Whether you’ve recently developed a painfully sore throat or if you simply want something to keep your mouth from going dry, a packet of cough drops should help satisfy your needs. Seen by many as “enhanced” candy, cough drops are consumed by millions of people every day – with or without illness.
No doubt, we’ve all enjoy the occasional cough drop and you’ve probably tried more than a handful of different varieties by now; however, if you’re still wondering which lozenge deserves a place as your ride-or-die option, this buying guide will help you choose which product should get your vote for the best cough drops on the market.
Top 10 Cough Drops Table
| Picture | Name | Sugar-Free? | Price | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. HALLS Sugar-Free Cough Drops, Honey Lemon, 180 Count | Yes | $ | 4.7 |
 | 2. Ludens Thoat Drops, Wild Cherry, 30 Count (Pack of 6) | No | $$ | 4.6 |
 | 3. Ricola Natural Herb Cough Drops Original -- 50 Drops | No | $$ | 4.6 |
 | 4. Olbas Sugar Free Cough Drops Lozenges, 24 Count | Yes | $ | 4.5 |
 | 5. Burt's Bees Burt's Bees Natural Throat Drops Honey and Lemon -- 20 Drops, 20 Count | Yes | $ | 4.4 |
 | 6. doTERRA Breathe Respiratory Drops 30 count | No | $$$ | 4.3 |
 | 7. Wedderspoon Organic Manuka Honey Lozenges with Lemon and Bee Propolis, 4 Ounce | No | $ | 4.3 |
 | 8. Thayers Slippery Elm Lozenges, Cherry, 150 Count | Yes | $$ | 4.0 |
 | 9. Ricola Revitalizing Herb Drops, 18 Drops(1-Pack | No | $$$$ | 3.9 |
 | 10. Zand Organic HerbaLozenge Lemon Honey Soother -- 18 Lozenges | Yes | $ | 3.7 |
Buying Information for Most Effective Cough Drops
There really aren’t any rules that dictate which cough drops you should or shouldn’t buy. Your selection simply depends on which lozenge you think suits your preferences or needs better. Keeping these three factors in mind when making a purchase should help you secure the best cough drops that won’t only relieve symptoms of conditions like the common cold, but will also prove to be an enjoyable treat for everyday use.
- Medicated. Because some people use cough drops to treat symptoms like coughing, sore throat, and congestion, there are lozenges on the market that double as pharmaceuticals. If you’re buying cough drops for the purpose of symptomatic relief, considering whether or not it contains ingredients that can target your symptoms can make them more satisfying to use. Most often, medicated cough drops contain pain killers, numbing ingredients, and sometimes even antihistamines.
- Natural Versus Synthetic. It’s not unlikely to find distinctions between natural and synthetic lozenges when you go through the options you find. That’s because there are some people who would much rather prefer to consume cough drops if they’re made from organic ingredients.
Herbal cough drops are made from all natural and organic ingredients. While some have medicinal properties, they don’t contain chemical-based ingredients that would be found in medicated cough drops. These lozenges are equally as effective and palatable as their synthetic counterpart. However, they’re manufactured and sold as a way to provide options for people with specific diet restrictions and lifestyle preferences.
- Flavors. If you like consuming cough drops simply because they’re a tasty way to keep your mouth preoccupied, it’s possible that you enjoy trying out different flavors. For this type of use, flavor considerations are made purely on preference. However, if you’re using cough drops to help relieve a cold or a cough, it pays to take some time when choosing the right flavor.
Some cough drop flavors make the lozenges act more like candies than a medical solution. Consuming a cough drop with high sugar content can aggravate a sore throat and induce more severe coughing. So be careful to consume a lozenge that incorporates too many artificial flavors and sweeteners, especially if you’re planning to use it for symptomatic relief.
Top 5 Best Cough Drops Reviews
1. HALLS Sugar-Free Cough Drops, Honey Lemon
Halls is a top contender when it comes to the mint candy and cough drop market. Their HALLS Sugar-Free Cough Drops in Honey Lemon is their most successful lozenge variant today, garnering the praise of a lot of buyers as the best cough drops, based on user reviews.
The reason that has made this product a top pick for a lot of buyers is the fact that it’s sugar-free. This means that anyone with a sore-throat can enjoy the potent mint and honey medley without the fear of aggravating raw throat tissues. Another thing worth mentioning is the flavor. Combining a thick honey and a strong menthol taste that lingers in the oral cavity, HALLS Sugar-Free Cough Drops in Honey Lemon is the perfect flavor for someone who wants a quick fix to help wake up the senses, or an effective way to numb out a sore throat.
Finally, another great reason to give HALLS Sugar-Free Cough Drops a try is the fact that it costs merely a fraction of other options. Coming in bags of hundreds of individually packaged lozenges, buying this type of cough drop in bulk is always a worthy investment for day to day use and the occasional sore throat.
2. Ludens Thoat Drops, Wild Cherry
Another top pick for a lot of buyers is Luden’s Throat Drops in Wild Cherry. One of the few lozenges on the market that contains pectin, this option offers herbal therapeutic benefits on top of being able to relieve throat soreness and itching.
Its ingredient pectin is a fruit fiber derivative that has been said to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as decrease the risk for cancer. The lozenge mainly uses the ingredient for the purpose of adding sweetness to the wild cherry flavor.
Potent and burning, this lozenge leaves a strong, sweet, and widespread – however pleasant – aftertaste in the mouth which aims to soothe the throat and suppress coughing. It also helps to numb the tissues of the throat to temporarily relieve soreness.
3. Ricola Natural Herb Cough Drops Original
If you’ve used a variety of lozenges in the past, it’s likely that you’ve come across Ricola. Considered one of the most popular brands in the lozenge market, Ricola’s Natural Herb Cough Drops are one of the highest rated cough drops today.
These natural herb cough drops use the finest organic ingredients that make it ideal for vegetarians, and other individuals with specific diet limitations. The lozenge incorporates 10 different herbs into its formulation, and includes honey as a natural sweetener. The herbs work to fight of symptoms caused by colds and flu, and the honey in turn makes it an enjoyable lozenge.
Some people like Ricola Natural Herb Cough Drops because it’s relatively milder, compared to other options. However, for others who want a potent menthol punch, this may fall short of expectations.
4. Olbas Sugar Free Cough Drops Lozenges
Another sugar free option is Olbas Sugar Free Cough Drop Lozenges. This cough drop includes vitamin C, cooling menthol, and other natural flavors that help make it an effective and enjoyable lozenge. The vitamin C works to improve the immune response, thus helping the body fight off any foreign invaders more efficiently.
The only issue that some people have with Olbas Sugar Free Cough Drop Lozenges is the fact that it can be a little pricier compared to other options. Of course, you still won’t have to break the bank for it. However because there are others that are equally as effective without costing too much, some claim that Olbas Sugar Free Cough Drop Lozenges can be an impractical choice.
5. Burt’s Bees Burt’s Bees Natural Throat Drops
Burt’s Bees is a well known brand that manufactures organic and natural personal care products such as lip balms, facial creams, and lotions. Their Burt’s Bees Natural Throat Drops Honey and Lemon are considered one of their best products yet, ranked by a large number of buyers as a premium pick for people looking for an effective cough drop.
Much like many others on the market, Burt’s Bees Natural Throat Drops in honey and lemon flavor is the most popular. The mild sweetness and gentle citrus taste work well together to make-up for the potent menthol flavor. While it doesn’t offer very much relief for symptomatic problems, Burt’s Bees Natural Throat Drops can be a good pick if you just want to wake yourself up at work during a lazy day, or if you want to preoccupy your mouth as you go about your daily chores.