Congestion throughout the sinus is one thing, but congestion in the chest is a completely different problem. Giving you a heavy feeling when you breathe and a chesty quality to your cough, chest congestion can make anyone feel weak.
However, as difficult and tiring as chest congestion might feel, it is one of the most common symptoms of the common cold and flu.
Luckily, no one has to suffer through the pains of chest congestion, especially these days when affordable and accessible remedies are available. Of course, it is easy to be able to simply walk into a drugstore and ask for the best medicine for chest congestion, but choosing can be difficult with so many options available.
How do you know which is the right one? Find out how to choose the best chest decongestant by taking cues from this helpful buying guide.
Best Medicine for Chest Congestion: A Review
1. Mucinex Chest Congestion Expectorant Tablets
Mucinex is a popular pharmaceutical brand specializing in cold, flu, sore throat, and nasal and sinus decongestant products for children and adults. With carefully formulated products, it’s among the top brands recommended by many doctors.
Review
Considered by many as the best medicine for chest congestion, Mucinex 12-Hour Chest Congestion Expectorant is a long-lasting and fast-acting formulation that guarantees relief for up to twelve hours.
Here are the key features of this medicine that make it one of the best:
- Bi-Layer Formulation
This product uses a unique bi-layer tablet formulation, with one layer of the pill getting to work as soon as a dosage is taken, and the remaining layer intended for delayed release.
- 600 mg Guaifenesin Component
The product incorporates a high level of guaifenesin—a chemical component responsible for dissolving mucus and clearing out the chest to make way for easy breathing. This also encourages the user to expectorate; thus, getting rid of mucus for good.
- Reasonably Priced
Coming at a very reasonable price, Mucinex 12-Hour Chest Congestion Expectorant is the kind of product that you should purchase if you want a reliable, effective, and safe medicine in your storage in case of those unexpected episodes of colds or flu.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Easy to swallow
- 12-hour effect
- Trusted brand
- Doctor recommended
Con:
- Packaging could be better
2. Mucinex Expectorant and Cough Suppressant Tablets
Another top pick for chest congestion medicine comes from the same brand—Mucinex. The main difference between Mucinex DM Maximum Strength 12-Hour Expectorant and Cough Suppressant and the first on the list is that they work differently on chest congestion.
Review
This product works to suppress a cough, stopping any chest irritation that might be causing you to cough in the first place. That’s all thanks to its two main ingredients.
This product effectively loosens mucus with guaifenesin and prevents the coughing reflex with dextromethorphan, an ingredient lacking in the first option. Mucinex is particularly ideal for people with chest congestion who experience irritating, persistent, and troubling coughing episodes.
Pros:
- 12-hour effect
- Trusted brand
- Doctor recommended
Cons:
- Packaging could be better
- Tablets are a bit too big for some
3. Naturade, Herbal Expec, Herbal Expectorant
For individuals seeking an effective homeopathic remedy, Naturade Herbal Expec Herbal Expectorant with Guaifenesin is the perfect option. This all-natural product aims to relieve chest congestion with its potent formulation that incorporates guaifenesin for effective results.
Review
The product is very effective and doesn’t cause any side-effects on users. Here’s what you’ll expect from this med:
- Ingredients
It contains thyme, English ivy leaf, aloe vera, echinacea, elderberry, ginger, peppermint, and turmeric extracts. All of which are know to help loosen phlegm. It also has a blend of cocillana bark, rose hip, and red clover extract for a more soothing effect.
- Taste and Packaging
The only issue that some consumers have is that it does not taste very pleasant, although it’s formulated with natural cherry flavoring and manuka honey. What’s more, the liquid formula only comes in large bottles, so bringing one with you can be inconvenient.
Pros:
- All-natural ingredients
- Non-drowse
- Easy to consume
- Safe for kids six years and older
Cons:
- Unpleasant taste
- Only available in a 260ml bottle
4. Boiron Oscillococcinum
Another homeopathic remedy for the flu comes in the form of Boiron Oscillococcinum. If you believe your body will rid itself of body aches naturally and simply needs a boost, this could give it a big one.
Review
Boiron Oscillococcinum is safe for kids two and up and is to be taken at the first signs of flu. Here are some of the reasons to keep this in stock:
- Homeopathic Remedy
This med temporarily relieves headaches, fatigue, body aches, fever, and other flu-like symptoms, including chest congestion. With it, you don’t have to worry about whether or not you are “adding to the medicine” in your system.
Not only are its active ingredients highly diluted, but they’re either botanical or biological in origin. As a result, there is a lowered risk of contraindications or adverse drug reactions.
