My Mom has been taking cough drops for years, does anyone know if this is bad for you?

Well, they do contain sugar, and if she's not brushing her teeth that often, that sugar isn't helpful for her teeth.

I'm wondering though if she has sinus drainage, allergic rhinitis, or some other ENT issue that causes her throat to be sore.

Can't answer the issue on relation to dementia as I haven't had any experience with taking something on a long term basis.

I would take her to an ENT doctor just to make sure there's nothing going on in her throat or sinuses.

There must be something going on. My mother, 89, has also been taking coughdrops for the last few years. I actually order them for her in bulk because she only likes Vick's coughdrops and uses them almost every day. She takes it at night mostly, she says it keeps her from coughing at night and waking up and her throat gets sore. My mother does have a few throat issues, mainly a constricting of the throat area that she has to check out with the doctor now and then - once she had her throat physically stretched by the doctor. She checks it out once a year. She also has sinus problems pretty often. Her doctors give a bewildered look when we ask about the cough drops. We often get bewildered looks when it comes to my mother. Does your mother have problems swallowing food? That's another sign of throat constriction. I agree with GardenArtist that she should have her throat checked out specifically. It seems everything either shrinks up or stretches out as we get older.

I agree with the honey suggestion - singers have used it for eons. If she enjoys the act of sucking on the cough drop there are sugar free, good tasting ones like honey and lemon from health food stores.

She may just feel more like she's taking medicine if she takes Vicks (therefore "doing something" and it's probably not all that bad, but having her throat checked to make certain there isn't a medical problem wouldn't be a bad move.

More likely, it's allergies or just dry air or even simply habit. But having a doctor check her out won't hurt. Just be prepared for the fact that if it's something serious, there may not be much that can be done anyway without making her life worse. At any rate, I'd discuss this with her doctor so that you feel more at ease.

We'd love an update on this to see how you both are doing.
Carol

I suppose you need to find out the reason. Maybe she just likes the taste, either that or her throat bothers her. Maybe her mouth is dry. It says to take every 2 hours and if sugar is a problem for her they have sugar free.

She most likely is addiction to having them in her mouth. It's funny but we can get addicted to just about anything. My husband is addicted to lip balm. He can't stand dry lips, uses it constantly, then I hear a report about it on TV news they said it is a problem for many. I agree mom should have ENT checked and if she has sugar issues by all means make sure sugar free ones. As to having them in her mouth at night as amitebird's mom well this is a serious choaking hazzard. See if there are some kind of meltaways maybe in children's section, but I almost choked to death on a cough drop when I had a bad cold and went to sleep with it in my mouth, so please be careful. Having a tickle in the throat is so irritating my mom gets it all the time and she has acid reflux disease, so it could be connected to something like that also. Let us know how she's doing. Hope today is a good day for all. Ruth Anne

A caution about menthol -- I've been told that it relaxes muscles which is great for stopping throat spasms but in some folks may lead to loose bowels too.

In some foreign countries, cough drops are eaten like candy. My husband's family in Thailand think I'm being silly when I offer them for sore throats or coughs. They eat them every day. My daughter's in-laws are the same way in Egypt. Maybe she just thinks it's candy, or just likes the taste, or sucking sensation.

I just have to chime in here because my mom's been sucking on cough drops for years. For no apparent reason except maybe because my dad does use them occasionally because he does cough, so maybe mom just wants to imitate him. I'm not sure but I always thought it was bizarre- but most likely just the dementia- another odd symptom of it...

Oh GiGi didn't know that. Good info wouldn't want that side effect have enough to deal with...lol

You could also make your own cough drops, using natural sweeteners such as stevia.

There's also honey and lemon tea - just a tsp. or Tblsp. of each in hot water makes a nice soothing drink. It's also calming and relaxing, at least for me. Might be a better nighttime substitute than purchased cough drops.

Amitebird, there is validity for using cough drops as a throat moisturizer, especially in the warmer, sometimes drier, rooms that elders seem to prefer.

