A throat lozenge (also known as a cough drop, sore throat sweet, troche, cachou, pastille or cough sweet) is a small, typically medicated tablet intended to be dissolved slowly in the mouth to temporarily stop coughs, lubricate, and soothe irritated tissues of the throat (usually due to a sore throat or strep throat), possibly from the

common cold The common cold, or the cold, is a virus, viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that primarily affects the Respiratory epithelium, respiratory mucosa of the human nose, nose, throat, Paranasal sinuses, sinuses, and larynx. ...

or influenza. Cough tablets have taken the name lozenge, based on their original shape, a diamond.

Ingredients

Lozenges may contain benzocaine, an anaesthetic, or eucalyptus oil. Non-menthol throat lozenges generally use either zinc gluconate glycine or pectin as an oral demulcent. Several brands of throat lozenges contain

dextromethorphan Dextromethorphan, sold under the brand name Robitussin among others, is a cough suppressant used in many cough and Common cold, cold medicines. In 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the combination dextromethorphan/bupropi ...

. Other varieties such as Halls contain menthol, peppermint oil and/or spearmint as their active ingredient(s).

Honey Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several species of bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of pl ...

lozenges are also available. The purpose of the throat lozenge is to calm the irritation that may be felt in the throat while swallowing, breathing, or even drinking certain fluids. However, one study found that excessive use of menthol cough drops can prolong coughs rather than relieve them.

History

Sweets to soothe the throat date back to 1000 BC in

Egypt Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...

's Twentieth Dynasty, when they were made from honey flavored with

citrus ''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the family Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, mandarins, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. ''Citrus'' is nativ ...

, herbs, and spices. In the 19th century, physicians discovered

morphine Morphine, formerly also called morphia, is an opiate that is found naturally in opium, a dark brown resin produced by drying the latex of opium poppies (''Papaver somniferum''). It is mainly used as an analgesic (pain medication). There are ...

and

heroin Heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine and diamorphine among other names, is a morphinan opioid substance synthesized from the Opium, dried latex of the Papaver somniferum, opium poppy; it is mainly used as a recreational drug for its eupho ...

, which suppress coughing at its source—the brain. Popular formulations of that era included Smith Brothers Cough Drops, first advertised in 1852, and Luden's, created in 1879. Concern over the risk of opioid dependence led to the development of alternative medications.

Brands

* Anta *

Cēpacol Cepacol ( styled Cēpacol) is an American brand of personal hygiene products, as well as for relief of sore throat. It is distributed in the US by Reckitt. The brand was originally owned by J.B. Williams. Following acquisition by Combe Incorpo ...

* Chloraseptic * Fisherman's Friend * Halls * Jakemans * Jinsangzi * Läkerol * Lockets * Luden's * Mynthon * Negro * Nin Jiom * Pine Bros. * Ricola * Robitussin * Smith Brothers * Strepsils * Sucrets * Ülker * Takabb Anti-Cough Pill * Throzz * Troketts * Tunes *Tyrozets (now discontinued) * Vicks * Strep-Drops * Victory V * Vigroids * Zubes (now discontinued)

References

External links

Ingredients of a throat lozenge
Health Canada {{DEFAULTSORT:Throat Lozenge Drug delivery devices Dosage forms Medicine in the United States Army

Ingredients

History

Brands

See also

References

External links