• Instruct patient to cough effectively. Patient should sit upright and take several deep breaths before attempting to cough.

• Caution parents to avoid OTC cough and cold products while breastfeeding or administering to children <4 yrs.

• Inform patient that drug may occasionally cause dizziness. Avoid driving or other activities requiring alertness until response to drug is known.

• Advise patient to limit talking, stop smoking, maintain moisture in environmental air, and take some sugarless gum or hard candy to help alleviate the discomfort caused by a chronic nonproductive cough.

• Instruct patient to contact health care professional if cough persists longer than 1 wk or is accompanied by fever, rash, or persistent headache or sore throat.