Coughing, also known as tussis, is a reflex that living bodies undergo to get rid of the itchiness or irritation that is caused due to built-up mucus in their chest or throat. The built-up mucus that is thickened with time and is has clotted the lungs can often result in an illness termed congestion.

Both of these illnesses are very common and can happen when people fall sick or breathe polluted air too much, which blocks their passages, causing irritation and difficulty in breathing. Long-term coughing can be caused by lung cancer, influenza, common cold, tuberculosis, or pneumonia.

If the coughing is too intense for the body to handle, it may lead to internal bleeding, i. e. , coughing up blood or severe throat and chest pain followed by difficulty breathing. It is advised to immediately consult a doctor that specializes in medicines that deal with these problems to get instant relief.

What are the other ways to get rid of coughing?

Home remedies such as getting steam, consecutive rounds of gargling warm water, consuming warm/hot food and beverages, and consulting a pharmacist that can provide you with the medicines that might give you instant relief in the absence of medical help.
But you should consult a doctor as soon as possible if the illness hasn't faded away after applying these remedies or consuming the medicines you got.

Is Mucinex or Mucinex DM the best medicine to tackle coughing?

The doctors usually prescribe one common medicine for coughing and congestion-related illnesses that is the Mucinex and Mucinex DM. These two medicines have proved to be helpful if consumed in the dosages your doctor has told you to.

These two are some of the oldest medicines deemed to be fully trusted by doctors to treat coughing and congestion because they fall under the drug category called an expectorant.

The Mucinex DM nighttime is an expectorant with guaifenesin as its main ingredient, whereas Mucinex dm is a combination of guaifenesin and dextromethorphan, where dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant. They are available in oral tablets as well as an oral liquid.

You are not advised to consume more than two tablets or exceed your prescribed amount of dosage in 24 hours. One tablet can get you relieved for up to 12 hours. Hence it is prescribed that two tablets or dosages in 12-24 hours are a favorable way of consuming it.

The side-effects of having Mucinex or Mucinex DM include nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, or vomiting. In any case, one of these side-effects is intensified, you are requested to seek urgent doctor consultation.
There is no serious side-effect that has been recorded yet, but the itching, rashes, difficulty in breathing are some of the possible serious side-effects that can be expected from this drug.

You are not advised to take this drug for more than 7days unless prescribed by your doctor because it is used temporarily. Do not share your medications or prescriptions. If you have skipped one of your doses, immediately take it as soon as you remember, but avoid catching up on the missed dose if the next dosage time is near.
Consult your doctor about all possible allergies or respiratory problems you have before getting medications for cough.