Do modern cold and cough remedies hack it?

A British investigation has found big-brand cough bottles are almost useless – so are Irish pharmacists still happy to sell these products?

There is a good chance that if you walk into your local pharmacy hacking like a seal and complaining of a running nose, you will be given some class of cold remedy and a cough bottle.

But will the medicine make you any better? British consumer group Which? is unconvinced. Last month it published a short but damning article that suggested that several well-known cough syrups and cold treatments, as well as other popular over-the-counter treatments, do not do exactly what they say on the tin.

A number of household names were in the firing line. Benylin Chesty Coughs Non-Drowsy claims it “works deep down to loosen phlegm, clear bronchial congestion, and make your cough more productive”. Benylin Tickly Coughs contains glycerol and demineralised liquid sugar to “help to soothe the tickling sensation of your cough so that you can get back to your day”. Sounds good, right?

Not according to Which?. It concluded there was “no robust evidence” showing that either product worked.

As with all medicines, these cough syrups, which cost more than €5 a bottle, are licensed with the Irish Medicines Board and the company is legally required to show the evidence that their products work. However, when Which? asked the manufacturers to share the research behind their claims, the company declined, saying it had satisfied the regulator who had thoroughly reviewed its clinical evidence.

The presence of “demineralised sugar” in the Tickly Coughs brand is interesting. Which? found that the cough bottle contained 1.5 teaspoons of sugar per 10ml dose and worked out that if a person takes the maximum dose over the course of a week they will have consumed the equivalent of five Mars bars.

“We spend billions on over-the-counter pharmacy products each year but we’ve found evidence of popular products making claims that our experts judged just aren’t backed by sufficient evidence,” a Which spokesman said. “Companies should be upfront with the evidence behind the claims they make so that consumers can make an informed decision.”

Although there is no cure for the common cold, the IMB says “authorised medicines provide relief for symptoms such as cough”. It said Benylin Non-Drowsy for Dry Cough contains dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant, and Benylin Non-Drowsy for Chesty Coughs contains guaifenesin, “an expectorant and menthol which has mild anaesthetic and decongestant properties”.

The makers of Benylin told Pricewatch that it had given the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) to Which? for its review. “These definitive documents are based on the scientific information relating to the medicine, including its pharmacological properties. SPCs . . . form the basis of prescribing information for healthcare professionals.”

It insisted that all its products had “demonstrated efficacy and have been granted a licence . . . following a thorough review of the clinical evidence by their independent experts”. Furthermore, it said the ingredients in its cough medicines “have been widely used for many years and have a good efficacy and safety profile”.

A defence of Benylin

Bernard Duggan is a pharmacist and chairman of the Irish Pharmacy Union’s Community Pharmacy Committee. While he stops short of offering a blanket defence of Benylin, he believes its products have benefits although they may not work in the way many people assume they do. “Most coughs you have are viral infections and they will run their course so all the cough syrups do is control the symptoms to a degree. “They do have some effect but they won’t cure the cough,” he says. “Like with all medicines, there is a placebo effect going on, too. People take it and they feel better just because they are taking it.”

It is not just cough bottles that came under the Which? microscope. Seven Seas Jointcare tablets claim to “look after your joints”, but Which? experts found there was no evidence that its active ingredients did anything of the kind.

Then there is Bach Rescue Remedy. Very small bottles of this product sell for around €7.50 in Irish chemists. Which? said it was “apparently no more effective at relieving stress than a placebo, according to independent tests”.

The company was unimpressed by the findings but rather than challenging the claims that Rescue Remedy is little more than a placebo, it issued a short, largely meaningless statement to Pricewatch.

“Bach Original Flower Remedies (including Rescue Remedy) have been traditionally used by millions of people since the 1930s to help support emotional well-being. They are manufactured in accordance to Dr Bach’s original methods to the highest quality and safety standards.”

What is missing from the statement is any claim that the product actually works. Duggan is not convinced that it does and says he would be reluctant to recommend it to his customers. When talking about homeopathy, he expresses unease. “It really does not sit well with the science of medicine,” is his opinion.

The IMB says the product is not authorised as a medicine in the Republic.

The Twitter verdict Rescue Remedy

“Great stuff. Does what it says on the tin. Great for dogs too especially tomorrow to keep them calm with bangers .” – Barbara Dalton

“Yes and yes. Dont ask me how it works but it definitely works. Try it.” – Monica Heck.

“I use it just for small new things, when starting work, def takes the edge off, although stinks of alcohol.” – Susie Dalton

“It’s bulls**t.” – Aoife McLysaght

“My entire family swear by it . . . what part of nonsense is not understood.” – Steve Duggan.

“I used it in my younger, more naive days.” – Anne Marie Flynn