Listing of Seven Cough Syrups and Comparison

1. Benadryl Syrup 
Prescription Required
Manufacturer: Johnson & Johnson Ltd
SALT COMPOSITION: Diphenhydramine (14.08mg/5ml) + Ammonium Chloride (138mg/5ml) + Sodium Citrate (57.03mg/5ml)
Storage: Store at room temperature (10-30°C)

Side effects of Benadryl Syrup 
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common side effects of Benadryl:

% Stomach pain/epigastric pain
% Dizziness
% Sleepiness
% Impaired coordination
% Thickened respiratory tract secretions
% Allergic reaction

Ref: 1mg

1.1. Diphenhydramine
Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine mainly used to treat allergies. It can also be used for insomnia, symptoms of the common cold, tremor in parkinsonism, and nausea. It is used by mouth, injection into a vein, injection into a muscle, or applied to the skin. Maximal effect is typically around two hours after a dose, and effects can last for up to seven hours.

Common side effects include sleepiness, poor coordination and an upset stomach. Its use is not recommended in young children or the elderly. There is no clear risk of harm when used during pregnancy; however, use during breastfeeding is not recommended. It is a first generation H1-antihistamine and works by blocking certain effects of histamine. Diphenhydramine is also an anticholinergic.

Diphenhydramine was first made by George Rieveschl and came into commercial use in 1946. It is available as a generic medication. It is sold under the trade name Benadryl, among others. In 2017, it was the 241st most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than two million prescriptions.

Ref: Wikipedia

1.2. Benadryl Tablet 

GENERIC NAME(S): Diphenhydramine Hcl

Uses

Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine used to relieve symptoms of allergy, hay fever, and the common cold. These symptoms include rash, itching, watery eyes, itchy eyes/nose/throat, cough, runny nose, and sneezing. It is also used to prevent and treat nausea, vomiting and dizziness caused by motion sickness. Diphenhydramine can also be used to help you relax and fall asleep.

This medication works by blocking a certain natural substance (histamine) that your body makes during an allergic reaction. Its drying effects on such symptoms as watery eyes and runny nose are caused by blocking another natural substance made by your body (acetylcholine).

Ref: webmd

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2. COF-RYL Cough Syrup 

Prescription Required
Manufacturer: Cipla Ltd
SALT COMPOSITION: Diphenhydramine (14.08mg/5ml) + Ammonium Chloride (138mg/5ml) + Sodium Citrate (57.03mg/5ml)
Storage: Store at room temperature (10-30°C)

Note: Cof-ryl is same as Benadryl with no difference in the salts. 

Ref: 1mg

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3. Bro-Zedex Syrup 

Prescription Required
Manufacturer: Wockhardt Ltd
SALT COMPOSITION: Bromhexine (4mg) + Guaifenesin (50mg) + Menthol (2.5mg) + Terbutaline (1.25mg)

Benefits of Bro-Zedex Syrup 
In Cough 
Cough is a sudden, forceful expulsion of air that helps clear any mucus or irritant in the throat or airways. If it happens more frequently, due to an underlying disease or an allergy, it can be bothersome. Bro-Zedex Syrup helps to loosen thick mucus, making it easier to cough out. This makes it easier for air to move in and out. It will also relieve allergy symptoms like watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose or throat irritation and help you carry out your daily activities more easily.

This medicine is safe and effective. It usually starts to work within a few minutes and the effects can last up to several hours. Take it as prescribed by the doctor. Do not stop using it unless you are advised to by your doctor. Taking this medicine enables you to live your life more freely without worrying so much about things that set off your symptoms.

