Best cough syrup 2021
Which is the best cough syrup in the UK?
FIND THE BEST OFFER →The 10 best cough syrups to buy in the UK
The top 10 list of the best cough syrups lists various brands and prices
Review10Best compares the best cough syrups in the UK and selects the one by Bronchostop as the best cough syrup. In a cough syrup buying guide, you can read more about the features of the different cough syrups and see a recommendation on which cough syrup to buy in the UK in 2021. By considering the top list of cough syrups, you can find the best cough syrups and save time shopping online.
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- Read the ultimate cough syrup buying guide
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Best cough syrups: A complete buying guide
All you need to know before buying a great cough syrup

The winter brings cold and unpleasant weather to much of the world, leaving many susceptible to winter colds and flu. One of the worst areas affected by this is our throats. Many people end up with sore throats and nasty coughs, which only serve to make a cold or flu feel worse. Finding a great a cough syrup can often make things a bit more bearable during these moments. Yet knowing the best cough syrup for your condition isn’t always straight-forward, especially when you see how many products are available.
Looking for the best cough syrups possible to alleviate a sore throat and cough? Then check out our handy guide below:
What are cough syrups?
Cough syrup is a type of cough medicine used to treat severe coughing and related symptoms. There are many types of cough syrup to accommodate the various types of coughing symptoms, most of which are sold over the counter.
Why should you buy a good cough syrup?
A good cough syrup can help alleviate coughing and coughing related symptoms. While not a direct cure for the condition causing the coughing, it can make it more bearable. Some suppress coughing while others can encourage you to cough up phlegm, although some will result in drowsiness, so are best taken before sleep. In any case, the best cough syrups provide some relief from the symptoms of your cough.

How to choose the right cough syrup?
Finding the best cough syrup will depend entirely on your cough and any symptoms that are a result of a cough. Here are some other things to consider so you can find a suitable cough syrup:
- Type of Cough: Different cough syrups are designed to help with different types of coughs, so knowing what type of cough you have is important for finding a suitable syrup. A productive cough sees you cough up more mucus and phlegm than normal. The best cough syrup to treat this is either a mucus cough syrup or a chesty cough syrup. An unproductive cough produces virtually no mucus or phlegm, making dry or tickly cough syrup the better choice of medicine.
- Cough Duration: Most coughs caused by viral infections like the cold or flu only last a few weeks. If this is the case, then it’s a good idea to start looking for suitable cough syrups, but any cough more than three weeks should be seen by a doctor.
- Cough Symptoms: Think about whether your cough is causing other symptoms such as a sore throat, aches, or congestion. If this is the case, then consider going for a combination cough syrup that can alleviate other symptoms.
What is the best kind of cough syrup in the UK?
There are a few different cough syrup products available, including:
- Cough Suppressants: These are the best types of cough syrup to help with a dry cough. The reason for this is dry coughs result in no mucus or phlegm, so the throat becomes irritated during a cough. Cough suppressants cause the body to suppress coughing, which reduces irritations and discomfort caused by a cough.
- Cough Expectorants: A great cough syrup for anyone with a chesty cough, expectorants help the body cough up phlegm and mucus build-ups, which makes coughing much easier. It works by thinning the mucus, which can then be coughed up with more ease.
- Combination Cough Syrup: As the name suggests, this cough syrup combines aspects of both suppressants and expectorants, and some also come with other pain relief ingredients. This is a great cough syrup if you’re suffering the full effects of a cold, which causes many different symptoms beyond just coughing.
Top 10 list of cough syrups in the UK (January 2021)
The top 10 list shows how brands and their cough syrups compare. Which cough syrup is the best?

- Dual action - relieves dry and chesty coughs^Thyme herb extract^Marshmallow root…
- Non-drowsy: Bronchostop is used for soothing coughs without causing drowsiness
- Two key ingredients: Thyme herb extract and marshmallow root extract are traditionally…

- Benylin Dry and Tickly Cough Syrup. Always Read The Label
- Over 50 Years Cough Experience – Benylin is the number one selling UK cough…
- Don't Let Your Cold Symptoms Hold You Back – When you have a cough this product…

- Suitable for vegetarians, vegans and coeliacs. Free from nuts, artificial colours…
- Suitable for adults, and children 1 year and over.
- Always read the label. Adults, the elderly and children over 12 years can take 2…

- *Source 2019 Nielsen data, Value, Units, Cough, (client defined) 52 w/e 16.11.19…
- Benylin Dry and Tickly Cough Syrup. Always Read The Label
- Over 50 Years Cough Experience – Benylin is the number one selling UK cough…

- Used for the relief of coughs, colds, sore throats, hoarseness
- Contains natural active ingredients like Squill and Capsicum tincture
- Gives soothing and effective relief

- *Source 2019 Nielsen data, Value, Units, Cough, (client defined) 52 w/e 16.11.19…
- Benylin Mucus Cough Max Honey and Lemon Flavour Syrup. Contains Guaifenesin. Always…
- Over 50 Years Cough Experience - Benylin is currently the number one selling UK cough…

- *Source 2019 Nielsen data, Value, Units, Cough, (client defined) 52 w/e 16.11.19…
- Benylin Mucus Cough Max Honey and Lemon Flavour Syrup. Contains Guaifenesin. Always…
- Over 50 Years Cough Experience - Benylin is currently the number one selling UK cough…

- Suitable for vegetarians, vegans and coeliacs. Free from nuts, artificial colours…
- Always read the label. Adults, elderly and children over 12 years can take 1 or 2…
- Works deep down in the chest to help loosen phlegm.

- Pleasant tasting
- Contains honey
- Made with extracts of freshly harvested pine shoots

- *Source 2019 Nielsen data, Value, Units, Cough, (client defined) 52 w/e 16.11.19…
- Benylin Chesty Coughs Non-Drowsy. Always Read The Label
- Over 50 Years Cough Experience - Benylin is currently the number one selling UK cough…
* Affiliate link. We participate in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. There are no additional costs for you. For the top 10 list we consider only products that are available on Amazon while the ranking is based on factors such as customer reviews, number of sales and keyword. It is not a cough syrup test. Last Update 2021/01/25 06:03 o'clock.