It is about that time of year again…flu season. During the Fall and Winter months, the flu and other viruses spike. Medicine aisles are flooded with people hoping to find a cure that won’t make them feel more sick. Although many companies have tried to mask the awful taste of many cough syrups and dissolvable tablets, in reality, most people do not enjoy the 10 ml dose of orange or grape Dayquil. The same reality could be said for throat lozenges or “cough drops”.

As I sat in my Newspaper class, I listened to the sounds of my fellow classmate sniff and cough due to catching a cold early flu season. I offered a throat lozenge and she accepted. She quickly reacted saying how it tasted horrible and didn’t taste like the general cough drops she used; however, a few moments later, she did note that it helped somewhat with the pain her throat had been giving her.

The general cough drops people buy and believe and hope help with the uncomfortable and dry feeling we get in our throats, such as Halls, are being questioned as to if they really work. Lots of cough drops do consist mostly of sugar and could be considered candy, but some are considered medicated if they contain menthol compounds which can temporarily numb and relieve some irritation.

From personal experience, I know  cough drops such as Halls do not provide any relief to my sore throat symptoms; instead they leave my mouth and throat feeling as if I just swallowed an ice cube because of their cooling effects. I would much rather endure the powerful pungency of the menthol filled lozenges to feel even the slightest bit better. But if I’m ever craving a sweet treat during the day, I can always pop in a “Halls Breezers” with its great taste in berry flavor…they’re  basically candy.