Side effects of Bro-Zedex Syrup 
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common side effects of Bro-Zedex

% Nausea
% Indigestion
% Bloating
% Vomiting
% Diarrhea
% Stomach pain
% Dizziness
% Headache
% Sweating
% Skin rash
% Hives
% Tremor
% Increased heart rate
% Palpitations

Ref: 1mg	

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4. D-COLD SYRUP 

Manufacturer: Paras Pharmaceuticals Ltd
SALT COMPOSITION: Paracetamol (NA)
Salt Synonyms: Acetaminophen
	
Uses of D Cold Syrup
% Pain relief
% Fever

Side effects of D Cold Syrup 
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common side effects of D Cold

% Stomach pain
% Nausea
% Vomiting

What is the difference between nausea and vomiting? 
Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often accompanies the urge to vomit, but doesn't always lead to vomiting. Vomiting is the forcible voluntary or involuntary emptying ("throwing up") of stomach contents through the mouth.

Ref: 1mg: D-COLD Syrup

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5. Vicks Cough Drops 

Generic Name: menthol topical

Brand Name: Cepacol Regular Strength, Cepacol Sore Throat, Dads Menthol Throat Drop, Flanax Cough Relief, Halls Cough Drops, Ludens Throat Drops, Medikoff Drops, Medikoff Drops SF, Ricola Cherry Honey Herb, Ricola Herb, Ricola Honey Herb, Ricola Lemon Mint, Ricola Mountain Herb, Ricola Natural Herb, Ricola with Echinacea, Vicks VapoDrops

Uses of Vicks VapoDrops:

% It is used to relieve coughing.
% It is used to treat a sore throat.

Ref: Drugs.com

Menthol poisoning 

To put it in perspective, a typical cough drop contains between 3 and 10 milligrams (mg) of menthol. The lethal dose of mentholTrusted Source is estimated to be roughly 1,000 mg (1 gram) per kilogram of body weight. In other words, someone who weighs 150 pounds (68 kg) would likely have to eat more than 6,800 cough drops containing 10 mg of menthol in a short period of time to risk the chance of a lethal overdose.

Some people love the sweet taste and calming effects of cough drops and may want to take them even when they don’t have a cough. However, eating more than the recommended amount of cough drops (or anything for that matter) can result in a few unwanted symptoms.

Ref: healthline

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6. Torex Cough Syrup 
Prescription Required

Manufacturer: Torque Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd
SALT COMPOSITION: Diphenhydramine (12.5mg/5ml) + Ammonium Chloride (125mg/5ml) + Terpin Hydrate (7.5mg/5ml) + Sodium Citrate (55mg/5ml)
Storage: Store at room temperature (10-30°C)

Note: This syrup has four salts out of which three are same as Benadryl or COF-RYL.

Ref: 1mg

Terpin 

Terpin, used as the hydrate (terpin·H2O), is an expectorant, used to loosen mucus in patients presenting with acute or chronic bronchitis, and related conditions. It is derived from sources such as oil of turpentine, oregano, thyme and eucalyptus. It was popular in the United States since the late nineteenth century, but was removed from marketed medications in the 1990s after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found a lack of evidence of safety and effectiveness. Elixirs of terpin hydrate are still available with a prescription, but must be prepared by a compounding pharmacy. It can be prepared from other volatile oils like geraniol, linalool and berol by adding dilute acids (5% H2SO4) to them. 

Medical uses 

Terpin hydrate is an expectorant, used in the treatment of acute and chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, infectious and inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract. It is typically formulated with an antitussive (e.g., codeine) as a combined preparation.

Adverse effects 

Adverse reactions include depression of the respiration, sedation, coordination disorders, constipation, and urinary retention.

Long-term administration of the combination product of terpin hydrate with codeine may lead to codeine dependence. Terpin hydrate with codeine is often mixed with alcohol as codeine is not as readily as soluble in water. The high alcohol content (42 percent) may increase depression of the central nervous system, codeine metabolism, as well as abuse potential.

Mechanism of action 

A humectant and expectorant, terpin hydrate works directly on the bronchial secretory cells in the lower respiratory tract to liquify and facilitate the elimination of bronchial secretions. It also exerts a weak antiseptic effect on the pulmonary parenchyma.

