Athroat lozenge (also known as acough drop,sore throat sweet,troche,cachou,pastille orcough sweet) is a small, typically medicated tablet intended to be dissolved slowly in the mouth to temporarily stop coughs, lubricate, and soothe irritated tissues of thethroat (usually due to asore throat orstrep throat), possibly from thecommon cold orinfluenza. Cough tablets have taken the namelozenge, based on their original shape, a diamond.
Some throat lozenges contain active ingredients such asbenzocaine (anaesthetic), oramylmetacresol (mild antiseptic) or2,4-Dichlorobenzyl alcohol (mild antiseptic) or4-Hexylresorcinol (anaesthetic, antiseptic) ordextromethorphan (cough suppressant).
Lozenges may containeucalyptus oil. Some varieties such asHalls containmenthol,peppermint oil and/orspearmint as theiractive ingredient(s).Honey lozenges are also available. Non-menthol throat lozenges generally use eitherzinc gluconate glycine orpectin as anoral demulcent.
The purpose of the throat lozenge is to calm the irritation that may be felt in the throat while swallowing, breathing, or even drinking certain fluids. However, one study found that excessive use of menthol cough drops can prolong coughs rather than relieve them.[1]
Sweets to soothe the throat date back to 1000 BC inEgypt'sTwentieth Dynasty, when they were made from honey flavored withcitrus, herbs, and spices.[citation needed] In the 19th century, physicians discoveredmorphine andheroin, which suppress thecough reflex. Popular formulations of that era includedSmith Brothers Cough Drops, first advertised in 1852, andLuden's, created in 1879. Concern over the risk ofopioid dependence led to the development of alternative medications.[2]
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