This week Reactions is taking a look at the science of when you’re sick. Well, the cough syrup chemistry actually. If you reach for the cherry-flavored cough medicine, you’re not alone. Every year, people spend billions of dollars on this stuff. But does any of it actually work? In this episode, we explain the chemistry behind cough medicine, and dig into the evidence to find out which remedies actually work.

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Writer/Producer:
Shelley Sandiford

Executive Producer:
Adam Dylewski

Scientific consultants:
Bruce Rubin, Ph.D.
Alison Le
Kyle Nackers

References:
Reviews (Cough Medicine):
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD001831.pub5/abstract
http://ebn.bmj.com/content/5/3/78.full.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1325161/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2802352/ http://www.bmj.com/content/324/7333/329.1.full

Cough treatments:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD000530.pub3/abstract
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/803288
http://www.chestnet.org/Foundation/Patient-Education-Resources/Cough/Treatment-and-Drugs

Coughing (general information):
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cough
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012369215528274
http://clinicalgate.com/airway-clearance-therapy/
http://www.lung.org/about-us/blog/2016/05/sneeze-versus-cough.html
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/features/cough-relief-how-lose-bad-cough#1
http://patient.info/health/cough-medicines

Cough reflex in animals:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2882536/

Effects of honey on coughing:
http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/571638
http://www.cochrane.org/CD007094/ARI_honey-for-acute-cough-in-children

Dextromethorphan poisoning:
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15563650701606443

Ever wonder why dogs sniff each others’ butts? Or how Adderall works? Or whether it’s OK to pee in the pool? We’ve got you covered: Reactions a web series about the chemistry that surrounds you every day.

Reactions is produced by the American Chemical Society.