HomeAnswersObstetrics and Gynecologydry coughI have a dry cough which gets worse at night. Please suggest a cure.

I have a dry cough which gets worse at night. Please suggest a cure.

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I have a dry cough which gets worse at night. Please suggest a cure.

The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At June 27, 2018
Reviewed AtJuly 17, 2023

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I am 10 weeks pregnant and have developed a chesty dry cough. It is particularly bad when I lie down to sleep at night. Is there anything I can do to get rid of it?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Your primary complaint is a dry cough, especially on lying down. So, I would suggest to first rule out a cardiac cause. In medical terms, a cough and breathlessness on lying down is called paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND) and is due to shifting of the fluid from the legs to the central areas like lungs causing a cough and breathlessness. It can occur during pregnancy as well because of an increase in the fluid volume. I would suggest a cardiovascular examination by a physician or cardiologist. Mean while you should take Levocetirizine 5 mg at bed time. It is safe during pregnancy. However, it will cause sedation. It will help in case of an allergic cough.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for your reply.

It is definitely nothing more serious than a chesty cough. My young nephew had one and I picked it up from him. I also cough during the day. It is just worse at night. Do you think I still need to see my doctor or are there some medicines I could take?

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Well, since you said it increases at night once you lie down, I suspected that. If you have it during the day in sitting and upright position as well, then it is allergic in nature and as I mentioned previously Levocetirizine 5 mg at bed time will take care of it. But, because you are pregnant and the cough has lasted more than a week now, I suggest you get examined by your doctor.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Ashaq Hussain Parrey
Dr. Ashaq Hussain Parrey

Rheumatology

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