Treat Bronchitis at Home With These 7 Self-Care Treatments

Bronchitis is a lower respiratory tract infection that causes inflammation in the airways of the lungs. Inflamed airways are swollen and irritated. These changes make it harder to breathe and make you cough — a lot. That’s why bronchitis is sometimes called a chest cold.

Viruses are the most common cause of bronchitis. Many adults develop bronchitis after they get an upper respiratory tract infection from common cold viruses, the flu, or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) — or even COVID-19. When you come in contact with one of these viruses, it can spread from your nose or throat into your airways, causing bronchitis. Viral bronchitis is very common in adults. In fact, it’s one of the most common reasons people visit a healthcare professional.

Being sick with bronchitis isn’t easy. Symptoms can make it hard to breathe, talk, and move — and even to eat. Unfortunately, there’s no cure for viral bronchitis. And antibiotics won’t help the cough either. Your immune system will fight off the virus. But this takes time. But you can treat your bronchitis at home with self-care and over-the-counter (OTC) treatments. Here’s what really works to treat your bronchitis at home.

Over-the-counter bronchitis treatments

The good news is that there are treatments that can help you manage your symptoms while you wait for your immune system to fight off the viral infection. Here are three OTC bronchitis treatments that can help you stay comfortable while you recover. 

1. Dextromethorphan

There are several OTC cough medications that can temporarily relieve or lessen cough. But dextromethorphan (Robitussin, Delsym) is the most commonly used OTC cough medication for acute bronchitis (meaning it comes on suddenly).

Dextromethorphan is available in pill and liquid form. There are also some lozenges that contain dextromethorphan. You can take dextromethorphan 3 to 4 times a day, depending on which version you use. Make sure to read the instructions on the package regarding how much and how often you can take the medication. It’s always best to start off with a lower recommended dose. If the lower dose helps, you don’t need to take more. 

There’s no evidence that taking dextromethorphan will help you recover faster. And it won’t make your cough go away completely. But it might be worth trying it to see if it helps lessen your cough for a few hours, so you can get through your day. You can also try taking dextromethorphan before bed, since a cough can make it hard to fall and stay asleep. 

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Do you need antibiotics if you have a cough? See what the research says about which respiratory infections require antibiotics. 

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• Causes of a lingering cough: Find out why some coughs stick around for weeks — and how to get rid of them.

If you have high blood pressure, heart disease, or asthma, talk to a healthcare professional before you start taking dextromethorphan. This is because dextromethorphan can aggravate certain medical conditions. 

2. Guaifenesin

Guaifenesin (Mucinex) is an OTC medication that can help loosen mucus. This makes it easier for you to cough up mucus. So, it can help relieve the feeling of having phlegm in your chest.

Guaifenesin comes in several forms:

• Pill

• Liquid

• Lozenge

• Nasal spray

The package instructions will tell you how often you can take guaifenesin. Like dextromethorphan, guaifenesin won’t help you recover faster. But it may help keep you comfortable while your lungs recover.

Guaifenesin is sold as a single-ingredient medication. But more often it’s combined with other medications that also help relieve cough and cold symptoms, including dextromethorphan, acetaminophen (Tylenol), and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). 

Make sure to review the “active ingredients” label, so you don’t accidentally double dose on these medications. If you’re using more than one cough and cold medicine, it can be very easy to take double or even triple the recommended dose. 

3. Over-the-counter pain relievers

You can also try OTC pain and fever relievers, like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). These medications won’t help your cough, but they can help lessen muscle soreness. Many people develop soreness in their chest muscles from coughing so much with bronchitis.

Keep in mind that ibuprofen and acetaminophen are often added to other cough and cold medications. Check the active ingredients lists on your cough and cold medications to make sure they don’t also contain acetaminophen or ibuprofen. You’ll want to make sure you don’t accidentally take too much acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Overdoses of these medications can be serious. If you’ve taken too much acetaminophen or ibuprofen by accident, call the Poison Control hotline for help at 1-800-222-1222.

Self-care bronchitis treatments

Looking for effective home remedies for bronchitis? These four bronchitis self-care treatments can help your recovery.

1. Honey

If you prefer a more natural approach to symptom relief, here’s some good news: There’s evidence that honey can help ease your cough. In fact, honey works just as well as OTC medication for bronchitis. 

Try taking a spoonful of honey whenever your cough is bothering you. You can also mix it with hot water or tea. 

If you’re trying to limit your sugar intake, you can try other options like hot tea, ginger, or sugar-free menthol throat lozenges instead. With these no-sugar options, there’s no need to worry about how much to take. You can use as much as you need. 

2. Fluids

Drink plenty of fluids if you’re sick with bronchitis. Fluids help you stay hydrated, so your immune system can work properly. Staying hydrated also helps thin your mucus, so it’s easier to cough up. 

But make sure to stick with water or electrolyte-containing fluids, teas, and soups. Some fluids — like alcohol and caffeine — make you go to the bathroom more often, which can lead to dehydration. Alcohol also puts stress on your body, making it harder for your immune system to fight off viruses. So, it’s a good idea to avoid alcohol until you’re fully recovered. 

3. Humidifiers

A humidifier adds extra moisture to the air. It’s easier for your inflamed and stressed airways to breathe in air that has more moisture. The extra moisture can also soothe this inflammation a little bit, which may lessen your cough. Added moisture can help thin out your mucus, too. 

You can try running a warm mist humidifier during the day or just at night while you sleep. There’s not a lot of good evidence on how well humidifiers work to relieve bronchitis symptoms. But humidifiers are safe and using one comes with few, if any, potential side effects. 

So, if you already own a humidifier, it’s worth a try. Just make sure to change the water each day and follow all the cleaning instructions that came with your humidifier.

4. Rest

Make sure you get plenty of rest when you’re sick with bronchitis. This helps your body heal. You may need to take a few days off from work or school at the start of your illness. Though you shouldn’t spend the whole day in bed, you should take it easy. 

Dr. Steven Thau, a pulmonologist at Hartford HealthCare St. Vincent’s Medical Center, recommends taking a rest from your usual exercise routine. But you don’t have to stay still. “Gentle, low-impact exercise could help loosen mucus and improve air flow,” says Dr. Thau. “But overdoing it can tax the body and cause more harm than good, especially if you have other medical issues.”

Rest also means giving your lungs a break by avoiding things that irritate them. This includes avoiding smoke from tobacco and wood, as well as pollen and dust. 

When should you see a healthcare professional for bronchitis?

Most adults can treat their bronchitis at home. People usually feel better after 7 to 10 days and are back to feeling like themselves within 2 or 3 weeks. You should see a healthcare professional if you’re not starting to feel better within this timeframe or if you think your symptoms are getting worse. 

You should see a healthcare professional right away if you start experiencing:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• Bloody or discolored mucus

• A rapid heart rate, dizziness, or fainting

• Fever

In some cases, people should see a healthcare professional as soon as they start feeling sick. People with certain health conditions can get very sick if they develop bronchitis and may need to adjust their treatment plan. 

You should see a healthcare professional right away if you’re over 65 years old or have:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema

• Any type of chronic lung disease (including asthma)

• Heart disease or heart failure

• Diabetes

• Cancer

• A weakened immune system 

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Written by:

Ronald W. Dworkin, MD, PhD

Ronald W. Dworkin, MD, is a board-certified anesthesiologist who has been practicing anesthesiology in a community hospital for 30 years. He has taught in the honors program at George Washington University for over 10 years and works as a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Reviewed by:

Christine Giordano, MD

Christine Giordano, MD, is board-certified in general internal medicine. She received her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed residency at Thomas Jefferson University.

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