Everyone is different, but here is my recent experience. Hope it helps.
I am 80 and am definitely medication averse. I had a nagging cough for about three months, was also coughing up mucus several times a day with lots of coughing after waking in the morning. I think the cough was the result of a cold that bothered me for 2 plus weeks.
My primary doc listened to my breathing and thought I had developed asthma or COPD, so she loaded me up with several meds etc. and told me to make an appointment for PFT’s, Pulmonary Function Tests.
Here is what she prescribed, versus what I used/did, along with eating plenty of oranges, for vitamin C, inhaling aroma of essential peppermint oil, and increasing garlic in my diet.
1. Prescribed 40 mg prednisone for 5days: I took 40 for 3 days, then 20 on day 4, then 1/2 of a pill for 10mg on day 5.
2. Prescribed Albuterol 2 times a day as needed: I did not use it at all.
3. Prescribed NeilMed sinus rinse 1-2 times a day: I did this.
4. Prescribed following up 3. above with Flonase spray, 2 sprays each nostril once a day for 5 days: I did this. except I did only 1 spray in each nostril on day 5.
5. Prescribed Afrin 2 times a day for 3 days max: I did it for 2 days.
6. Prescribed Breztri: Never took it.
7. Prescribed Mucinex for 5 days max: I took half the prescription.
Results:
Cough and mucus were completely gone after day 5. That was over a three weeks ago, perfect breathing ever since. Oxygen level 98-99, BP 68/110, resting/sitting heart rate 67. Canceled appointment for PFT's.
Again, we are all different, but maybe there's something in my experience that can help you and others.