Cough medicines' effect is mainly placebo

Cough medicines work mostly through their sweet tastes and placebo effect, says a new report. The sweet syrups used in most over the counter medicines may contribute to the cough suppressant and expectorant activity, says a review published online in Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology on 2 December (www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/15699048, doi:10.1016/j.resp.2005.10.004).

“The review proposes that the major benefit of cough medicines for …