Symptom relief
Dextromethorphan
The standard suppressant for a dry, hacking cough. What it does, how to dose it, and how long to use it.
Read the guide →Men's respiratory health
Respiratory health
Most coughs clear on their own. Some don't, and Bangkok's haze season doesn't help. Here's how to tell the difference, and when a doctor should listen to your chest.
3 weeks
Most coughs clear by then
Dec–Mar
Bangkok's haze season
45 min
Private consult
TH·EN·ZH
Spoken here
Medically reviewed by Dr. Noppon Arunkajohnsak (Win)
MOPH-licensed clinic
4.6 from 158 Google reviews
92% five-star ratings
Private & confidential
Signs
A dry cough that lingers after a cold
Scratchy throat and blocked nose
Chest tightness or a faint wheeze
Coughing worse at night or outdoors
Mucus dripping down the back of the throat
Common causes
Viral infections, by far the most common
PM2.5 and haze-season air in Bangkok
Allergies and post-nasal drip
Acid reflux irritating the airway
Smoking, vaping and asthma
When to see a doctor
The cough has passed three weeks
You're coughing up blood
Fever together with breathlessness
Chest pain or wheezing with the cough
You smoke and the cough has changed
Understanding the condition
Most coughs are simple. The job is spotting the one that isn't.
The boring truth first: most coughs are viral. They run their course within about three weeks, antibiotics do nothing for them, and the sensible move is decent symptom relief while your body does the work.
Bangkok adds its own layer. In haze season, fine PM2.5 particles irritate the airways, so otherwise healthy men show up with a dry cough, a scratchy throat and a tight chest. Allergies, post-nasal drip, reflux and asthma round out the usual suspects.
The line is simple. A cough past three weeks, coughing up blood, fever with breathlessness, or a smoker's cough that changes character deserves an examination, not another bottle of syrup.
Most coughs settle on their own. My job is to catch the one that won't, early.
Our solutions for respiratory health
Relief first, cause always
We work out what's driving the cough, then match the treatment to it. For a simple dry cough that's often over-the-counter relief; the value is knowing it really is simple.
Before you self-medicate
Pharmacy syrups, decoded
Dextromethorphan sits inside dozens of Thai pharmacy syrups under different brand names. Know what you're actually taking, and at what dose.
Read the guide →When not to suppress
Wet coughs and red flags
A productive cough is clearing something out. Silencing the wrong cough can delay the real diagnosis, and some medications don't mix with it at all.
Read the guide →Your journey
What happens when you come in
1. Private consult
45 minutes, one to one. The story of your cough: how long, what triggers it, smoking, current medications, and what haze season does to you.
2. Chest & breathing checks
Physical examination, oxygen levels and bloods where they add something. If the picture calls for imaging, we arrange it and explain exactly why.
3. Your plan
Usually simple: the right relief, the right dose, and what to avoid. If there's an underlying cause, the plan treats that, not just the cough.
4. Same doctor follow up
If the cough hasn't settled on schedule, the doctor who saw you sees you again and adjusts. No hand offs, no starting over.
Meet the doctors
Who you'll see
Young, specialized and highly experienced, trained internationally. The same doctor from consult to follow-up.
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What our patients say
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Book your consultation today.
Medication safety
“In Thailand you can buy almost anything over the counter but that does not mean you should. Having Dr. Win properly prescribe and dose my medication gives me confidence it is both safe and effective.”
Pierre L. · Verified patient review
Learn more about men's health
Straight answers on cough medicine and getting through Bangkok's haze season with your lungs on side.
Respiratory Health
Dextromethorphan in Thailand: What It Is and How to Get It
Respiratory Health
Dextromethorphan: Doses, Interactions and When Not to Take It
Frequently asked questions
My cough has lasted more than three weeks. Should I worry?
Not automatically, but it has earned an exam. Most viral coughs settle within about three weeks. Past that point we look for post-nasal drip, reflux, asthma or a lingering infection, and past eight weeks a cough counts as chronic and needs a proper work-up.
Is Bangkok's air pollution behind my cough?
It can be. PM2.5 peaks roughly December to March and irritates the airways, especially if you run or ride outdoors. If your cough tracks the haze and eases indoors or with a well-fitted mask, pollution is a likely driver. If it carries on regardless, something else is going on and it's worth checking.
Can't I just buy cough syrup at the pharmacy?
You can, and for a short-lived dry cough that's often fine. The catches are dosing, combination syrups that stack ingredients, and interactions: dextromethorphan doesn't mix with certain antidepressants. A short consult tells you whether a suppressant is even the right tool for your cough.
Do I need antibiotics for a chest infection?
Usually not. Most coughs and colds are viral, and antibiotics do nothing against viruses. We reserve them for cases where the examination genuinely points to a bacterial infection, and we'll tell you plainly which kind yours looks like.
When would I need a chest X-ray?
Not for a routine cough. Coughing up blood, unexplained weight loss, fever with breathlessness, a cough past eight weeks or a long smoking history change that. If imaging is warranted, we arrange it and walk you through the result ourselves.
Get that cough properly checked
Get that cough
properly checked
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