A clinical pharmacist has taken the internet by storm after sharing a surprising revelation on TikTok regarding a widely-used over-the-counter medication. Anum, the pharmacist in question, candidly disclosed which product she would never purchase: cough syrup.

Anum’s statement is particularly bold, given the popularity of these syrups among those suffering from coughs or sore throats. She explained her reasoning, citing research that suggests these remedies perform no better than placebos in alleviating symptoms. This revelation could certainly influence the choices of many dealing with coughs.

According to Anum, “These syrups aren’t actually drastically reducing the cough symptoms in comparison to those who are taking nothing or those that were taking placebo.” While she acknowledges that personal experiences vary, she personally opts for alternative methods when dealing with a mild, viral cough.

For Anum, the preferred approach includes staying hydrated, getting plenty of rest, and soothing her throat with warm water mixed with lemon and honey. She further advised her audience to consult a general practitioner or pharmacist for any coughs lasting three weeks or longer.

The TikTok community was quick to react with a range of opinions. One user supported her view, remarking, “Benylin definitely loosens a tight sore chest. The rest are rubbish I agree.”

Her followers responded with mixed views, including one TikTok user who commented: “Benylin definitely loosens a tight sore chest. The rest are rubbish I agree.”

A second individual lauded an alternative brand of cough remedy: “Covonia worked a dream for me when I got the flu, I couldn’t sleep because of the coughing.”

While a third person observed: “It’s not about not having a cough medicine, its about having the right cough syrup for the right cough.”

Supporting Anum’s video, a study conducted by Ron Eccles, director of the Common Cold Centre at the University of Cardiff and published by the National Institute of Health states: “The review proposes that the major benefit of cough medicines for treatment of cough associated with common cold is related to the placebo effect rather than the pharmacological effect of an active ingredient.”

Regarding cough treatment, the NHS recommends: “There’s usually no need to see a GP if you have a cough.”

You should:

• Rest
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities

You could also try:

• Paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat any pain
• Hot lemon and honey (not suitable for babies under one-year-old)
• A herbal medicine called pelargonium (suitable for people aged 12 or over)

“But there’s limited evidence to show these work. Hot lemon with honey has a similar effect to cough medicines.”