Add a humidifier to increase the moisture content and see if that makes a difference in the need for nightly cough drops.

My mother was has been sucking on strong mints or cough drops as long as I can remember. I think it was partly because she enjoyed it, but since I have become her caregiver I notice that she sometimes is bothered by GERD (acid reflux). Might be worth considering.

As some have said, it may be nothing they can do anything about, but it may be serious, or it may be something that can be easily treated (e.g., with anti-reflux treatment or dilation) to make her more safe/healthy or at least more comfortable. Unfortunately people often put off dealing with throat issues until it's too late, just managing the symptoms in a way they would never "let it go" in any other part of their body. Sometimes the problem is actually much further down (esophagus), but it still feels like it's in the throat. I urge you to talk to her Primary doctor and an Otolaryngologist (ENT) as a start for the pain. They'll ask about eating habits, her meds, the pain's progression, past surgeries, maybe do a barium swallow test (which helps show things that aren't supposed to be there, not just if her swallow is ok). You don't say how old your mom is, but many things in aging as early as your 40's and certainly after 65 could be causing the problem, and many can be treated to make her more comfortable. And agree as others mentioned that sugar in the mouth all the time is bad for blood sugar and the oral cavity (even if all someone has is dentures), so it's best to address the root cause for many reasons. Hope this helps. Wish you luck. I'm glad your mom has you. So many of this we just learn along the way by noticing "little" things and asking questions. Then asking again.

Sounds like she may have allergies which can cause itchy sore throats. An OTC allergy medicine would probably help. Don't think it has anything to do with dementia.

Thank you to everyone who responded to my question. Just a bit more information I asked my mom why she was using the cough drops and she said her throat hurts all the time. I will be taking her to the doctor in early August and I will ask him. She takes about a package a day good thing they are Sugar free because she also has diabetes. Besides, the cost I don't believe anything in excess is good for you. I will take to the doctor and see what he has to say.

Good to hear you have an appointment for her. You're undoubtedly dealing with a lot overall (sorry to hear about her diabetes too, glad sugar free at least ). Hopefully the cause of this at least can be identified and remedied for her comfort and your peace of mind. Thoughts are with you and her.

Cwillie, I have a vague recollection of reading in one of my herbal magazines that peppermint can cause some stomach upset. I don't recall the article or issue, so this is just a recollection which at this time I can't verify.

But mint drops contain mint, or mint oil, so it's something to think about.

Womenofgod, a package daily of cough drops is a LOT of cough drops. It's good that you're taking her for an examination. Unless there's a sugar high that she's getting, and there can sometimes be, that's just too many cough drops.

Please let us know what the doctor says.

My mom use to suck on cough drops when she went to bed because the meds made her dry and thirsty, but you can choke on them in your sleep. After her stroke she forgot all about them.

If it makes her ha.ppy don t stop her its most likely a suger habbit some people chew gum other suck on candy it acculy may help her sleep as her sugar levels in her blood will rise then fall making her sleepy I drink warm milk to do that before I go to sleep

My mother was having difficulty swallowing and feeling like she was choking. She started eating cough drops like crazy. When I finally got Mom to see her Doctor, the Doc ordered a barium swallow (where she drank a chalky liquid while the radiologist watched on computer). The radiologist said that Mom's esophagus muscle was not operating correctly thus prohibiting the digestive process. He explained it like this to me. The esophagus was something that happens that we don't have to think about. It was created that way. As we get older the muscles grow weaker in spots or all over. He said have you ever milked a cow? I said yes. The esophagus is just like that process. It is a pulling up and down process (he described it better of course) to remove the food/liquid thru to the intestines. Age can cause that to slow down and even stop in places of the esophagus therefore, choking, feeling of food stacked up in neck etc ensues. She had no other types of blockages,tumors etc. Referred to PCP for meds to help with that. PCP office still hasn't done that yet after several messages. When she gets her meds or whatever it is for this problem, I will let you all know if the cough drops stop. Hope this helps someone.

