PlushCare / Online Doctor / Primary Care / Cough
In order to treat your cough, consult with one of our board-certified online doctors today to prescribe medication to help suppress coughing. Get a new prescription to relieve a cough or refill an existing prescription today.
Medication services available 24/7 for adults and kids (3+)
Top quality, board-certified doctors
No insurance needed
Same-day prescriptions available*
*Disclaimer: PlushCare doctors cannot treat all cases of coughing. Our primary care physicians can conduct an initial evaluation of your symptoms, but may need to refer you to a specialist or for in-person treatment. If you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
Most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less. Otherwise, new patient visits are $129 and follow-ups are only $69 for members.
Step 1
Book a same day appointment from anywhere.
Step 2
Visit with a doctor on your smartphone or computer.
Step 3
We can send prescriptions to any local pharmacy.
Step 1
Book a same day appointment from anywhere.
Step 2
Visit with a doctor on your smartphone or computer.
Step 3
We can send prescriptions to any local pharmacy.
How pricing works
To request constipation treatment and get a new or refill on your prescription, join our monthly membership and get discounted visits.
$14.99/month
First month free
Copay
For all visits
Often the same as an office visit. Most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less!
$14.99/month
First month free
$129
Repeats only $69
Initial visits are $129 and follow-ups are only $69 for active members.
If we're unable to treat you, we'll provide a full refund.
Coughing is a body’s reflex action to throat irritation, much like other reflex actions such as blinking and sneezing. Sometimes irritants from the air such as dust, can enter the throat and airway. To immediately expel the irritant from the throat or airway, the chest and abdomen muscles contract to push air out of the lungs, which is coughing.
Occasional coughing is healthy as it helps clear the throat and airway of irritants such as germs, dust, and mucus. Coughing itself can also be a symptom of an underlying cause (e.g. upper respiratory infection). Constant coughing can cause sore throats.
A variety of factors and conditions can contribute to a cough. Causes of coughing can generally be categorized as medical conditions, allergens, or irritants. Medical conditions that can cause coughs include:
Indoor/household irritants or allergens that can cause coughing include:
There are several different types of medications that can act as an effective cough treatment. These cough medicines include both prescription and over the counter medications. There are several different types of medications that can act as an effective cough treatment. These cough medicines include both prescription and over the counter medications. Cough medications can effectively treat cough symptoms quickly. Depending on the cause, some cough medication options may include:
This prescription cough medicine is a non-narcotic cough suppressant.
Asthma drugs such as Albuterol can help relieve a wheezing cough.
These can help reduce allergy related coughs.
These medicines stop runny nose, improve nasal airflow and reduce postnasal drip to help reduce coughing frequency. If you take blood pressure medicine, check with your doctor first before taking any decongestants.
These help reduce inflammation of the lining of the airway (smooth muscle relaxation).
Antibiotics are prescribed to treat bacterial infections that lead to coughs.
Also known as antitussives, cough suppressants work by suppressing the cough reflex. Common over the counter cough suppressant brand names include, but are not limited to, Delsym and Robitussin.
Do not give cough medicine to children under 6 years old without a doctor's approval.
One of the main idea behind cough prevention is to prevent the spread of the viruses and bacteria that cause respiratory tract infections, through good hygiene practices:
In addition, staying healthy and keeping your immune system up to can help fend off the cold virus:
Another key prevention strategy is reduce exposure to indoor/outdoor irritants or allergens such as:
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call a doctor:
Seek emergency treatment if you experience the following together with cough:
Continue to see your doctor if you have a chronic cough due to known underlying medical conditions that you are already in a treatment plan. Continual management of the medical condition can keep the chronic cough in check.
Conditions related to a cough / that may cause coughing include:
Cough treatment will depend on what is causing the coughing; speak with your doctor to receive a diagnosis and care plan to treat coughs. Depending on the underlying medical condition that is causing the coughs, the doctor can include over the counter or prescription medications as part of the treatment plan. There are also home remedies that can help.
Aside from over the counter drugs, here are some at home remedies that may also help relieve coughs:
Cough symptoms (characteristics) vary depending on the type of cough.
Acute cough begins suddenly and typically subsides on its own in a matter of two to three weeks. Acute coughs are typically brought about by less serious medical conditions such as the common cold, the flu, a sinus infection, etc.
Chronic coughs (also known as persistent coughs) typically last longer than eight weeks. A chronic cough can be due to prolonged exposure to allergen, or even indicative of a more serious underlying medical condition.
A productive cough is a cough that produces mucus or phlegm (also known as a wet cough). A wet cough can be due to medical conditions such as flu, bronchitis, etc. Typically, a doctor can use the color of the mucus as part of their diagnosis to determine the cause of the cough.
A dry cough is a cough that does not produce mucus or phlegm.
Daytime cough episodes take place during the day while nighttime coughing take place during the night.
*Disclaimer: You should seek emergency attention immediately if you are experiencing severe or life-threatening symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, severe chest pain, blood when coughing.
Over the counter medicine is a great option for treating your cough. Cold medicines such as cough suppressants help reduce the urge to cough, while expectorants loosen the mucus in your chest to help you cough it up. Doctors can prescribe prescription strength cough suppressants for severe coughs. For those with bacterial bronchitis or pneumonia, antibiotics may be prescribed, if the cause is due to bacterial infection.
If you want to get rid of your cough, book an online appointment with one of the best online doctors out there. One of our board-certified doctors can diagnose your condition and prescribe necessary medication before your cough gets worse. They can also recommend at-home treatments to help get you feeling better soon.
Some of the most effective home treatments for a cough include:
-Over the counter medicine
-Cough drops
-Get adequate rest
-Warm liquids – warm water with lemon, hot herbal tea, ginger tea
-Salt water gargle
You need to see a doctor to get a professional diagnosis to know if the cough is due to any serious underlying medical condition. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call a doctor:
-A cough that does not get better within 3 weeks
-A cough that produces thick or colored phlegm / thick mucus or blood
-A cough that is accompanied by a fever, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, wheezing, and trouble sleeping
-Persistent cough with fever over 101.5 Fahrenheit or one that lasts more than 1 – 2 days
To know if you cough is due to COVID-19, you will have to take a COVID-19 test in order to confirm diagnosis.
