10 ways to get rid of a dry cough

If you’ve ever had a dry cough, you know how irritating it can be. Dry coughs can be uncomfortable and distracting and can make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. If you’ve had this nagging type of cough that won’t go away, it’s likely you’ve wanted a way to treat it fast.

Unlike productive, wet coughs, which cause mucus to come up, dry coughs are unproductive coughs,when you cough without mucus or phlegm. Dry coughs often feel like a tickle or irritation in your throat and may occur after you’ve had a productive cough, such as when you have a cough caused by a virus like the common cold. Dry coughs are also associated with irritation from allergies, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), bronchitis, and asthma, or may occur as a side effect of certain medications, such as ACE inhibitors.

 Luckily, there are many simple and effective home remedies and medication options for a dry cough—but the best treatment depends on the cause. Read on to learn more.

10 home remedies for dry cough

Remedies for dry cough depend in part on the cause. For example, if your cough is caused by GERD, treating your condition will help minimize your cough. Similarly, decreasing exposure to allergens and other lung irritants can be helpful if your cough is caused by something like hay fever, pollen, pollution, or dust. Some remedies can be helpful no matter the cause of your cough. If you want to try a few home remedies before visiting your healthcare provider, these are the more effective tips to try:

1. Take a spoonful of honey
2. Run cool mist humidifiers
3. Gargle with salt water
4. Increase fluids
5. Drink warm liquids
6. Treat GERD symptoms
7. Remove environmental irritants
8. Try lozenges
9. Use an air purifier
10. Take time to rest

1. Take a spoonful of honey

Numerous studies in adults and children have found that honey is an effective remedy for coughs, including dry nighttime coughs, possibly related to its anti-inflammatory properties. “One of the home remedies I recommend most often is plain honey,” says Benjamin Silver, MD, associate chair of emergency medicine at Northwell Long Island Jewish Forest Hills Hospital in Queens, New York. “While the medical literature for remedies is not as extensive as commercial medications and therapies, there is sufficient data that supports honey has a positive effect.” However, honey should not be given to children younger than 12 months because of the risk of botulism, which can be life-threatening. 

2. Run humidifiers

A dry cough can be caused or exacerbated by dry air, especially in winter, when the heat is on in your home. That’s why many healthcare providers recommend the use of cool mist humidifiers to help with persistent dry coughs. Humidifiers can be particularly beneficial for nighttime coughs and nagging postnasal drip, says Raj Dasgupta, MD, a physician board-certified in pulmonology and sleep medicine. Humidifiers add moisture to the air, which decreases cough symptoms and open your sinuses. Dr. Dasgupta recommends putting essential oils, such as eucalyptus oil, into the humidifier for added relief. Be sure to clean the humidifier regularly. 

3. Gargle with salt water

Another tip Dr. Dasgupta recommends is a saltwater gargle. “Gargling with salt water can help reduce pain and discomfort,” he explains, adding that this is especially helpful for people who have throat irritation in addition to a dry cough. According to the Mayo Clinic, you can make your own salt water solution by mixing one-quarter to one-half teaspoon of salt for every four to eight ounces of warm water. Gargling salt water may not be appropriate for young children; speak to your pediatrician if you’re unsure whether your child is ready for this.

4. Increase fluids

Staying properly hydrated can decrease symptoms of dry, irritated throats. First, if your throat is dry, it can be soothing to moisten it, and doing so can reduce irritation and inflammation. Additionally, drinking extra fluids can help you recover from a viral infection, if that’s what is causing your dry cough.

RELATED: Benefits of drinking water

5. Drink warm liquids

In addition to making sure you stay hydrated, drinking warm beverages can both soothe and moisten a sore throat. The Cleveland Clinic recommends adding honey and lemon to hot water or herbal teas for increased comfort. Dr. Silver says that although there is no strong research either way, drinking warm broth or chicken soup can be very helpful for a dry cough. At the very least, steam inhalation from hot liquids or broths can help moisten nasal passages and throats.

6. Treat GERD symptoms

In addition to heartburn, foul breath, and burping, chronic cough can be a symptom of GERD, a condition where the contents of your stomach move up into your esophagus and throat. As such, treating acid reflux can reduce your dry cough symptoms. Harvard Health recommends avoiding foods that trigger you, which may include tomatoes, onions, citrus fruits, or caffeine. Other tips include eating smaller meals (especially before bed) and elevating your head while sleeping.

