Best cough syrup names in India 2024

Introduction

Cough syrups are used to treat coughs that are caused by various reasons including colds, Flu, and asthma. Cough syrups are available mainly in two types such as expectorants and cough suppressants. Expectorants are used in productive coughs, and suppressants are used in dry coughs. In this comprehensive article, we will learn about the best cough syrup names in India with examples and facts based on.  

Importance of cough syrups

Cough syrups are a unique medication that addresses the symptoms of coughing very effectively in comparison to other dosage forms like tablets, capsules, and Injections. Cough syrups play a significant role in the drug delivery system,  in productive cough they clear the airways and allow breathing easily, and heal the affected area in the throat. 

Common criteria for selecting the best cough syrup

There are several factors to consider when you select a cough syrup that will be best for you, some important points you must keep in mind:

• Type of cough: First of all know your cough type, then select accordingly an expectorant, suppressant, or bronchodilator for you. After that select the best brand in that category.
• Ingredients: Knowing ingredients in cough syrup is the job of an expert, a common man can’t decide the importance of ingredients by evaluating the type of cough. Let the doctor decide the right ingredient for your cough symptoms. 
• Dosage: Usually, cough syrups are taken in a dose of 5 ml once, it may be twice or thrice a day as per the instructions of the doctor. 
• Safety: You should never take cough syrup without the recommendations of a health practitioner. Many cough syrups are not safe for children and pregnant women. Elderly patients and special disabled patients can get adverse effects from random cough syrups. Therefore, always consult your doctor for the right type of cough syrup.
• Price: Price is a crucial factor in selecting a cough syrup. There are several brands of the same compositions, and you have the choice to select a quality cough syrup at a lesser price. 

Top 10 best cough syrups for adults in India 2024

1. Chericof syrup: Chericof is the combination of Dextromethorphan, Chlorpheniramine, and phenylephrine hydrochloride. These medicines belong to suppressants, antihistamines, and decongestants respectively. It is used for dry cough symptoms. It is effective in upper respiratory tract infection-related symptoms. It is a product of Sun Pharmaceuticals Ltd and is available at the price of Rs. 118/- for 100 ml. Its substitutes are Ftox-DX, TusQ-Dx, Alex, and Asthakind-DX syrup. BUY
2. Benadryl Syrup: Benadryl syrup is a combination of Diphenhydramine, Ammonium chloride, and Sodium Citrate. It is used for symptoms such as itching, runny nose, sneezing, and watering eyes with cough. It can be slight dizziness, drowsiness, sleepiness, etc. It is mfd. by JNTL Consumer Health Pvt. Ltd in India. The price of Benadryl syrup is Rs. 141/-, 150 ml. Its substitutes are Cofryl, Cof-ryl, and Suncaryl. 
3. Cheston Syrup: Cheston cough syrup is a combination of Bromhexine, Chlorpheniramine, and Guaiphenesin. It is an expectorant in the category. It is used to treat a cough with mucus, or cough with phlegm. It is a product of Cipla Ltd. It is available at a price of Rs. 69.85/- per 100 ml.  
4. Asthalin: Asthalin syrup is Salbutamol Sulphate syrup that contains 2mg of Salbutamol in each 5 ml. It is used to relieve symptoms of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Usually, it is taken every day to get the best results. Check your blood pressure regularly to avoid adverse effects. It is a product of Cipla Ltd and sold at the MRP of Rs. 17.92/- per 100 ml bottle.
5. Grilinctus-DM: Grilinctus is a syrup of Terbutaline and Bromhexine Hydrochloride (2:8mg /5 ml). Terbutaline is a bronchodilator, which means that it relaxes the muscles in the airways and makes it easier to breathe. Bromhexine is a mucolytic, which means that it thins and loosens mucus, making it easier to cough up. It is the best product in this combination. It is marketed by Franco-Indian Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. The current MRP of this product is Rs. 116.49/- per bottle.

Role of different Ingredients in cough syrup:

Cough syrups are medicines that are designed to relieve cough by suppressing or minimizing the frequency and intensity of coughing. Cough syrups contain various APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients). Each ingredient has a special role in relieving symptoms. 

