Dry Cough at Night Causes, Home Remedies, Treatments

Most nighttime dry coughs are lingering cold, flu, or allergy symptoms. Home remedies or medications may provide relief.

If your cough is keeping you up all night, you’re not alone. Colds, flus, and allergies cause the body to produce excess mucus. When you lie down, that mucus can drip down the back of your throat and trigger your cough reflex.

A cough that brings up mucus is known as a “productive” or wet cough. A cough that does not bring up mucus is known as an “unproductive” or dry cough.

Coughing at night can make it more difficult to fall asleep and affect your quality of life.

There are several causes of nighttime dry cough.

Viral infections

Most dry coughs are the result of infections, like the common cold and flu.

Asthma

Asthma is a condition that causes the airways to swell and narrow, making it difficult to breathe. Chronic coughing is a common symptom.

Asthmatic coughs can be either productive or unproductive. Coughing is often worse during the night and early morning hours.

Coughing is rarely the only symptom of asthma. Most people also experience one or more of the following:

GERD

Other symptoms of GERD include:

Postnasal drip

Postnasal drip happens when mucus drips from your nasal passageways down into your throat. It happens more easily at night when you’re lying down.

Postnasal drip typically occurs when your body is producing more mucus than usual. It can happen when you have a cold, flu, or allergy. As mucus drips down the back of your throat, it can get into your airway and trigger your cough reflex.

Other symptoms of postnasal drip include:

Less common causes

There are a few other reasons why you could be coughing at night. Less common causes of dry cough at night include:

Most dry coughs can be treated at home with home remedies and over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

Menthol cough drops

Menthol cough drops are medicated throat lozenges that have a cooling, soothing effect. Sucking on one before you get into bed may help lubricate your throat and prevent irritation during the night.

The menthol vapors cause the mucosa lining in your sinuses to shrink, temporarily stopping or decreasing mucus production. Less drainage means less mucus gets into your bronchial tree to trigger your cough reflex.

These cough drops, which are available at your local drug store, should never be used while lying down because they present a choking hazard.

Humidifier

Humidifiers add moisture to the air. You produce less saliva during sleep, which means your throat is drier than usual. When your throat is dry, it’s more sensitive to irritants in the air that can trigger an episode of coughing.

If you have a stuffy nose, you may tend to sleep with your mouth open, which also dries your throat.

Running a humidifier while you sleep will help keep your throat moist, which should protect it from irritants and give it an opportunity to heal.

Rest

If your coughing is preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep, you may want to consider repositioning yourself. When you lie down, gravity pulls the mucus in your nasal passageways down into your throat.

Thick mucus can trigger your cough reflex on its own, but even typical mucus can cause problems, as it can contain allergens and irritants.

To avoid this problem, prop yourself up on several pillows so that your body is at a 45-degree angle (between sitting up and lying down). Try this for a few nights to give your throat a chance to heal.

Avoid irritants

Irritants like dust, pet hair, and pollen can circulate around the house all day and night. If someone in your household smokes or you use a wood-burning fire for heat, make sure to keep the door to your bedroom closed at all times.

Take other precautions, like keeping pets out of the bedroom and keeping windows closed during allergy season. A high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifier in the bedroom can help cut down on cough-inducing irritants.

Also, look for allergy-proof bedding and mattress covers.

Honey

Honey is a natural cough suppressant and anti-inflammatory agent. In fact, research suggests that honey is more effective at reducing nighttime cough in children than OTC cough medication.

Add a teaspoon of raw honey to tea or warm water to soothe a sore throat, or just take it straight.

Gargle with warm salt water

Gargling with warm salt water is a tried-and-true way to relieve throat inflammation. The salt may also kill some throat bacteria.

This home remedy works because the salt removes water from your oral tissues and creates a barrier that prevents water and bacteria from returning to your throat.

Simply mix a 1/2 teaspoon of salt into 8 ounces of warm water. You can add honey or hydrogen peroxide to make it more soothing.

Gargle for about 30 seconds or as long as possible, swish it around your mouth, and then spit it out.

You can also use a saline solution in a neti pot to rinse irritants and mucus from your sinuses.

Drink plenty of fluids

Hydration is more important to the healing process than most people know. Keeping hydrated helps keep your throat moist, which is key to protecting it from irritants.

Aim to drink about eight large glasses of water each day. When you’re sick, it helps to drink more. Consider drinking herbal tea or warm lemon water as well.

Manage GERD

If you think you might have GERD, then you should speak with a doctor about your treatment options. In the meantime, there are a few OTC medications that may help prevent symptoms like nighttime cough. These include:

Sleeping with your head elevated may also help prevent GERD symptoms.

Sometimes, home remedies are not enough. If you want to be a bit more aggressive, take a look at the following medicinal options.

Decongestants

Decongestants are OTC medications that treat congestion. Viruses like the common cold and the flu cause the lining of your nose to swell, making it hard to breathe.

Decongestants work by constricting blood vessels so that less blood flows to the swollen tissue. Without that blood, the swollen tissue shrinks, and it becomes easier to breathe.

Cough suppressants and expectorants

There are two types of cough medications available OTC: cough suppressants and expectorants.

Cough suppressants (antitussives) prevent you from coughing by blocking your cough reflex. Expectorants work by thinning out the mucus in your airway, making it easier to cough up.

Cough suppressants are better suited for dry nighttime coughs because they prevent your cough reflex from being triggered while you sleep.

Make an appointment with a doctor if your cough lasts longer than 2 months or if it gets worse over time. Contact a doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms:

The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if you do not already have a doctor.

A dry cough that keeps you up at night can be exhausting, but it usually is not a sign of anything serious. Most dry coughs are lingering symptoms of colds and flus, but there are a few other possible causes.

You can try treating your nighttime cough with home remedies or OTC medications, but if it does not go away after a few weeks, make an appointment with a doctor.