Definition
A class of medications that reduce or block the cough reflex, commonly containing ingredients such as dextromethorphan, codeine, or other agents that act on the brain or throat to calm coughing. Many cough suppressants cause drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, or impaired judgment, and several are on the FAA's list of medications that are disqualifying for flight.
Plain English
Medicines that stop or reduce coughing. They often make you drowsy or slow your thinking, which is why pilots must be careful about flying after taking them.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA discussions of drugs, common medicines, and deciding whether it is safe to fly while sick.
Derivation
From Latin suppressus, meaning 'pressed down' or 'held back.' A cough suppressant 'holds back' the cough reflex.
Why Pilots Care
Many cough suppressants contain ingredients that cause drowsiness or slowed reaction time, directly affecting the ability to fly safely.
Intuition Check
Do not assume a cough suppressant is safe for flying just because it is common or sold without a prescription. The key question is whether the medicine, the cough, or the underlying illness could affect safe pilot performance.
Example Sentence 1
After taking a cough suppressant the night before, the pilot waited until the medication had fully cleared his system before reporting for duty.
Example Sentence 2
FAA guidance lists most cough suppressants among medications that require a waiting period before returning to the cockpit.