Should you drink water after taking cough syrup? Experts settle this age-old debate

She added, “Sweet lozenges provide transient comfort when chewed for an extended period. Once digested, water intake doesn’t affect their effectiveness. Therefore, drinking water after taking a cough syrup or lozenge is perfectly fine.”

What about liquid medicines?

Goswami noted this applies to all liquid medications, emphasising their ease of use, palatability, and quick absorption compared to solid pills. “The liquid solution aids faster absorption of molecules, expediting the medicine’s effectiveness,” she said.

Cough syrups offer temporary relief, mainly due to ingredients like menthol, soothing both dry and wet coughs. (Source: Freepik)

Dr Shuchi Sharma, chief dietician at Sahyadri Hospital, Pune, affirmed, “Drinking water after liquid medicines or cough syrup is generally safe, as it helps loosen mucus or phlegm in the lungs. Cough syrup, containing the expectorant ‘guaifenesin,’ works effectively with sufficient fluid intake to loosen throat mucus.”

She highlighted the advantages of liquid dosage forms, citing their faster absorption rate compared to solids and easier intake, particularly beneficial for patients with swallowing difficulties. “A full glass of water aids in thinning secretions, facilitating their expulsion through coughing,” she said.

However, Dr Vigyan Mishra, chief of lab, Neuberg Diagnostics, Noida, has a different opinion.

“Consuming water immediately after ingesting cough syrup or liquid medicines is generally discouraged,” he cautioned. “These medications often include ingredients intended to coat the throat, soothing irritation and enhancing the effectiveness of active components. Drinking water immediately after can wash away these beneficial coatings, diminishing the medicine’s efficacy.”

He recommended waiting at least fifteen minutes to half an hour before drinking any liquids. This waiting period allows the medication to fully absorb and exert its therapeutic effect.