- Kid-Safe Pellets
These are kid-safe pellets you won’t likely have problems getting your children to take. They’re the right amount of sweet and dissolve easily under your tongue.
- Keeps the Flu at Bay
When taking at the onset of flu symptoms, there’s a good chance it can reduce their severity and duration.
- The “Boiron” Promise
Under this promise, Oscillo provides another, more “natural” option for flu relief—an option with a lower chance of eventually taking a toll on the body.
Pros:
- Reduces severity and duration of flu symptoms
- Non-drowse
- Easy to take
- Safe for all ages
- Great for children
- Homeopathic medicine
Cons:
- Most effective when taken at the onset of the flu
- May create a placebo effect
- Though minimal, it could lead to side effects for some individuals
5. Vicks DayQuil and NyQuil Combo Pack
Who doesn’t trust Vicks? It’s practically a household name for all things fast-relief, and the DayQuil and NyQuil combo pack lives up to that.
Review
Vicks boasts a multi-symptom relief pairing in DayQuil and NyQuil, the former for the day and the latter for fast relief at night to help you sleep soundly. You may want to keep this powerful combo at hand for the following reasons:
- Multi-Symptom Relief
Flu symptoms, such as chest congestion, vary in intensity throughout the day and are more powerful at night. The Dayquil and NyQuil combo ensures that these differences are addressed specifically using individual medicines that work in synergy.
You get a non-drowse medicine to keep you alert and active during the day in DayQuil and a fast-relief remedy for restful sleep in NyQuil.
- Great for the Flu and Common Cold Symptoms
Those troublesome symptoms that refuse to cease and desist have finally met their match in this entry by none other than the world’s top-selling brand for cough and colds, Vicks!
- Get Better Fast in One Dose
Some have claimed to get better within minutes after a single dose—a testament to how truly powerful and trusted the Vicks brand is.
Pros:
- From the original Vicks brand
- Provides fast, multi-symptom relief
- Addresses daytime and nighttime symptom characteristics
Con:
- Poor packaging
6. Amazon Basic Care Nighttime Cold & Flu Relief
An Amazon product makes its way to our list in the Amazon Basic Care Nighttime Cold and Flu Relief. It has similar active ingredients to our previous entry, the Vicks DayQuil and NyQuil combo pack, which could mean similar great results.
Let’s see if that’s true.
Review
Amazon Basic’s Nighttime Cold and Flu Relief promises to keep those horrid symptoms at bay so you can get the restful night’s sleep required for your body to recover. Here’s what else to expect from this powerful remedy by one of today’s most-known brands:
- Fast Cold and Flu Symptom Relief
No one wants to be plagued with symptoms like cough, body aches, chills, and fever for an entire night. One dose of this Amazon Basic “miracle” remedy might prove to be the difference between the road to overnight recovery and an entire night of tossing and turning from bothersome symptoms.
- Multi-Purpose Medicine
This counterpart to the Vicks combo also acts as a cough suppressant, antihistamine, fever abater, and pain reliever.
- Healthy Product
The whole point of this product is that it is fully geared toward health and recovery. There’s no gluten in this one to keep your diet on track while you attempt to recover from your flu or cold symptoms.
Pros:
- More volume at a relatively lower price than most of its counterparts
- Treat a variety of symptoms
- Provides fast daytime and nighttime relief
Con:
- A bit flimsy bottle
7. Boiron Chestal Honey Adult Cold and Cough Syrup
Boiron is a brand known for continuously making good on its promise of delivering quick homeopathic relief. The Chestal Honey Adult Cold and Cough Syrup further proves that.
Review
This syrupy concoction is made from a blend of 100 percent natural active ingredients like premium acacia to facilitate the body’s natural healing mechanisms. That all-natural blend is merely one of the following reasons you may want to include this in your medicine cabinet:
- The Perfect Day-and-Night Solution
The common cold and the flu can hit differently during the day than at night, but Chestal Honey is an all-around solution for each time period. It’s a non-drowse concoction to keep you awake during the day and calms those fitful symptoms at night to provide quality sleep.
- Perfect for the Family
It’s great for kids ages two and up, making it a quick cough and cold solution for the entire family. Plus, it tastes great and is non-drowse, so you don’t have to worry about your kids getting sleepy at school.
- A Homeopathic Way to Ease Your Worries
The more natural, the better. If you swear by this approach to medicine or live this lifestyle in general, you will find this syrupy blend of biological and botanical ingredients the perfect addition to your medicine cabinet.
- Made by Boiron
Boiron is practically a household name in the industry, serving people quality medicine for decades. More importantly, they abide by sustainable practices, which the world needs today.
