Cough Syrup and Antibiotics

Yesterday I visited my primary care doctor for a very persistent, dry cough that I've had for the last week and a half. He prescribed me a couple of things with weird medical names. I had no idea what they were for so I looked them up.

Promethazine DM Syrup

Promethazine is known as an antihistamine. Histamine is a chemical that's known to cause symptoms of allergies like a runny nose or sneezing. Antihistamines don't prevent the production of histamines, they just prevent them from being able to act on the issues which cause the symptoms. This is suppose to decrease post-nasal drips (the mucus secretions that drain from the sinuses into the throat) and therefore also lesson coughing. 

The DM stands for Dextromethorphan. This is a drug that suppresses the cough reflex by affecting the signals in the brain that trigger coughs. The cough syrup that my girlfriend got me (Delsym) contains this ingredient. Delsym doesn't contain promethazine. 

Does that mean there are traces of histamine being produced in my body that is causing my runny nose? Why is it being produced? Ah! I should call my doctor.

Instructions:

Take 1 teaspoon (5ml) by mouth four times daily. 

Azithromycin

This is an antibiotic. It treats all sorts of infections such as respiratory infections, ear infections, and skin infections. 

I came down with a cold. According to this article, since cold symptoms usually last for about a week, the fact that I'm still coughing after a week is a sign that I may also have a bacterial infection. Maybe this will help.

Instructions:

Take 2 tablets by mouth the first day. Then take 1 per day for four days.

Resources:

• Pronounciations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDJPDl-yLa8, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr6Y0zYXPHI
• http://www.livestrong.com/article/31268-promethazinedm-syrup-used/
• http://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/dextromethorphan
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmD1en3nClQ
• http://www.drugs.com/dextromethorphan.html
• http://www.drugs.com/azithromycin.html