Coughs that nag you all day long are bad enough. But when they keep you awake all night, you can feel downright awful. How can you calm down your cough so you can get the sleep you need?
You’re in luck. There are plenty of treatments for nighttime coughs that can help. Most of the time, home remedies or over-the-counter (OTC) treatments can work wonders. But if those don’t help, your doctor can prescribe a stronger cough medicine that includes something to make you drowsy.
Start with simple solutions to see if they stop the hacking:
If you need stronger relief, pharmacy shelves are full of OTC cough or cold remedies you can try to stop a cough. These products may have a mix of different types of medicine in one capsule or pill:
But be aware: These cough treatments make some people feel drowsy, but they make others feel hopped up so they stay awake. And some of them aren’t safe to take if you have health problems, like high blood pressure. So check with your doctor before you buy one.
Nasal sprays with or without a steroid may help ease your cough, too.
When you have a cold, a sinus infection, or the flu, mucus can drip from your stuffy nose or sinuses into your throat when you lie down to sleep. That’s why you may cough more at night. You may feel the drip tickle the back of your throat and want to cough to clear the clog.
But other conditions can also cause a cough that keeps you awake:
If your doctor finds that one of these problems is causing your cough, you’ll need to treat that specific condition to find relief. Talk to your doctor about the best plan.
WebMD Medical Reference
Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD on July 19, 2021
Sources
SOURCES:
Harvard Health Publications: “That nagging cough.”
Cardiff University Common Cold Centre.
National Institute on Drug Abuse: “Cough and Cold Medicine Abuse.”
MayoClinic.org: “Is it true that honey calms coughs better than cough medicine does?”
National Health Services UK: “Cough.”
Quit Smoking Community: “Smoker’s Cough: Why It Happens and How to Stop It.”
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