Pros:
- Effective homeopathic remedy
- Tastes like honey
- Great for the entire family
- Delivers on the Boiron promise
Con:
- May not be as fast-acting for some individuals
8. Amazon Basic Care Daytime Cold & Flu Liquid Caps
Amazon Basic Care has been churning out impressive flu meds as of late. That’s why two have made their way to our list of the best solutions for chest congestion.
Review
The Amazon Basic Care Daytime Cold & Flu Liquid Caps is a mix of powerful individual ingredients, including:
- Dextromethorphan HBr to suppress cough
- Acetaminophen to reduce fever
- Phenylephrine to decongest the nasal cavity
What else does this three-in-one solution to the flu and common cold have in store? The features tell all.
- Helps Relieve Multiple Symptoms
When taken during the onset of flu or cold symptoms, these soft gels can reduce the severity and duration of the following: sore throat, fever, bodily aches and pains, cough, and nasal congestion.
- Suppress Cough
Fitful coughs can keep you up at night, but you can keep them at bay using this ideal cold remedy that contains dextromethorphan HBr (cough suppressant). You should have a restful night’s sleep as a result.
- Decongest Nasal Cavity
Nasal congestion can be the worst thing. It can make it difficult for you to talk and breathe. A single dose of this cold relief med may help relieve this symptom temporarily.
Pros:
- Easy to take
- Offers multi-symptom relief
- Nasal decongestant and cough suppressant
Con:
- Pill package is difficult to open
Consider This When Buying Chest Congestion Medicine
Chest congestion medicine is not a one-formulation-suits-all type of product. Because every person is different, reactions to specific types of remedies can vary.
That said, it is important to understand your body’s needs as well as your preferences to determine which option is truly the best medicine for chest congestion in your particular case.
These major considerations are important factors you should think of when making a purchase to help guide you towards the right product.
Homeopathic Remedies
A common downside to pharmaceuticals is that they can cause a wide array of side-effects, including drowsiness, stomach irritation, headaches, and nausea, to name a few. It is because of these unwanted reactions that many people choose instead to use homeopathic remedies that are made from all-natural ingredients.
Of course, homeopathic remedies are much less likely to cause side-effects mainly because the ingredients are organic and 100% safe.
The only issue that users have with homeopathic remedies is that they may or may not produce results. It all depends on how well your body takes to the formulation.
Be sure to try out a homeopathic remedy before setting it as your staple so you can be sure of its effectiveness on your system.
Delivery Method
Chest congestion can be remedied through different methods, and that is why chest congestion medicine comes in many forms. The most common types of chest congestion remedies are:
- Pills
The most common types of chest decongestant are pills these products are easy to use and easy to access through over the counter transactions. They’re commonly slower to act, but they’re also very efficient at long term relief. Most pills target multiple symptoms that guarantee holistic wellness.
- Syrup
Syrup is another popular form when it comes to chest congestion medicine. These options are commonly used if users want fast relief as they’re much easier to metabolize.
Most syrups are readily absorbed by the system, which makes them much faster acting than any other product. The only downside with syrups is that they can be hard to down, especially if you are out and about.
- Topical Remedies
Topical creams and ointments are often homeopathic, and these products aim to relieve congestion through two ways. The first is a potent scent, usually menthol, which penetrates into the sinus to enter the lungs and relieve congestion.
The second is a moderate burning sensation on the area of application which is usually the chest and back, and this helps soothe the chest and provide temporary relief against accumulated mucus.
Medicine for Chest Congestion FAQs
1. What should you do when you have chest congestion?
You can either take a hot shower first, so the steam eases the congestion, then try an OTC medication afterward. You may also do it in reverse—meds first and then the shower.
2. What medicine relieves chest congestion?
Mucinex, Robitussin, Boiron, and Amazon Basic Care are some of the best brands for chest congestion.
3. How long does chest congestion take to subside?
Chest congestion symptoms should heal on their own in a little over a week. However, it can take up to three weeks for the cough to subside.
4. What is the best sleep position for chest congestion?
Chest congestion symptoms can worsen when you sleep on your back. Sleep on your side, propping up pillows to position yourself so that the symptoms don’t interrupt your sleep.
5. Can you pass on chest congestion?
The short answer is yes, though not as easily as other common infections.
Our Top Recommendations
While all the products we reviewed are effective for helping relieve chest congestion due to certain illnesses like flu and cough, we highly recommend the Mucinex Chest Congestion Expectorant Tablets. Not only is it fast-acting, but it the effects last for 12 hours. However, if you or your child has trouble swallowing tablets, the Naturade, Herbal Expec, Herbal Expectorant is the best alternative.