Yes, Vicks cough syrups can help manage some symptoms of bronchitis, primarily by relieving cough and helping to clear mucus. However, the effectiveness depends on the specific Vicks product used and the type of cough you have.
You might use vapor rubs, like Vicks VapoRub® or Mentholatum® ointment, for anything that ails you and wonder if they work for bronchitis. Vapor rubs have ingredients in them intended to calm down coughs, so they may help your bronchitis symptoms.
But dextromethorphan (Robitussin, Delsym) is the most commonly used OTC cough medicine for acute bronchitis (meaning it comes on suddenly). Dextromethorphan is available in pill and liquid form. There are also some lozenges that contain dextromethorphan.
Foods to Avoid With Bronchitis
If you have bronchitis, to help you feel better, you may want to try the following self-care measures:
Certain substances can irritate your lungs and airways and raise your risk for acute bronchitis. For example, inhaling or being exposed to tobacco smoke, dust, fumes, vapors, or air pollution raises your risk for the condition. These lung irritants also can make symptoms worse.
This product should not usually be used for an ongoing cough from smoking or long-term breathing problems (such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema) unless directed by your doctor. This product contains dextromethorphan. It is a cough suppressant that works by decreasing the feeling of needing to cough.
Elevating your head while you sleep can prevent mucus from accumulating in your throat, which often triggers coughing. Adding a humidifier to your room can also moisten the air, soothing irritated airways and making breathing easier. Drinking warm fluids before bed can help thin the mucus and reduce cough severity.
Small amounts of white mucus may be coughed up if the bronchitis is viral. If the color of the mucus changes to green or yellow, it may be a sign that a bacterial infection has also set in. The cough is usually the last symptom to clear up and may last for weeks.
Treatment for bronchitis
Treatment for bronchitis typically involves over-the-counter medication like pain relievers or cough suppressants, self-care, prescription inhalers or anti-inflammatories, and in the case of a bacterial infection, antibiotics. The main goal is to give your body the time it needs to recover.
Treatment Options at BestMed Urgent Care
Cough suppressants and expectorants to ease bronchitis symptoms. Inhalers or breathing treatments if wheezing or shortness of breath is present. Fever reducers and pain relievers for flu discomfort.
Eucalyptus oil, one of Vicks' active ingredients, can be pretty beneficial. Paired with hot water, eucalyptus oil can double your phlegm fighting force. Not only is it antiviral (most chest coughs are viral infections), but it also relieves coughs and loosens up mucus.
The most common symptoms of bronchitis are:
Let your body heal
“Home remedy care can include honey, warm tea, humidifiers, cough drops, expectorants—which are medications that help loosen mucus in the respiratory tract—and hypertonic saline nasal rinses,” he said.
You will know you are turning a corner when your chest congestion loosens and you have more energy. Your cough will likely be more productive and may sound worse, but you will start to feel better.
Bronchodilators are medications that cause the bronchial muscles to relax and, as a result, the bronchial tubes to open wider or dilate. When these muscles relax, the bronchial tubes can usually open fully again and breathing can become normal.
Cough suppressants (antitussives) don't act upon the inflamed mucous membranes in the bronchi. Instead, they aim to suppress the urge to cough, so they are rarely used in the treatment of acute bronchitis. Typical examples of suppressants include codeine and dextromethorphan.
Benylin DM has an average rating of 8.0 out of 10 from a total of 2 ratings on Drugs.com. 50% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 0% reported a negative effect. Buckley's Mixture Cough Suppressant has an average rating of 9.0 out of 10 from a total of 3 ratings on Drugs.com.
Buckley's Mixture
In March 2017, Health Canada issued a recall of Buckley's products due to a choking hazard from a faulty plastic seal.
Stage 4: Very Severe COPD
Shortness of breath and chest tightness occur with everyday activities, and it becomes a big effort just to breathe. Hospitalizations for breathing complications, lung infections, or respiratory failure are common during stage 4 COPD, and sudden flare-ups can be life-threatening.
Best foods to eat when sick with bronchitis
Chicken soup can help ease a sore throat and loosen mucus when you're sick with bronchitis. Add spices such as turmeric, ginger, and garlic to soothe throat and chest irritation. Golden milk, also known as turmeric milk, is a traditional drink in Ayurvedic medicine.
If you have chronic bronchitis, you're likely to have periods when your cough or other symptoms get worse. When that happens, you may have an acute infection on top of the chronic bronchitis. See your doctor if your cough: Lasts more than 3 weeks.