7. Avoid environmental irritants

Common causes of dry cough include allergies and exposure to environmental irritants, especially for those who have asthma. Avoiding the irritants and allergens that are causing your symptoms can often relieve dry coughs caused by asthma. Your healthcare provider can help you understand your particular triggers, but the most common are cigarette smoke, dust, cold air, exercise, pollen, and pet dander.

8. Try lozenges

It’s not just your imagination: sucking on hard candy or throat lozenges can be soothing for a dry cough. Although medicated cough drops—such as ones containing menthol, eucalyptus oil, and honey—can be helpful, there is no evidence that they are any more effective than a basic hard candy. Choose whichever kind you prefer, but make sure to keep hard candies and lozenges away from young children, as they are a choking hazard.

9. Use an air purifier

Removing irritants from your home and environment can be very helpful for treating a dry cough. But it’s not always possible to remove all traces of pollutants, mold, or dust from your home—which is why an air purifier is helpful. The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology recommends air purifiers with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters for individual rooms, and MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) filters with ratings of 11 to 13 for central heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems in homes.

10. Take time to rest

Growing up, you may have been told that the best way to get over a cough is to rest. This is good advice in most cases of dry coughs caused by viruses. There are no antibiotics to combat viruses, so in most cases, the virus just needs time to run its course. “For dry coughs associated with a viral infection, home remedies may provide some help, but ultimately our bodies will benefit most from time and rest to heal,” Dr. Silver says.

Dry cough remedies that don’t work

Unfortunately, many of the natural remedies you see out there for coughs, especially ones based on homeopathy, herbs, or vitamin supplements, don’t have much evidence behind them and are unlikely to work. “It’s important to do your research before trying an at-home remedy and speak with your doctor if you have questions,” Dr. Dasgupta says. 

You should also keep in mind that the FDA doesn’t regulate or approve dietary supplements advertised to cure conditions like dry cough. That means you need to take any guarantees or promises regarding these products with a grain of salt. As the FDA notes on its website, “If a supplement promises a cure or quick fix for a health problem, it is probably too good to be true.”

How to treat a dry cough when natural remedies don’t work 

For mild cases of dry cough, or for a dry cough caused by a virus, simple at-home remedies will usually do the trick. However, sometimes medication is necessary—just like with home remedies, the best type of medication for a dry cough depends on its cause. Here is what your healthcare provider may prescribe:

• Medications for viral coughs: If you are looking for effective, fast relief from a cough caused by a respiratory virus, your healthcare provider may recommend an over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine containing the cough suppressant, dextromethorphan. Get medical advice first, though, because dextromethorphan can interact with common prescription drugs, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants. Dr. Silver says cough suppressants can provide temporary relief and will help with nighttime coughs. Dosing for children should be discussed with a medical professional, and cough syrup shouldn’t be given to kids younger than 4.
• Medication for asthmatic coughs: Asthma is a complex condition and needs to be treated by a healthcare provider. In addition to eliminating triggers, asthma needs to be treated with medications in most cases. Bronchodilators such as Proventil or Ventolin open up your lungs and allow you to breathe easier; corticosteroids like Flovent or Pulmicort decrease inflammation in your lungs.
• Medication for coughs caused by GERD: If your dry cough is caused by GERD, you may need medication to treat the underlying condition. This may include over-the-counter antacids like Pepcid, Prilosec, and Prevacid.
• Medications for bronchitis: If your dry cough is caused by bronchitis, you have options. Sometimes providers will prescribe corticosteroid inhalers along with a bronchodilator. At times, chronic bronchitis is treated with antibiotics and oral corticosteroids like prednisone.

When to see a doctor for dry cough

The good news is that most dry coughs don’t usually last forever, and relief should be in sight. “In most cases, dry coughs are linked to viral illnesses and tend to improve over a week to 10 days,” Dr. Silver says. “Even if the cough has not completely resolved, other associated symptoms such as fever should be improving by then as well.”

For the cases of dry cough that don’t resolve, you need to be treated by a healthcare provider. If you experience a persistent fever or difficulty breathing, seek urgent care.