• Dextromethorphan: It is a cough suppressant that is used to reduce the frequency or intensity of coughing. It is effective in dry cough.
• Guaiphenesin: It is an expectorant that is used to loosen and thin the mucus/phlegm in the airways, which makes the cough easier to cough.
• Codeine: It is a controlled drug by the NDPS department. It is also a suppressant that is used in severe coughing conditions in dry cough.
• Bromhexine Hydrochloride: It is an expectorant in nature. It is used in cough syrups that are intended to use for loosening the mucus in the airways of the throat.
• Diphenhydramine: It is an antihistamine drug that is used to relieve coughing caused by various allergies and dust.
• Chlorpheniramine: It is an antihistamine that is used to relieve cough developed due to a certain type of allergy.
• Phenylephrine Hydrochloride: It is a decongestant that is used to end nasal congestion and a cough reliever. It is useful for cough due to cold.

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Types of cough syrups?

Cough syrups are syrupy solutions that are made of Bronchodilators, Expectorants, Suppressants, and decongestants molecules in their composition. In physical appearance, cough syrups are similar to other medicinal syrups, but they are different in types of contents. They are sweet, flavored liquids. 

Bronchodilators, Expectorants, Suppressants, and decongestants are prepared in the syrupy form to eradicate cough symptoms. Each salt is prepared in a single molecule formulation or in combination with many molecules. 

Dry cough syrup:

Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide and Codeine Phosphate are popular cough suppressants used for dry cough and prolonged dry cough problems. 

Productive cough syrup:

Bronchodilators and expectorants are usually used in productive cough symptoms.

Asthmatic cough syrup:

Asthmatic cough syrups are used to treat cough that is caused by asthma. Usually, these syrups contain Salbutamol, or Levosalbutamol in the formulation. 

Cough syrup for cold: 

Cold syrups which are used in cough due to colds commonly contain Phenylephrine Hcl, Chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan, etc. 

Cough syrup in India:

There are millions of different cough syrups brand names in India. All cough syrups are developed to treat various types of cough. But largely it depends on the prescription of a Doctor which is suitable for a particular patient. The list of cough syrups is provided here just for information about the compositions of syrups, it is not any recommendation for any cough syrup. Therefore, it is firmly recommended not to take medicines without a prescription from a registered medical practitioner.

Top Ayurvedic cough syrup

In India, herbal cough syrups are very popular with allopathic syrups. Kuftips, Honitus, Koflet-SF, Cofsils naturals, and Bhringrajsav are top-selling cough syrups. You can select any of them for the best quality.

Buy Honitus cough syrup Here

Sources of cough generation:

Every human has a slight cough which is very normal behavior, but when a cough prolongs for weeks and months this may be a medical alert. Many people have dust allergies they cough regularly without any internal problems. However, a prolonged cough situation must be addressed with proper medication and the doctor’s advice. Although we are discussing the Best cough syrups name in India 2023 here.

Sources of cough are different for every individual depending on the living behavior. Many people have a cough due to their smoking habit, some have a cough because of dust allergy, and a few people get a cough from external infections. So there is no universal reason for the cough. 

Reasons for developing a cough 

We have already discussed the possible reason for cough development, and some common and routine reasons for cough are illustrated according to the source of cough generations. 

Bronchitis Cough:  

The main symptom of bronchitis is a hacking cough. In this cough phlegm (thick yellow-grey mucus) bring up from the chest, however, sometimes phlegm does not appear in the cough but it still may be a Bronchitis cough.  Ambroxol, Terbutaline, Guaiphenesin, and bromhexine are a few drugs that help in such coughs. 

 Cold Cough:

Typically, coughing occurs when the nerves in the airways become infected due to dust cold, or viral flu. This type of cough develops due to the body‘s reflex response to exit foreign particles or bacteria choking the airways. Chlorpheniramine maleate, Phenylephrine, and menthol are the main drugs to deal with this type of cough. 

 Flu:

Influenza is a viral infection that attacks the human respiratory system. Congestion in the respiratory system creates a breathing problem that turns into a cough response. Strong expectorant ingredients like guaiphenesin can loosen up mucus to decrease cough and congestion. The effectiveness of guaifenesin increases with a small dose of antibiotics.

 Dry Cough: 

This is also like a common cold cough. When you receive a virus from touching the surface of the infected virus, or falling in front of a sneezing and coughing person who is infected with that virus, then you get dry cough symptoms. This type of virus commonly enters through the mouth or nose route. Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide, Codeine Phosphate, Chlorpheniramine, and Pseudoephedrine syrups are commonly used in such types of cough. 

