Cough Syrups in Pakistan
The best cough syrup depends on whether the cough is dry, chesty (bringing up phlegm) or allergic, on the age of the person coughing, and on whether they need a sugar-free syrup. Most coughs clear up on their own within 3 to 4 weeks, according to the NHS. Our shelf has three ivy leaf syrups for chesty coughs; drowsy and dextromethorphan syrups are behind the counter, and we don’t stock codeine cough syrups.
Cough syrups in stock
Prospan Cough Syrup
Ivy leaf extract, sugar-free
Caution: Not for children under 2.
120 ml
In stock
Delivery across Pakistan
Rs 695
Order on WhatsAppQmint Cough Syrup
Ivy leaf, thyme and liquorice extracts
Caution: Not for children under 2.
120 ml
In stock
Delivery across Pakistan
Rs 490
Order on WhatsAppCofif Cough Sugar Free Syrup
Ivy leaf extract, sugar-free
Caution: Not for children under 2.
120 ml
In stock
Delivery across Pakistan
Rs 280
Order on WhatsApp
How to pick by your cough type
Start with the kind of cough, then check the age on the pack.
| Your cough | What the guidance says | Here |
|---|---|---|
| Chesty: brings up phlegm | What the guidance says: An expectorant. The European herbal monograph for ivy leaf lists ivy leaf as an expectorant in case of productive cough; NICE lists guaifenesin, an expectorant, for ages 12 and over. | Here: Ivy leaf syrups on our shelf: Prospan, Qmint, Cofif Sugar-Free. |
| Dry and tickly | What the guidance says: A cough suppressant. NICE lists over-the-counter cough suppressants, except codeine, for ages 12 and over, with limited evidence of some benefit. | Here: Dextromethorphan syrups are behind our counter: ask our pharmacist. |
| With sneezing, runny nose or itchy eyes | What the guidance says: NICE says limited evidence suggests antihistamines and decongestants do not help cough symptoms. | Here: Drowsy antihistamine syrups are behind our counter. For hay fever symptoms, see our allergy tablets. |
| A child’s cough | What the guidance says: Ivy leaf syrups must not be used under 2 (EU monograph); medicines with dextromethorphan, drowsy antihistamines, decongestants or guaifenesin should not be used under 6 (MHRA). | Here: Ask our pharmacist before giving any cough syrup to a child. |
| Diabetes or watching sugar | What the guidance says: Our advice: choose a syrup labelled sugar-free. | Here: Prospan and Cofif Sugar-Free are labelled sugar-free by their makers. |
The UK’s NICE guidance says honey (over 1 year), pelargonium, guaifenesin and cough suppressants other than codeine have only limited evidence of some benefit for cough symptoms. The NHS says cough medicines will not stop your cough, but may help you cough less.
The syrups on our shelf
All three contain ivy leaf extract. They are enlisted with DRAP as health products, not registered as drugs, and we sell them without asking for a prescription.
- Prospan Cough Syrup contains ivy leaf dry extract; its Pakistani marketer, Route2Health, describes it as alcohol-free, sugar-free and free from artificial colouring. DRAP’s Health & OTC index lists “Prospan Syrup” under Route2health (Pvt.) Limited, Lahore (22.0001).
- Qmint Cough Syrup by Nutrifactor contains, in each 10 ml, ivy leaf extract 75 mg, thyme extract 45 mg and liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) extract 45 mg. DRAP’s Health & OTC index lists it as “Qmint” under Nutrifactor Laboratories (003241050294).
- Cofif Cough Sugar Free Syrup by AGP contains ivy leaf powder extract 70 mg in each 10 ml, and its carton is labelled sugar-free. DRAP’s Health & OTC index lists it as “Cofif Cough” under AGP Limited (1112800243). It is not the same as AGP’s Cofif Tablets, a different medicine.
- Warning: Not for children under 2: the European herbal monograph for ivy leaf contraindicates it under 2 years, because of the risk of worsening breathing symptoms. Some Pakistani makers give doses from 1 year; we follow the stricter European limit.
- Warning: The same monograph says it is not recommended in pregnancy or breastfeeding, as safety has not been established, and that a doctor or pharmacist should be consulted if symptoms last longer than a week.
- Get medical advice if you become short of breath, develop a fever or cough up pus, as the monograph advises. It also recommends caution with gastritis or a stomach ulcer.
- Side effects in the monograph: nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, and allergic reactions. Prospan’s German leaflet adds that its sorbitol can have a laxative effect.
Behind the counter: drowsy and dextromethorphan syrups
These cough syrups are available only on our pharmacist’s guidance, on WhatsApp or at the counter. We don’t sell them as add-to-cart items.
| Syrup | What is in each 5 ml, from DRAP’s registry |
|---|---|
| Corex-D Cough Syrup | Dextromethorphan 10 mg, chlorpheniramine 4 mg, ephedrine 5 mg. |
| Combinol-D Syrup | Dextromethorphan 10 mg, ephedrine 7.5 mg, chlorpheniramine 4 mg, ammonium chloride, terpin hydrate. |
| Cosome Cough Syrup | Dextromethorphan 10 mg, pseudoephedrine 30 mg, chlorpheniramine 2 mg. |
| Cosome-E Cough Syrup | Diphenhydramine 8 mg, ammonium chloride 30 mg, aminophylline 32 mg; no dextromethorphan. |
| Babynol Syrup | Chlorpheniramine 1 mg, dextromethorphan 7 mg. |
- Warning: Dextromethorphan can be misused: the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s fact sheet says it is often abused in high doses by adolescents, and that it should not be taken with antidepressants because of the risk of a life-threatening serotonin syndrome.
