Best cough syrup names in India 2025

Cough syrups are widely used to treat coughs caused by various conditions, including colds, flu, and asthma. They are primarily available in two types: expectorants and cough suppressants. Expectorants help in productive coughs by loosening mucus, while suppressants are used to reduce dry coughs. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the best cough syrup names in India along with essential facts to consider.

 Importance of cough syrups

Cough syrups are a unique medication that addresses coughing symptoms more effectively than other dosage forms like tablets, capsules, or injections. They play a significant role in relieving cough and providing comfort to patients. Here are the key benefits:

Targeted Relief: They provide quick and targeted relief for both productive and dry coughs.

Clearing Airways: Expectorants help clear mucus from the airways, making it easier to breathe.

Soothing the Throat: Cough syrups coat the throat, reducing irritation and promoting healing.

Common Criteria for Selecting the Best Cough Syrup

Choosing the right cough syrup can be challenging. Here are several important factors to consider:

1. Type of Cough

• Identify whether you have a productive cough or a dry cough.
• Choose an expectorant for productive coughs and a suppressant for dry coughs.
• In some cases, a bronchodilator may be recommended for asthma-related coughs.

2. Ingredients

• Understanding the ingredients in a cough syrup requires medical expertise.
• It is best to consult a doctor who can recommend the right syrup based on your symptoms and condition.

3. Dosage

• The standard dosage for most cough syrups is 5 ml per dose.
• Depending on the severity of the cough, your doctor may recommend taking it once, twice, or three times a day.

4. Safety

• Never take cough syrup without a doctor’s recommendation.
• Some cough syrups are not suitable for children or pregnant women.
• Elderly patients and individuals with special health conditions may experience adverse effects from random cough syrup use.

5. Price

• Price plays a crucial role when choosing a cough syrup.
• Different brands offer the same composition at varying prices.
• Choose a quality cough syrup that fits your budget without compromising effectiveness.

Top 5 best cough syrups for adults in India 2025

Brand Name	Composition	Usage	Mfd. By	Price (INR)	Substitutes
Chericof Syrup	Dextromethorphan, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride	Dry cough, upper respiratory tract infection	Sun Pharmaceuticals Ltd	140/100 ml	Ftox-DX, TusQ-DX, Alex, Asthakind-DX
Benadryl Syrup	Diphenhydramine, Ammonium Chloride, Sodium Citrate	Itching, runny nose, sneezing, watering eyes	JNTL Consumer Health Pvt. Ltd	170/150 ml	Cofryl, Cof-ryl, Suncaryl
Cheston Plus Syrup	Ambroxol (15mg) + Guaifenesin (50mg) + Terbutaline (1.25mg)	Productive cough, cough with mucus	Cipla Ltd	91.96/100 ml	–
Asthalin Syrup	Salbutamol Sulphate (2 mg/5 ml)	Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	Cipla Ltd	20.16/100 ml	–
Grilinctus-BM Syrup	Terbutaline, Bromhexine Hydrochloride (2:8 mg/5 ml)	Bronchodilator, mucolytic	Franco-Indian Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd	128 per bottle	–

Role of different Ingredients in cough syrup:

Cough syrups contain various active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), each playing a specific role in relieving cough symptoms. Below is a breakdown of the common ingredients used in cough syrups and their functions:

• Dextromethorphan: A cough suppressant that reduces the frequency and intensity of dry coughs. It helps relieve persistent coughing.
• Guaiphenesin: An expectorant that works by loosening and thinning mucus or phlegm in the airways, making it easier to cough up. It is commonly used in productive cough syrups.
• Codeine: A controlled substance regulated by the NDPS department. It acts as a powerful cough suppressant and is used in severe dry cough cases. Due to its potential for addiction, it is only prescribed when absolutely necessary.
• Bromhexine Hydrochloride: An expectorant that helps loosen mucus in the airways, making it easier to clear the throat. It is commonly included in cough syrups designed for productive coughs.
• Diphenhydramine: An antihistamine that helps relieve cough caused by allergies. It also alleviates symptoms such as itching, runny nose, and sneezing.
• Chlorpheniramine: Another antihistamine used to manage coughs triggered by certain allergies. It helps reduce throat irritation and discomfort.
• Phenylephrine Hydrochloride: A decongestant that relieves nasal congestion and helps in reducing cough symptoms caused by colds. It works by narrowing blood vessels to decrease swelling in the nasal passages.