Ingredients/Drugs for different coughs

There are lots of compositions used to treat cough in patients, it depends on the doctor’s prescription which drug he finds to suit the symptoms, condition, disease history, and many more factors. Some ingredients are highly effective on particular symptoms and non-effective on other symptoms. So as per symptoms of cough, some categories of best cough syrups names are given here. 

Cough Suppressants :

A drug used to cure coughing, a dry cough, nagging, and unproductive cough is known as a cough suppressant also called antitussive. Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide is the master ingredient in cough suppressants.  Dextromethorphan is associated with Phenylephrine, Chlorpheniramine, Menthol, cetirizine, and phenylpropanolamine HCl to produce a complete suppressant cough syrup. 

Expectorants

Expectorants are drugs used to loosen or dilute the mucus in the chest and lungs.  Which makes them so dilute that can cough out from the chest easily. Guaifenesin is the main ingredient in such cough syrups in combination with Terbutaline sulfate, Bromhexine Hydrochloride, and Menthol. Taking the syrup with warm or hot water results in better. 

Asthmatic syrups

Asthmatic medicines are used when a patient feels breathing problems while coughing. Some patients who are smokers and compromised lungs require special care in breathing cough problems. The main ingredient in this cough is salbutamol and levosalbutamol with ambroxol hydrochloride and guaifenesin. Ambroxol-based cough syrups also clear the airways that help to take breath easily.

What are the best OTC cough syrups? 

In the fast-moving world,  people try to skip going to hospitals or doctors for small illnesses or cough problems, they purchase a cough syrup from a chemist shop with their own choice or self-knowledge base, such cough syrups are now popular in public with their brand names are known as OTC cough syrups Like Asthalin, Grinlinctus, Cherricof, Benadryl, Corex, Glycodin, etc.

However, taking any medicine prescribed in Schedule H, Schedule G or Schedule H1 is not a safe option without a doctor’s advice. Some people take risks for their health by doing such practices. Cough is not a common problem for everyone, but it may have serious complications for cardiovascular patients, therefore, avoid buying OTC medicines.

What are the best prescription cough medicines?

Every ingredient has its unique role in cough, some ingredients are effective in productive cough but not useful in dry cough, and some are very effective in Asthmatic cough but not useful in productive cough.

The best prescription is one that relieves the patient’s cough as soon as possible. Symptoms decide the type of cough syrup, which has to give to a particular person.

Almost every doctor decides to prescribe a drug keeping symptoms in view, some times people themselves purchase OTC medicines for their cough problem, in that scenario, you have the following options for the best cough syrup names in India to buy, first, decide on the cough type you have, second read the label of cough syrup what for it is indicated? Buy the best option for you and follow the dosage instructions carefully.

What are the best home remedies for cough?

There are lots of homemade remedies available for cough, and many of them are very useful and helpful in cough. Most can be prepared from kitchen spices and herbs available in every household. Nothing is costly and needs to purchase from the market especially. Some problems occur due to our lifestyle mistakes, which turn into coughs or other allergic problems. Everyone should care about their habits which allow diseases to enter the body. Some Homemade remedies are  detailed below:

Warm fluids: Generally fluids are capable of diluting the mucus in the throat. Usually, hot or lukewarm liquids—such as broth, tea, and Kadha are very effective in throat congestion. It relieves cough very soon and effectively. 

Citrus Fruits: Some natural vegetables and fruits available with menthol, lemon, zinc, vitamin C, and honey are very effective in reducing throat pain, swelling, and congestion. They can be used to reduce the intensity of cough.

Vaporizers: It is very effective to take vapors of hot water added mint leaf and metha oil. It helps with nose congestion and throat infections. There are lots of good-quality vaporizers available in the market.

Ginger Powder:  Ginger is well known for its medicinal and herbal effects, ginger is hot in nature, and it helps very well with coughs due to colds, and flu. Drinking hot tea made with some ginger slices relieves cough and cold. 

Sitopladi Powder: Sitopladi Powder when taken with pure honey is very helpful in chronic cough situations. This is an Indian classical ayurvedic preparation that is used for centuries for cough symptoms, and many more health issues. Before buying sitopladi powder ensure that it should be manufactured by reputed companies like Dabur and Baidyanath, etc.

