Chronic Cough, defined as a cough lasting eight weeks or longer, poses a specific challenge because it is rarely treated effectively by standard over-the-counter (OTC) remedies. In most cases, chronic cough is a symptom of an underlying medical condition, such as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), postnasal drip from allergies, or asthma. Treating the cough symptomatically with suppressants will only mask the problem, potentially delaying diagnosis and proper management of the root cause.

Effective treatment, therefore, centers on identifying and treating the primary condition, which involves prescription medications like inhaled corticosteroids, acid blockers (for GERD), or specialized decongestants. Furthermore, specific drug classes, such as ACE inhibitors used for hypertension, are known to induce a dry, persistent cough, requiring the cessation or substitution of the causative medication. This need for specialized, targeted therapies highlights the clear boundary between the OTC segment for acute cough and the prescription-driven segment for long-term chronic management.

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