I've always believed that if a person gets to a certain age and or their days on earth are short , let them eat whatever they want. When my dad was in hospice all he wanted was Apple pie. My feeling was at this point let him eat all the pie he wants.

I have horseness and love my voice and throat hurts even before they took out my whole thyroid in dec and I take alot of cough drops and they have never killed me yet .. my mom did to before she died of lung cancer ..

Sorry .. not love my voice . Lose my voice . They thought it would stop after I had the compleate thyroid removed and since dec I have been on three antibiotics for it . and probably will be put on another when when I go back monday for it again .It wont hurt her I live on cough drops for years .

I have silent reflex which they said my throat was red from smoking and having my compleate thyroid removed this year it feels like something gets cought in my throat and sometimes I choke on food from it and the horseness and soreness I live on cough drops .. And did before so it wont hurt her . Honey dies not work ! I have tried it . And vinegar .. I take sucrets .and many more kinds .even the spray . My thyroid meds they can never regulate rite .The doctor said he can go inside a inlarge my throat to keep from chocking . I have held that off . I will go back to my other dr monday for another antibiotic . It helps the horseness of my voice . It will make my fourth !

My Grandmother used to eat the cherry flavored Ludens cough drops all the time. She said her throat always felt scratchy. The "active" ingredient was sugar and pectin. I think she just liked the sugary taste.

COULDITBEME, this happened to my mom and the Drs did many tests and figured she had a ministroke and lost control of swallowing muscles. We couldn't let her starve to death so had to let them insert a feeding tube. And because of dementia from ministrokes she pulled it out of her stomach a few times in rehab and nursing home. She survived 6 months and the NH was starting her on pureed foods, but as she ate her last meal it ended up in her lungs and she ended up in the hospital and never came out.

What you should do is read the label on the cough drops to see how long they should be used since they do have medicine in them. Prolonged use of any medication may not be good, so definitely read that label. There were a couple times in my life where I had a dry nagging scratchy cough that was actually relieved by those red and white peppermints. I recall a time about in my 20s when I would try to talk with someone, only to be interrupted every few seconds by a dry scratchy cough. The person I was visiting realized that I had a problem despite the fact that I what just keep plowing forward in the conversation. Water alone actually did not help like the peppermint did that my friend introduced me to. I noticed what a huge difference the peppermint actually made.

Another thing you might want to do for the person you're looking after it is to take them to an ear nose and throat doctor that specializes just in that area. You may also want to get this person evaluated for possible cough variant asthma, since asthma can and often does make you cough constantly. Cough variant asthma can also mimic pertussis as I found out. An inhaler and nebulizer really made a huge difference. There are other medications to go with the inhalants if this person does have a type of asthma, because again, asthma can be a cause of persistent coughing that can make your throat very sore. I know this due to my own life experiences that actually taught me things along the way.

Have her see an otolaryngologist who can put a scope down her throat and see what is really going on. I had it done and got to see my own throat. It may be mucus drainage or something serious like throat cancer. Check it out because this is not normal.

i would check the ingredients in cough drops, using that many a day can become a habit due to whats in them. surly if she started taking for one reason, she might not be able to stop now due to habit forming. people might laugh at this suggestion, but most times it tells you on the package not to exceed a certain amount in one day. it would be the same as taking cough medicine. there is a reason why they don't want you taking it more than it should be.

WomenofGod: I suspect that some of her meds are causing "dry mouth," as many do. #1 Check her dentist to see if she has this condition and if so, there is a OTC med he can give her or #2 If she is sleeping with one in her mouth (and I wouldn't recommend it if she's elderly for the potential choking hazard), MAKE SURE IT IS SUGAR AND MENTHOL FREE!!! She wouldn't want to damage those pearly whites!! I myself typically sleep with a sugarless one, but one time under stress (living out of state, caregiving to my elderly mother, which culminated in her death, I used a sugarless, menthol and woke up choking.

4tbs of coconut oil and honey and two drop of clove liquid extract take a tsp when needed that helps my family when their throat is sore