[6][3] A 2014 Cochrane review concluded that "There is no good evidence for or against the effectiveness of OTC [over the counter] medicines in acute cough".
[21] A Cochrane review found there was weak evidence to recommend for or against the use of honey in children as a cough remedy.
[22] In light of these findings, the Cochrane study they found honey was better than no treatment, placebo, or diphenhydramine but not better than dextromethorphan for relieving cough symptoms.
[22] Honey's use as a cough treatment has been linked on several occasions to infantile botulism and accordingly should not be used in children less than one year old.
[23] Many alternative treatments are used to treat the common cold, though data on effectiveness is generally limited.
A 2007 review states that, "alternative therapies (i.e., Echinacea, vitamin C, and zinc) are not recommended for treating common cold symptoms; however,...Vitamin C prophylaxis may modestly reduce the duration and severity of the common cold in the general population and may reduce the incidence of the illness in persons exposed to physical and environmental stresses.
[32] Cold syrup overdose has been linked to visual and auditory hallucinations as well as rapid involuntary jaw, tongue, and eye movements in children.
[citation needed] Some brand names include: Benylin, Sudafed, Robitussin and Vicks among others.
[4] The Thai company Hatakabb produces the Takabb Anti-Cough Pill, which is a Chinese herbal medication.
[citation needed] In 2016, it was one of the biggest selling branded over-the-counter medications sold in Great Britain, with sales of £34.4 million.
Cough syrup is designed to be stored at room temperature and its properties can change when it is heated, making it potentially deadly.
[46][47][48] The warning received attention from many news outlets, but some criticized the FDA's handling of the issue for amplifying the attention the topic received online and questioned if making and eating NyQuil chicken actually existed as a widespread trend.