ALSO READ: Pharmaceutical Formulation Plants for Sale in North India

Types of Cough Syrups

Cough syrups come in various forms, depending on their active ingredients and intended use. Below are the primary types of cough syrups:

1. Dry Cough Syrup

• Key Ingredients: Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide, Codeine Phosphate
• These suppressants are effective for managing dry cough and persistent coughing issues.

2. Productive Cough Syrup

• Key Ingredients: Bronchodilators, Expectorants
• These syrups help alleviate productive cough by loosening mucus and clearing the airways.

3. Asthmatic Cough Syrup

• Key Ingredients: Salbutamol, Levosalbutamol
• These syrups are used to treat asthmatic cough and relieve breathing difficulties caused by asthma.

4. Cough Syrup for Cold

• Key Ingredients: Phenylephrine HCl, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan
• These syrups are designed to relieve cough symptoms caused by colds, including nasal congestion and throat irritation.

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:

A slight cough is common in everyone and usually not a cause for concern. However, when a cough persists for weeks or months, it may indicate an underlying medical condition that requires attention. For example, many people experience regular coughing due to dust allergies without any internal health issues. But if the cough becomes prolonged, it is essential to seek medical advice.

Cough sources vary from person to person, depending on their lifestyle and environment. Some common causes include:

• Smoking: Regular smokers often develop a persistent cough as a side effect of their habit.
• Dust Allergy: Individuals allergic to dust may experience frequent coughing episodes without any internal infections.
• Infections: Coughing can also result from external infections caused by bacteria or viruses.

Reasons for developing a cough 

Let’s explore some common types of coughs and their possible causes:

1. Bronchitis Cough

Treatment: Medications such as Ambroxol, Terbutaline, Guaiphenesin, and Bromhexine are effective for bronchitis-related coughs.

Symptoms: A hacking cough that may or may not bring up phlegm (thick yellow-grey mucus) from the chest.

 2. Cold Cough

• Cause: This type of cough develops when nerves in the airways become irritated due to dust, cold, or viral flu. The body’s natural reflex is to expel foreign particles or bacteria from the airways.
• Treatment: Common medications include Chlorpheniramine Maleate, Phenylephrine, and Menthol.

3. Flu

• Cause: Influenza (flu) is a viral infection that affects the respiratory system, causing congestion and breathing difficulties that trigger coughing.
• Treatment: Strong expectorants like Guaiphenesin help loosen mucus and relieve congestion. In some cases, a small dose of antibiotics may enhance the effectiveness of treatment.

4. Dry Cough

Treatment: Common medications for dry cough include Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide, Codeine Phosphate, Chlorpheniramine, and Pseudoephedrine syrups.

Cause: Dry cough is often caused by viruses spread through contact with contaminated surfaces or exposure to infected individuals.

Best OTC Cough Syrups

In today’s fast-paced world, people often skip visiting doctors for minor illnesses like coughs and instead purchase over-the-counter (OTC) cough syrups based on self-knowledge or recommendations from chemists. Some popular OTC cough syrups in India include:

Glycodin

Asthalin

Grilinctus

Chericof

Benadryl

Corex

However, it is essential to exercise caution when using OTC medicines. Several cough syrups are listed under Schedule H, Schedule G, or Schedule H1, and should not be consumed without a doctor’s prescription.

Top home remedies for cough to replace allopathic syrup

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 be sold without the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner. 

Codeine syrups were very popular with 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.

For PCD and third-party mgf. Whatsapp here:-9812446733

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)