Ref: Terpin - Wikipedia

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Ammonium chloride in Medicine 

Ammonium chloride is used as an expectorant in cough medicine. Its expectorant action is caused by irritative action on the bronchial mucosa, which causes the production of excess respiratory tract fluid, which presumably is easier to cough up. Ammonium salts are an irritant to the gastric mucosa and may induce nausea and vomiting.

Ammonium chloride is used as a systemic acidifying agent in treatment of severe metabolic alkalosis, in oral acid loading test to diagnose distal renal tubular acidosis, to maintain the urine at an acid pH in the treatment of some urinary-tract disorders.

Ref: Ammonium chloride - Wikipedia

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Trisodium citrate 

Trisodium citrate has the chemical formula of Na3C6H5O7. It is sometimes referred to simply as "sodium citrate", though sodium citrate can refer to any of the three sodium salts of citric acid. It possesses a saline, mildly tart flavor. It is mildly basic and can be used along with citric acid to make biologically compatible buffers. 

Medical uses 

In 1914, the Belgian doctor Albert Hustin and the Argentine physician and researcher Luis Agote successfully used sodium citrate as an anticoagulant in blood transfusions, with Richard Lewisohn determining its correct concentration in 1915. It continues to be used today in blood-collection tubes and for the preservation of blood in blood banks. The citrate ion chelates calcium ions in the blood by forming calcium citrate complexes, disrupting the blood clotting mechanism. Recently, trisodium citrate has also been used as a locking agent in vascath and haemodialysis lines instead of heparin due to its lower risk of systemic anticoagulation.

In 2003, Ööpik et al. showed the use of sodium citrate (0.5 g/kg body weight) improved running performance over 5 km by 30 seconds.

Sodium citrate is used to relieve discomfort in urinary-tract infections, such as cystitis, to reduce the acidosis seen in distal renal tubular acidosis, and can also be used as an osmotic laxative. It is a major component of the WHO oral rehydration solution.

It is used as an antacid, especially prior to anaesthesia, for caesarian section procedures to reduce the risks associated with the aspiration of gastric contents. 

Ref: Trisodium citrate - Wikipedia

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7. Rexcof DX NF Syrup

MANUFACTURER: Cipla Ltd

SALT COMPOSITION: Chlorpheniramine Maleate (2mg) + Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide (10mg)

STORAGE: Store at room temperature (10-30°C)

Rexcof DX NF Syrup is a combination medicine used in the treatment of dry cough. It works by reducing the activity of cough center in the brain. It relieves allergic symptoms like runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, throat irritation.

BENEFITS OF REXCOF DX SYRUP
In Dry cough
A dry cough, also known as non-productive cough, is a cough where no phlegm or mucus is produced. This is irritating, usually associated with a tickly throat and may be caused due to cold, flu, allergies or throat irritants. Rexcof DX NF Syrup suppresses dry, hacking coughs. It will also relieve allergy symptoms like watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose or throat irritation and help you carry out your daily activities more easily.


SIDE EFFECTS OF REXCOF DX SYRUP
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. 

Common side effects of Rexcof DX:
- Upset stomach
- Sleepiness


HOW REXCOF DX SYRUP WORKS
Rexcof DX NF Syrup is a combination of two medicines: Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide, which relieves dry cough. Chlorpheniramine Maleate is an antiallergic which helps reduce cough associated with allergies by blocking the effects of a chemical messenger, histamine. Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide is a cough suppressant which relieves cough by reducing the activity of cough center in the brain.

SAFETY ADVICE
Alcohol - Caution is advised when consuming alcohol with Rexcof DX NF Syrup. Please consult your doctor.
Driving - Rexcof DX NF Syrup may cause side effects which could affect your ability to drive.
Liver - Rexcof DX NF Syrup is probably unsafe to use in patients with liver disease and should be avoided. Please consult your doctor.

Ref: 1mg.com