What Are the Healthiest Cough Drops? Doctors Share Top Picks

Despite all our 21st-century medical advances, there is no cure to the common cold. This forces us to rely on home remedies to get through the day.

One popular option for managing those pesky respiratory symptoms is cough drops. But do these lozenges genuinely help you recover or just drain your wallet and fill you with sugar?

Here’s what the experts say.

How Do Cough Drops Work?

Cough drops contain specific ingredients that decrease the urge to cough and the pain in our throat, and make it easier to get mucus out of our nose and airways.

“Many over-the-counter cough drops contain menthol, which can temporarily stop your cough reflex and produce a cooling sensation that can help you feel like you’re less congested,” Dr. Patricia Pinto-Garcia, senior medical editor at GoodRx, tells TODAY.com.

Cough drops, especially those with honey and glycerin, can also relieve a sore throat by lubricating the lining of the throat.

“They work by stimulating saliva, which can help the throat feel better during a sore throat,” Dr. Linda Yancey, infectious disease specialist at Memorial Hermann in Houston, tells TODAY.com.

Some may also contain guaifenesin, an expectorant, which loosens mucus, making it easier for us to get mucus out our body.

“Cough drops can temporarily soothe a cough, postnasal drip or an irritated throat in the short term, but they won’t help you recover faster,” Pinto-Garcia adds.

And she reminds that coughing is our body’s way of trying to naturally get rid of the infection.

“Your cough reflex helps you get rid of extra mucus that builds up when you have an upper respiratory tract infection,” Pinto-Garcia says. “And it helps keep your airway clear, so you don’t want to stop your cough completely.”

What Are the Healthiest Cough Drops?

People taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, pregnant women and anyone with underlying medical conditions should consult a doctor before taking cough drops, the experts advise.

When choosing cough drops that will address your symptoms, a good starting point is to look for these special ingredients, the experts say:

• Dextromethorphan, which signals our brain to cough less

• Benzocaine, a topical anesthetic that temporarily numbs the nerves in the mouth

• Menthol, which creates a cooling sensation on the throat similar to how an icepack works on a muscle

According to the 2025 U.S. News and World Report of best cough drops, pharmacists rated these as the top brands:

1. Halls

2. Ricola

3. Cepacol

4. Chloraseptic

While cough drops are available over the counter, medical professionals frequently recommend Cepacol when patients are hospitalized for upper respiratory illnesses.

How to Choose a Cough Drop

“Choosing a cough drop would depend on a person’s underlying health conditions,” Yancey says.

While cough drops are generally safe, if you have a medical condition, check for ingredients that may worsen your illness.

Here are some ingredients to be aware of:

Decongestants, like phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine

Decongestants can raise blood pressure, so if you have high blood pressure, check with your doctor before starting a cough drop with these ingredients.

Sugar

Some cough drop varieties can contain as much sugar as candy. So, it's important to track how much added sugar you're eating via cough drops and in the rest of your diet to make sure you're not going over the daily allowance. That's 36 grams a day for men and 25 for women, per the American Heart Association.

People with diabetes should opt for sugar-free cough drops, Yancey advises.

Sorbitol

Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener in some brands of sugar-free cough drops. It can lead to diarrhea, abdominal pain and gas if consumed in excess.

Dextromethorphan

This is a cough suppressant that when taken in high doses can have a hallucinatory effect and has potential for abuse.

It can also be dangerous for people taking certain antidepressants because it can lead to serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition.

Benzocaine

Benzocaine is one of the ingredients that the experts recommend looking for in cough drops. However, it has a very rare side effect called methemoglobinemia, a life-threatening condition where the amount of oxygen in our blood is significantly reduced, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Young children, older adults, people with certain genetic conditions, such as G6PD deficiency, and those with anemia have the highest risk.

The FDA advises:

• Do not give over-the-counter products with benzocaine to children under 2.

• In people 2 older, over-the-counter benzocaine products should be used "sparingly and only as needed," no more than four times a day.

• Watch for signs of methemoglobinemia when using these products, such as pale, gray or blue-colored skin, lips and nail beds; shortness of breath; fatigue; confusion; headache; lightheadedness; and rapid heart rate. Seek medical attention immediately if any arise.

Cough Drop Side Effects

Experts remind that taking too many cough drops can lead to side effects.

“One study from 2018 showed that menthol-containing cough drops can actually cause a cough to get worse,” Yancey says.

The study didn’t quantify on how much was “too much,” but some participants were taking more than 12 cough drops or even a whole bag each day, which is more than manufacturer’s recommendations, Pinto-Garcia adds.

She recommends following the dosing instructions on the cough drop package to minimize side effects. “You can also try alternating menthol drops with drops that have other ingredients, like honey,” she adds.

Some people may develop gastrointestinal issues if they take too many cough drops, like stomach pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, but these are quite rare and unlikely if taken according to the package instructions.

And there are specific, potentially dangerous side effects associated with some common cough drop ingredients, such as decongestants, dextromethorphan and benzocaine. These include increased blood pressure, hallucinations, serotonin syndrome and a rare blood disorder called methemoglobinemia.

“Over-the-counter cough drops and throat lozenges have a long history of safe use when taken exactly as directed according to the Drug Facts label," the Consumer Healthcare Products Association tells TODAY.com in a statement, in part. "They are regulated by the FDA as medicines and are evaluated based on their active ingredients and labeled indications to provide symptomatic relief when used appropriately."

"Consumers should choose products that match their symptoms, read and follow the Drug Facts label, and consult a healthcare professional with any questions. Cough drops are not recommended for young children due to choking risk, and parents and caregivers should follow label directions or consult a child’s pediatrician as indicated. For consumers who are sensitive to certain inactive ingredients, including colors or allergens, it’s even more important to review product labels carefully, as dye-free options are also available if needed."

When to Seek Medical Attention

“Talk with your health care team if your cough lasts longer than a week,” Pinto-Garcia says.

Your doctor may want to do a chest X-ray to make sure it’s not something more serious, like bronchitis or pneumonia.

If you have an underlying lung condition, like COPD or asthma, she recommends seeing a medical professional as soon as possible.

The package inserts on many coughs drops also warn to seek medical attention if other cold symptoms, like sore throat, persist for more than a week.