When we were kids, this was the cure all

I love how even now, cough syrop still has a “one size fits all” formula. - the cough reflex is a reflex for a reason. Suppressing it (usually with dextromethorphan) can be problematic and even dangerous - especially if asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, or pneumonia are possibilities - an expectorant does crap all to help clear mucous except make you cough more. To combat phlegm, a prescription for corticosteroids is required to reduce mucous production and lung inflammation - the antihistamine will only help your cough and/or nasal congestion if it is caused by an allergy. It is put in cough syrup to make you sleepy - cough syrup is one of the leading causes of overdose in children because they like the taste - it also has a disproportionately higher effect on children than adults, regardless of body mass d/t their inability to clear their drug from their system as efficiently - overdose symptoms include difficulty rousing a person (extreme somnolence) and/or alcohol intoxication which reduce normal protective reflexes like airway protection. It can also lead to injury from balance issues, difficulty walking, and motor vehicle accident -