cough medicines may not be reliably effective for treating acute cough in community settings, indicating a need for more well-designed research to determine their true benefit.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Matthieu Mulot (Lebiostatisticien)
@Nibor_Tolum · X

J4 de Covid. L'occasion de se rappeler que les sirops contre la toux ben, ça marche pas top top : https://t.co/2zbT4wvOj3 https://t.co/J3pj64IseW

Oct 7, 2022 · 22 likes · 3 shares · 5,827 followers View post →
Fizz-DI@比較と使い分け-KOJIMA Yushi
@Fizz_DI · X

風邪に対する「鎮咳薬」の効果 →中枢性鎮咳薬の効果はプラセボと変わらない →プラセボより効果的なものは「ハチミツ」 Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Nov 24;(11):CD001831 https://t.co/ImPEPUoePC

Feb 17, 2025 · 17 likes · 5 shares · 34,458 followers View post →
Blitzy
@blitz-y.bsky.social · Bluesky

I know none of you want to hear this but OTC cough meds do not work. Yes it sucks because coughs are annoying and sometimes distressing. The majority of the time they are viral and will just need time to get over. The only thing that has evidence is honey! pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25420096/

Jul 25, 2024 · 10 likes · 1 share View post →
doctor_code
@ndegwa_ndegwam · X

It's important to note that antihistamines and antitussives (cough syrups) demonstrate no significant benefit when given to children. If anything, the drugs may have potential side effects that may cause more harm than good. Evidence as shown in the link: https://t.co/CjvSzAlyED https://t.co/QkqaMflyc5

Feb 27, 2023 · 8 likes · 2 shares · 290 followers View post →
Shiva Narayanan
@shivn · X

@AnantBhan The irony of it being - cough syrups are no better than placebo and benefits in pediatric populations are not proven: https://t.co/5IQHqhiedX

Dec 29, 2022 · 3 likes · 325 followers View post →
Evidence Aid
@EvidenceAid · X

#evidence on over-the-counter (OTC) & traditional remedies ✅Insufficient evidence on efficacy of OTC cough medicines for acute cough https://t.co/qAk4Bjl7td ✅Chinese herbs combined with Western medicines did not ⬇️ mortality in SARS patients https://t.co/AfrbuA8YXA #COVID19

Mar 25, 2020 · 1 like · 1 share · 8,900 followers View post →

All mentions

脇田浩正
@aiiku_ped · X

かぜの咳に対して市販薬の効果が示されなかったという論文(これも有名?) 統計的な手法に不十分な点はあるものの、少なくとも「よく効く」かぜ薬は現時点ではなさそう。 https://t.co/xOoruvAJGD

Sep 29, 2025 · 357 followers View post →
Longsi622
@Longsi622 · X

RT @Fizz_DI: 風邪に対する「鎮咳薬」の効果 →中枢性鎮咳薬の効果はプラセボと変わらない →プラセボより効果的なものは「ハチミツ」 Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Nov 24;(11):CD001831 https://t.co/…

Feb 18, 2025 · 5 shares · 561 followers View post →
オッチャホイ
@hiroki_nonoichi · X

RT @Fizz_DI: 風邪に対する「鎮咳薬」の効果 →中枢性鎮咳薬の効果はプラセボと変わらない →プラセボより効果的なものは「ハチミツ」 Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Nov 24;(11):CD001831 https://t.co/…

Feb 17, 2025 · 5 shares · 844 followers View post →
松橋睦生
@mutmhashi · X

RT @Fizz_DI: 風邪に対する「鎮咳薬」の効果 →中枢性鎮咳薬の効果はプラセボと変わらない →プラセボより効果的なものは「ハチミツ」 Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Nov 24;(11):CD001831 https://t.co/…

Feb 17, 2025 · 5 shares · 249 followers View post →
蟻。
@youmu112350 · X

RT @Fizz_DI: 風邪に対する「鎮咳薬」の効果 →中枢性鎮咳薬の効果はプラセボと変わらない →プラセボより効果的なものは「ハチミツ」 Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Nov 24;(11):CD001831 https://t.co/…

Feb 17, 2025 · 5 shares · 340 followers View post →
Fizz-DI@比較と使い分け-KOJIMA Yushi
@Fizz_DI · X

風邪に対する「鎮咳薬」の効果 →中枢性鎮咳薬の効果はプラセボと変わらない →プラセボより効果的なものは「ハチミツ」 Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Nov 24;(11):CD001831 https://t.co/ImPEPUoePC

Feb 17, 2025 · 17 likes · 5 shares · 34,458 followers View post →
Blitzy
@blitz-y.bsky.social · Bluesky

I know none of you want to hear this but OTC cough meds do not work. Yes it sucks because coughs are annoying and sometimes distressing. The majority of the time they are viral and will just need time to get over. The only thing that has evidence is honey! pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25420096/

Jul 25, 2024 · 10 likes · 1 share View post →
Graefe
@graefe123 · X

@SaschaSebastian @schuetz_marcel Smith SM, Schroeder K, Fahey T. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications for acute cough in children and adults in com..unity settings. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 24. November 2014;(11):CD001831.

