Is Benylin just for kids?!
Question: Is Benylin just for kids!?
It's not, is it!? I mean, they obviously do a range especially FOR kids, but I'm talking about the night and day tablets, now they're not just for kids now ARE THEY!?!Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
noWww@Answer-Health@Com
I am afraid it is really just for people or parents who like very old quack remedies!. Before I retired, I had a peg board behind my desk where patients could see it, with gems of medical information or mis-information!. Pride of place went to a medical journal article, several years old, with the title ' The patient who wants a good cough mixture!.'
It when on to say that there were basically 2 types of so-called cough medicines, 'expectorants', which made you cough, well most people who had a cough were doing that already, and cough suppressants that attempted to suppress the natural cough mechanism!. This was designed as a protection for the lungs, to remove irritants and debris!. It thus suggested that this put the patient at increased risk of bacterial infection!.
In summary neither really have anything going for them!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
It when on to say that there were basically 2 types of so-called cough medicines, 'expectorants', which made you cough, well most people who had a cough were doing that already, and cough suppressants that attempted to suppress the natural cough mechanism!. This was designed as a protection for the lungs, to remove irritants and debris!. It thus suggested that this put the patient at increased risk of bacterial infection!.
In summary neither really have anything going for them!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Dexamethorphone (or whatever the "DM" stuff is), has never been shown to actually benefit people in clinical randomized double blinded studies!.
Now, I am not going to get into a long discussion of the "placebo effect", but suffice it to say that the placebo effect involves some "self-deception", but also "regression to the mean" (which means that people, given some time, will drift back to "normal", be it through recovering from the condition or developing a tolerance of the condition)!.
In the end, DM/cough syrups etc are providing nothing better than placebo!. It can't even be said that the possible "self-deception" element of it is enough to justify the costs!. Wish it weren't true, because I could have a number of more satisfied patients that way!. But that's the truth, cough syrups don't work for upper resp tract infection coughs!.
My suggestions for the common cold:
decongestants: pseudo-effedrine, but this can make you feel anxious, increase blood pressure, heart rate etc!. Think twice if you have a heart condition!. Really only useful if you are having nasal/sinus/middle ear congestion!. Could ruin your sleep, so take sparingly at night (unless you are like me and can fall asleep after downing a pot of coffee)!.
fluids: with a healthy heart and kidneys, you should be able to tolerate a large amount of water a day!. I suggest that keeping well hydrated helps you immune system get to where it needs to be to fight the infection!. This is purely speculative though!.
Tylenol/Ibuprofen: These will help bring down a fever and help you feel better in general (vs aches and pains)!. Avoid overdoses though as these can be some of the most deadly/painful overdoses I have seen!. Further, a study a number of years ago showed that iguanas allowed to have a "mild-moderate" fever during illness survived better than those made to have no fever or a high fever!. Go figure!.
Gargling with water (normal water), 1 minute at a time, 3 times a day!. This is the most effective prevention of the "common cold", next to hand-washing!. A study in early 2007 showed that this behaviour alone reduced colds by 36%!.
All "immune system boosters" etc are complete bunk!. None of them have shown any plausibility or evidence of benefit!. None!.
Things to break up mucous, are more bunk!. Super dose vitamins are more bunk, herbs are bunk!. None have shown any evidence!. Many of them have conducted proper studies, only to have the studies prove the products useless!. Then, the strategy is either to stop studying the item, or to start conducting bogus/flawed studies designed to show the results wanted!.
Hope this helps
Cheers
John
PS: I find it interesting someone decided to give me a thumbs down for this!. My information is solid!. I presume I got the thumbs down from someone who really likes all the "quack" remedies!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Now, I am not going to get into a long discussion of the "placebo effect", but suffice it to say that the placebo effect involves some "self-deception", but also "regression to the mean" (which means that people, given some time, will drift back to "normal", be it through recovering from the condition or developing a tolerance of the condition)!.
In the end, DM/cough syrups etc are providing nothing better than placebo!. It can't even be said that the possible "self-deception" element of it is enough to justify the costs!. Wish it weren't true, because I could have a number of more satisfied patients that way!. But that's the truth, cough syrups don't work for upper resp tract infection coughs!.
My suggestions for the common cold:
decongestants: pseudo-effedrine, but this can make you feel anxious, increase blood pressure, heart rate etc!. Think twice if you have a heart condition!. Really only useful if you are having nasal/sinus/middle ear congestion!. Could ruin your sleep, so take sparingly at night (unless you are like me and can fall asleep after downing a pot of coffee)!.
fluids: with a healthy heart and kidneys, you should be able to tolerate a large amount of water a day!. I suggest that keeping well hydrated helps you immune system get to where it needs to be to fight the infection!. This is purely speculative though!.
Tylenol/Ibuprofen: These will help bring down a fever and help you feel better in general (vs aches and pains)!. Avoid overdoses though as these can be some of the most deadly/painful overdoses I have seen!. Further, a study a number of years ago showed that iguanas allowed to have a "mild-moderate" fever during illness survived better than those made to have no fever or a high fever!. Go figure!.
Gargling with water (normal water), 1 minute at a time, 3 times a day!. This is the most effective prevention of the "common cold", next to hand-washing!. A study in early 2007 showed that this behaviour alone reduced colds by 36%!.
All "immune system boosters" etc are complete bunk!. None of them have shown any plausibility or evidence of benefit!. None!.
Things to break up mucous, are more bunk!. Super dose vitamins are more bunk, herbs are bunk!. None have shown any evidence!. Many of them have conducted proper studies, only to have the studies prove the products useless!. Then, the strategy is either to stop studying the item, or to start conducting bogus/flawed studies designed to show the results wanted!.
Hope this helps
Cheers
John
PS: I find it interesting someone decided to give me a thumbs down for this!. My information is solid!. I presume I got the thumbs down from someone who really likes all the "quack" remedies!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
To be perfectly honest I think they are a waste of time/money!.!.if you have a dry cough or a tickley throat!.!.simple linctus (slightly warmed) will suffice!. It won't do anything to the cough itself, just alleviate the dryness etc!.!.!.so no I don't think they work!.
I completely agree with John!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I completely agree with John!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
no the tablets are for adults but you can also get the syrup for adults as wellWww@Answer-Health@Com
These types of cough mixtures are full of sugar and don't really do any good!. I remeber years ago my doctor told me they are a complete waste of money!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
No they make medicine for adults to the ones for children clearly state that!.Www@Answer-Health@Com