Do you hear that? Neither do I.
Written: Apr 02 '04 (Updated Apr 02 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Twice the drug for less. Pleasant flavor and texture. Contains honey.
Cons: Contains a fair amount of sugar.
The Bottom Line: The bottom line can't talk right now. It needs a hit of Robitussin Honey Cough.
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| bodashe's Full Review: Robitussin Honey Cough Syrup 4oz |
My daughter and I are suffering from the same nagging, lingering cough that is left over from a cold we shared about three weeks ago. The Oak pollen that is on/in/around everything isn’t helping any. I’d wager real money that seventy-five percent of people in our area are suffering from the same cough. (Serendipitous moment #22,653 – My windows are open, as it will hit 71 degrees here today, and I heard the neighbor hacking next-door while I was writing the above sentence.) I’d tried several over-the-counter remedies to try to help the Bug get some sleep at night, but nothing was cutting through the goop enough to help. There were times when she coughed so hard, her back hurt, her gag-reflex triggered, and she was just left helpless until I could help her get her breathing back under control.
About four days ago, I went to a Winn-Dixie grocery store to see if there was something - anything else that could help. I’d decided that if I couldn’t find something that worked this time, I’d make a doctor’s appointment and get Bug some genuine narcotic relief. I worked as a pharmacy technician for two-and-a-half years, so I don’t believe in brand-loyalty where drugs are concerned. I know the drugs, know what they do, and the cheapest brand with the best flavor is almost always the way to go. I rarely even scan the brand names, because there is usually a comparable generic equivalent. On a side note: Compare labels people. Find the one that will give you the symptomatic relief you’re needing, then search other labels for the same ingredients and a lower price tag. Your wallet will breathe easier, too.
What I was specifically looking for was a Dextromethorphan HydroBromide (HBr)/Guaifenesin (Cough Suppressant/Expectorant) combination. I just couldn’t find one with more than 7.5mg per 5ml dose of the Dextromethorphan HBr or 15mg Guaifenesin per 5ml dose. Bug needed a more powerful punch. I’d decided just to double her dose of the product we had at home, and was getting up from my camping spot in the Winn-Dixie OTC aisle when I saw Honey Cough by Robitussin. Reading the label I noted that it contained 10mg Dextromethorphan HBr and, listed as an inactive ingredient, real honey. (Well, pasteurized and homogenized, but it is honey, nonetheless. My Daddy kept bees, so I'm picky about honey.) Honey Cough didn’t have the expectorant, but with that much Dextro, I was hopeful that the Guaifenesin wouldn’t be necessary. I said a silent prayer, went to the register, and went home.
As soon as we returned home, I gave Edie the recommended 1.5 tsp. (about 7.5ml) dose, which meant that she was getting 15mg of the cough suppressant. The plastic dosing cup that comes with Honey Cough is marked at 3 tsp. (adult dose) and 1½ tsp. (child dose). On the back, it is embossed with the oh so helpful message that the cup is only for use with either Robitussin Honey Cold or Robitussin Honey Cough. Okay. Whatever.
Within a minute of drinking, Bug's hacking had ceased. Within five minutes, it was almost as if she'd never coughed in her life. The efficacy limit is six to eight hours. Honey Cough has the taste, consistency, and smell of, well, honey. It has a golden color and is thick. Thick cough medicine coats the throat, which also helps to stifle the cough mechanism.
At eight-thirty, I put her to bed and began ‘the watch’. Okay, it was actually ‘the listen’, but would you have known what I was talking about, if I hadn’t said ‘the watch’ first? I sat at my computer and started doing my evening thing. I went to bed at about one-thirty, satisfied that Bug would get through the night without incident. At 2:21 she crawled into my bed, and was beginning to show signs that before long, we’d be in the bathroom, praying to the porcelain god. I hit her with the Honey Cough again, and put her back in her bed. Without further incident, she awoke the next morning and was cranky and uncooperative. My Edie was back! For the previous two weeks, she’d arisen drained and pliable. On the morning after the Honey Cough, she told me she didn’t want to wear jeans, and didn’t have to brush her teeth. Hallepenjah!
The label contains the typical Dextromethorphan HBr warnings: MAOI’s, anti-depressives, anti-psychotics, and Parkinson’s disease medications are contraindicated. If your cough lasts for more than a week, or if you get a fever, rash, or persistent headache, discontinue and contact your insurance provider. Oh, sorry. I meant healthcare provider; I get the two confused sometimes. In case you or your loved one is allergic to, the inactive ingredients are: flavors, glucose, glycerin, honey, maltol, methylparaben, propylene glycol, sodium benzoate, and water.
For the usual legal reasons (i.e. fear of litigation from an idiot inadvertently overdosing their kid), Honey Cough is not recommended for children under 6. Another nugget of wisdom: Dosing by age is useless and potentially dangerous. Dosing by weight is smart and healthy. My six-year-old Bug weighs sixty pounds, which, according to a Children’s Advil label, makes her nine. Also, the twelve-year-old mark on most OTC labels means one hundred pounds. If you are dosing your child by age, stop. There is a chance you are either over- or under-dosing him. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule (such as a one hundred and two pound five year old.) Consult a trustworthy pharmacist or doctor to become better informed.
Overall, I’d recommend Honey Cough by Robitussin. I paid $5.69 for four ounces. Steep? Yes, but compared to Tylenol’s $6.99, and Robitussin’s $5.99, both with only 5mg per 5ml dose Dextromethorphan HBr and no soothing honey, $5.69 is a bargain. In short: Honey Cough works. We use it as needed, with no undue side effects. The high sugar content doesn’t seem to affect Bug. My annoying cough has yet to be severe enough to require medication; it’s just irritating. However, if it does get to the point where I’m gasping for air in the middle of the night, I wouldn’t hesitate to shoot a slug of Honey Cough.
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Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
bodashe
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Member: Bowie, CPhT
Location: Pensacola, FL, USA
Reviews written: 175
Trusted by: 103 members
About Me:
What goes around, comes around. And then it gets really dizzy and falls over.
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