Dry cough syrups in India 2024

Generally, dry cough syrup is a combination of Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide and some associated APIs Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride, and Menthol. Here are some popular brands in the market containing Dextromethorphan Hbr Benadryl, Chericof, Ftox-DX, TusQ-dx, etc. 

Codeine with Chlorpheniramine Maleate is also a popular cough medicine for dry cough. Here are some examples of this combination Corex, Rexcof, Tossex, Benylin, Cocorex, etc. 

However, the sale of Codeine Phosphate cough syrups in OTC is banned in India. This is not allowed to sell without the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner. 

Codeine syrups were very popular in the younger generation who used them for narcotism. The government of India restricted its availability by enforcing related laws. Codeine syrups must be included in the list of best cough syrup names in India.

Codeine Phosphate syrups Names in India;

BRAND NAME	COMPOSITION	MFG. COMPANY NAME
COREX	Codeine 10 mg+ CPM 4 mg	Pfizer
Altec	Codeine Phosphate, Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Phenyl Propanolamine	Hetero Healthcare Ltd
Apidin	Codeine Phosphate, Aspirin, Caffeine	Indian Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Ascoril-C	Codeine Phosphate, Chlorpheniramine Maleate	Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Bronolax	Codeine Phosphate, Ammonium Chloride, Diphenhydramine, Ephedrine HCl	Alkem Laboratories Ltd.
C-kof	Codeine Phosphate, Chlorpheniramine Maleate	DWD Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Cocof Linctus	Codeine Phosphate, Chlorpheniramine Maleate	Kaytross Healthcare Ltd.
Codirex	Codeine Phosphate, Chlorpheniramine Maleate	Times Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd.
Honitus	Ayurvedic	All cough
Glycodin	Dextromethorphan 10 mg, CPM 2 mg	Dry Coughs

 

Best cough syrup for dry cough in India:

Dry coughs can be cured by suppressants if they are of good quality and MANUFACTURED. Cough syrups containing Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride, and Chlorpheniramine Maleate are best for dry cough in India. 

This combination is very potent and has proved effective for years. Some good examples of this combination are Chericof syrup, Benadryl, FTOX-DX, and Glycodin. These are the top examples of DMR combinations.  Codeine Phosphate and Chlorpheniramine Maleate syrups are also highly effective in dry cough symptoms. Some good examples of this combination are Corex, Codirex, Codistar, and Ascoril-C syrup.

Conclusion

The topic of best cough syrup names in India in 2023 became more relevant as awareness of the increased risk of self-medication. The use of cough syrups depends on many factors that ought to be in mind every time like age, sex, pregnancy, and medical history of the patient.

The right selection of the type of cough syrup minimizes the risks of adverse effects and increases the probability of treatment of the cough.

The best way to deal with any disease is to visit your Doctor which will reduce the chances of adverse effects and wrong medication, no advice can replace the advice of a doctor. Self-medication is not a best practice for the use of OTC products. However, the product suggested in the list is the best in quality as per their efficacy. You should use self-medication only on rare occasions, and avoid it in regular practice. If you like the article do not forget to share it with friends.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION

References:

1. Cough Suppressants –Free Medical Dictionary by Farlex.
2. Vaporizers -Vaporizer (inhalation device), –From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
3. Clinical efficacy of honey in the treatment of acute cough: A systematic review and meta-analysis- by Oduwole, O. et al. in Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2018. 
4. Herbal Medicines for the Treatment of Noninfluenza Acute Respiratory Viral Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials,” by Wang, Y. et al. in Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2017.
5. Efficacy of different cough treatments for children with bronchiolitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis- by Schroeder, K. et al. in Archives of Disease in Childhood, 2014. 
6. A review on the effectiveness and safety of Thyme, Sage, and Ivy Leaves in the treatment of acute bronchitis:  by Kemmerich, B. et al. in Phytomedicine, 2006.
7. Management of Acute Cough in Primary Care: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials, by Smith, S. et al. in Annals of Family Medicine, 2014. 
8. Benylin dry coughs (dextromethorphan)[netdoctor(.co.uk)]

Disclaimer:

Disclaimer: All the information and articles available on this site are for educational purposes only. The information given here should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or disease without expert advice. The advice of a qualified medical practitioner should always be sought for medical examination and treatment.

Reviewed by;

Dr. Yogesh Chaudhary (B. Pharma)

Senior Pharmacist at S.N. Medical College, Agra-(UP)