So it’s not surprising that coughs are among the most common complaints. Last year, South Africans spent around half a billion rand on cough syrup medicines alone.
Is it the right medication?
Like many people, you’ll probably try to self-medicate that cough before seeing a doctor.
In fact, more than 80% of people across the globe are using over-the-counter (OTC) medications as the first response to health issues. Respiratory drugs – including cough medicines – make up more than one-third of this market.
However, there are risks – the wrong choice or incorrect use of cough syrups can lead to potentially harmful medicine interactions and side-effects.
The combination of ingredients found in some cough syrups may even be addictive. A 2015 report by eNCA’s investigative current affairs show, CheckPoint, found that cough syrups containing codeine were the most abused OTC drug in South Africa. Abusing codeine can result in vomiting and nausea, constipation, drowsiness, or even respiratory depression in severe cases.
When buying OTCs, it’s important to ask a pharmacist what you can expect from the medication, how long you should use it before consulting a doctor and whether it can affect other medicine you are already taking.