Apr 28, 2024 · 252 followers View post →
夕暮れ
@Eide0110 · X

@mochamo2660 アメリカ化学会「咳止め系の薬は効果が無い」という動画 抗ヒスタミン系、気管支拡張系、粘液溶解薬、脳神経に作用する系が取り上げられてたので 大半の咳止めが該当するかと

Sep 1, 2023 · 1 like · 171 followers View post →
tenaciousd.eth/tez |
@tenaciousdnft · X

Evidence link: https://t.co/YBlp9t7X6h

May 18, 2023 · 6,100 followers View post →
Tactile fremitus on palpation
@charity_kirui · X

RT @ndegwa_ndegwam: It's important to note that antihistamines and antitussives (cough syrups) demonstrate no significant benefit when give…

Feb 27, 2023 · 2 shares · 5,997 followers View post →
Brian Onyancha
@brian_onyancha · X

RT @ndegwa_ndegwam: It's important to note that antihistamines and antitussives (cough syrups) demonstrate no significant benefit when give…

Feb 27, 2023 · 2 shares · 463 followers View post →
doctor_code
@ndegwa_ndegwam · X

It's important to note that antihistamines and antitussives (cough syrups) demonstrate no significant benefit when given to children. If anything, the drugs may have potential side effects that may cause more harm than good. Evidence as shown in the link: https://t.co/CjvSzAlyED https://t.co/QkqaMflyc5

Feb 27, 2023 · 8 likes · 2 shares · 290 followers View post →
Tinmar
@MartinMclin · X

@Vfk2A qui pourrait améliorer les symptômes dans la population pédiatrique notamment (Source : https://t.co/BwhvyCa458)

Feb 6, 2023 · 692 followers View post →
Micke ⬜
@tornedarlingen · X

@WakeAwake1 Fun fact, cough medicines don't even work. https://t.co/4oMhmkZuXe

Jan 9, 2023 · 5,667 followers View post →
Shiva Narayanan
@shivn · X

@AnantBhan The irony of it being - cough syrups are no better than placebo and benefits in pediatric populations are not proven: https://t.co/5IQHqhiedX

Dec 29, 2022 · 3 likes · 325 followers View post →
Michael L. Barnett
@ml_barnett · X

@JEazy0 There is basically no particularly effective antitussant. Sad but true. It's all a conspiracy to get you to buy stuff!! https://t.co/9Tb8kjVlcw

Dec 14, 2022 · 15,386 followers View post →
NCmichel
@NCmichel · X

RT @Nibor_Tolum: J4 de Covid. L'occasion de se rappeler que les sirops contre la toux ben, ça marche pas top top : https://t.co/2zbT4wvOj3…

Oct 8, 2022 · 3 shares · 2,637 followers View post →
Arc Atlantique Press
@Arc_Atlantique · X

RT @Nibor_Tolum: J4 de Covid. L'occasion de se rappeler que les sirops contre la toux ben, ça marche pas top top : https://t.co/2zbT4wvOj3…

Oct 7, 2022 · 3 shares · 4,695 followers View post →
Matthieu Mulot (Lebiostatisticien)
@Nibor_Tolum · X

J4 de Covid. L'occasion de se rappeler que les sirops contre la toux ben, ça marche pas top top : https://t.co/2zbT4wvOj3 https://t.co/J3pj64IseW

Oct 7, 2022 · 22 likes · 3 shares · 5,827 followers View post →
Clay Jones
@SBMPediatrics · X

RT @hotSahs: @SBMPediatrics @djmont Don't forget to add the Cochrane Review to the pile.

May 4, 2022 · 1 share · 4,501 followers View post →
Rupinder (Rup) Sahsi
@hotSahs · X

@SBMPediatrics @djmont Don't forget to add the Cochrane Review to the pile.

May 4, 2022 · 1 like · 1 share · 2,848 followers View post →
Health Reform Ireland
@iHealthReform · X

As we are bombarded by adverts for cough and cold remedies better get the clinical evidence, so here it is..Does Cough Medicine Really Work? https://t.co/yM3iOayoqO via @YouTube

Jan 10, 2021 · 397 followers View post →
コモディティ医学生
@study_and_como · X

子供の風邪の咳嗽症状に対して鎮咳薬を服用させるのは効果がない上に副作用の面から見てデメリットしかないという報告。 そして、スプーン1杯程度のハチミツを就寝前に摂取することで咳の症状が緩和されるという。 薬ばかりではなく他の方法も選択肢に入れるのは新しい視点。 https://t.co/IDmxsYn62E

Dec 23, 2020 · 1 like · 739 followers View post →
Healthful Papa
@healthfulpapa · X

Does Cough Medicine Really Work? https://t.co/miJJypGNs8 via @YouTube

Aug 3, 2020 · 29 followers View post →
Evidence Aid
@EvidenceAid · X

#evidence on over-the-counter (OTC) & traditional remedies ✅Insufficient evidence on efficacy of OTC cough medicines for acute cough https://t.co/qAk4Bjl7td ✅Chinese herbs combined with Western medicines did not ⬇️ mortality in SARS patients https://t.co/AfrbuA8YXA #COVID19

Mar 25, 2020 · 1 like · 1 share · 8,900 followers View post →
Isaac Liu
@IsaacJLiu · X

rip Does Cough Medicine Really Work? https://t.co/M7zQcCgtV0 via @YouTube

Feb 24, 2020 · 949 followers View post →
Ikhwan Nazri
@tekong · X

Does Cough Medicine Really Work? https://t.co/jyjqqimx8d // @n3thead

Oct 8, 2019 · 10,192 followers View post →
Jonathan 4x
@jonathanbyn1 · X

@shekhetho @CoruscaKhaya @phumy_mthembu https://t.co/8wUfbbyCDs

Oct 1, 2019 · 353 followers View post →
Michał Aleksiejczuk
@M_Aleksiejczuk · X

@KrzysztofLanda @marcin_p_piatek Z Cochrane nie będziemy się chyba kłócić, prawda? Statistically not significant. https://t.co/3iCl5eiDfw

Mar 8, 2019 · 764 followers View post →