- Warning: Drowsy antihistamines affect alertness: the Pakistani leaflet for Corex-D says chlorpheniramine, as a sedative antihistamine, is most likely to impair driving ability.
- Children: the UK’s medicines regulator says cough and cold medicines with these ingredients should no longer be used in children under 6, and that products for children aged 6 to 12 are available in pharmacies where advice can be given. We give each of these syrups only after our pharmacist has checked the age and symptoms of the person it is for.
DRAP registration
- Corex-D Cough Syrup (004876), Lucky Core Industries Limited. DRAP’s registry shows: Provisionally Active, “Not Verified”.
- Combinol-D Syrup (004761), Atco Laboratories Limited. DRAP’s registry shows: Reviewed, “Not Verified”.
- Cosome Cough Syp (017583), Martin Dow Marker Limited. DRAP’s registry shows: Provisionally Active, “Not Verified”.
- Cosome-E Cough Syrup (047220), Martin Dow Marker Limited. DRAP’s registry shows: Provisionally Active, “Not Verified”.
- Babynol Syrup (011208), W. Woodward Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd. DRAP’s registry shows: Provisionally Active, “Not Verified”.
DRAP publishes no definition of this verification flag, so we can’t tell you what it means. DRAP describes its registered products index as a provisional list that “cannot be used as a reference for any purpose”. Checked against the registry on .
Codeine cough syrups: we don’t stock them
This is a deliberate safety choice.
- The NHS says cough medicines containing codeine will not stop your cough, and NICE says limited evidence suggests codeine-containing cough medicines do not help cough symptoms.
- The UK’s medicines regulator says do not use codeine in children under 12, because of the risk of breathing side effects, and the European Medicines Agency contraindicates codeine for cough and cold in children below 12.
- In Pakistan, DRAP has said that medicines containing controlled substances cannot be sold without the prescription of a registered medical practitioner, and that pharmacies must keep complete sale records (DRAP press release, 19 February 2018).
When we searched DRAP’s registry on 23 October 2026, no cough syrup listed codeine among its recorded ingredients; some older cough syrups have no ingredients recorded.
When to see a doctor
The NHS advises seeing a doctor if:
- The cough has lasted more than 3 weeks.
- You’re losing weight for no reason, or have a weakened immune system, for example from chemotherapy or diabetes.
- Warning: The cough is very bad or quickly getting worse, or you feel very unwell.
- Warning: You have chest pain, find it hard to breathe, or are coughing up blood.
From the NHS cough page. The NHS also says antibiotics are not normally prescribed for coughs, and honey must not be given to a baby under 1 year (NHS).
How to check you have a genuine bottle
Check every bottle before the first dose.
- The bottle’s seal is intact and the carton is undamaged.
- The batch number and expiry date are printed clearly on the carton and bottle, and match. Stickers over them are a warning sign.
- Buy from a licensed pharmacy that sources from authorised distributors, not market stalls or social media.
The shelf syrups are enlisted in DRAP’s Health & OTC product index, which DRAP describes as a provisional list. When we searched DRAP’s website on 23 October 2026, we found no alert naming Prospan, Qmint or Cofif. With cash on delivery, you can check the bottle before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most effective cough syrup?
No single syrup is best for every cough: it depends on the type of cough and the age of the person. The NHS says a cough usually clears up on its own within 3 to 4 weeks, and the UK’s NICE guidance says honey (over 1 year), pelargonium, guaifenesin and cough suppressants other than codeine have only limited evidence of some benefit. For a chesty cough that brings up phlegm, the European herbal monograph for ivy leaf lists it as an expectorant.
What is the strongest cough syrup?
Strength isn’t the right test. The cough medicines regulators restrict most are codeine syrups, which we don’t stock: UK and EU regulators say codeine must not be used for cough in children under 12, and the NHS says codeine cough medicines will not stop your cough. Cough syrups with dextromethorphan or drowsy antihistamines are kept behind our counter and given only on our pharmacist’s advice.
Which syrup is best for chest?
For a chesty cough that brings up phlegm, an expectorant: the European herbal monograph for ivy leaf lists it as an expectorant for productive cough, and all three syrups on our shelf contain ivy leaf extract. See a doctor if you are short of breath, have a fever, or cough up green or bloody phlegm.
Which cough syrup is best for children?
Ask a pharmacist or doctor first, and check the age on the pack. The European herbal monograph says ivy leaf syrups must not be used under 2 years. The UK’s medicines regulator says cough and cold medicines with dextromethorphan, drowsy antihistamines, decongestants or guaifenesin should not be used under 6. Honey can help a cough from age 1, but never give honey to a baby under 1.
Which syrup is best for dry cough?
Some people try a cough suppressant such as dextromethorphan for a dry cough; the UK’s NICE guidance lists over-the-counter cough suppressants other than codeine for people aged 12 and over, with limited evidence of some benefit. We keep dextromethorphan syrups behind the counter, so ask our pharmacist on WhatsApp. The ivy leaf syrups on our shelf are listed in Europe as expectorants for a cough that brings up phlegm.