Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 1 of 2 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Honey Cough Syrup Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Little Remedies

Liquid Category: Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Honey Cough Syrup is a dietary supplement by Little Remedies with 2 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for cough and sore throat, wound and burn care, soothing minor skin irritation.Based on those ingredients, 736 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Honey. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Honey Cough Syrup by Little Remedies

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This syrup contains one active ingredient: honey. Honey has been used traditionally to soothe coughs and sore throats.

The product also contains water and E-polylysine as inactive ingredients (preservative and processing aids).

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports this product's ingredients for its stated purpose, but it isn't conclusive.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: Soothes coughs day or night.
  • We looked for evidence on: Cough, Upper respiratory infection, Throat irritation, Minor cough.
  • The strongest evidence on file: Honey is rated "Possibly Effective" for Cough (Natural Medicines).

Honey is rated possibly effective for cough, cold sores, mouth sores from cancer treatment (oral mucositis), minor burns, and dry eye. The evidence suggests it may help, but it's not definitive.

For a cough specifically — which is what this syrup is formulated for — the data supports that it may provide some benefit, though you shouldn't expect it to work like a prescription cough medicine.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Honey

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Honey is generally well tolerated by adults and children older than 1 year of age when taken by mouth or applied to skin. When swallowed, some people report nausea, stomach pain, or vomiting.

When applied to the skin, you might notice burning, pain, or stinging. Allergic reactions to honey are possible — in rare cases, including severe ones like anaphylaxis — usually from the honey itself, pollen, or bee secretions.

One important note: honey from the Black Sea coast of Turkey can contain a toxin from rhododendrons that causes serious heart problems; make sure your source is reliable. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, honey as a food is considered likely safe, but talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using it as a medicine.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Honey

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Honey.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs.
  • For scale: 737 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

If you take phenytoin (Dilantin) for seizures, blood thinners like warfarin (Coumadin) or antiplatelet drugs like aspirin, or any medications broken down by your liver's CYP3A4 enzyme, clear this product with your doctor or pharmacist first. The interactions range from moderate to minor, but they're real enough to check.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence for its stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

This is a single-ingredient cough syrup that may help settle a cough or soothe a sore throat, though the evidence is modest. It's generally well tolerated by children over 1 year old and adults.

Before you start, check your medications with your doctor or pharmacist — honey can interact with blood thinners, anti-seizure drugs, and other medications, and the interactions vary depending on the honey source and formulation.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Nov 22, 2022.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Honey Cough Syrup, straight from the product label.

Brand Little Remedies
Barcode (UPC) 756184107379
Net contents 4 Fluid Ounce(s); 118 Milliliter(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Nov 22, 2022
DSLD ID 264416
Product type Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Children 4 or More Years of Age, Adult (18 - 50 Years), Children more than 1 but less than 4
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Honey Cough Syrup by Little Remedies , sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Teaspoon(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Teaspoon(s)
Servings per container
24
UPC/BARCODE
756184107379
IngredientAmount% DV
Calories18 Calorie(s)--
Sugar4.5 Gram(s)--
Carbohydrates4.5 Gram(s)2%
Honey5.5 Gram(s)--

Other ingredients: Water, Purified, E-Polylysine

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Formulation

For Coughs

100% Natural

Soothes coughs day or night Only 3 ingredients

Made in USA

Formula

Ages 12 mo+

Brand IP Statement(s)

Little Remedies Everything they need. Nothing they don't.

Copyright 2014

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

FDA Disclaimer Statement

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use To soothe cough and sore throat, give recommended serving size every 2-4 hours using the measuring cup provided. Children ages 1 to 4: 1 tsp Adults and children over age 4: 2 tsp

Precautions

Warnings Do not use: in children younger than 12 months because of the risk of botulism. As a doctor or pharmacist before using if you are not sure. If your child is allergic to honey or any of the ingredients in this product Ask a doctor before use if the child has: Cough that occurs with to much phlegm (mucus) Cough that lasts or is chronic such as occurs with asthma or chronic bronchitis High blood pressure or diabetes

Stop use and ask a doctor if cough persists for more than 7 days, tends to recur, or is accompanied by high fever, rash or persistent headaches. These could be signs of a serious condition.

Keep out of reach of children

Storage

Other information Store at 15 degrees - 25 degrees C (59 degrees - 77 degrees F)

General Statements

Questions? 1-800-754-8853 Mon.-Fri. 8 am to 8 pm EST LittleRemedies.com

See for yourself

Honey Cough Syrup by Little Remedies label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Honey Cough Syrup by Little Remedies

These are the 2 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Teaspoon(s) Dosage formLiquid Servings per container24 Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Carbohydrates

4.5 Gram(s) per serving

Other (inactive) ingredients: Water, Purified, E-Polylysine. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Honey Cough Syrup by Little Remedies Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Honey Cough Syrup?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
736Drugs
5 Moderate 731 Minor

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Honey 736

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Honey Cough Syrup with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Honey3 drug types · 736 drugs

Phenytoin (Dilantin)

Theoretically, honey might increase levels of phenytoin.
In an animal model, the rate and extent of absorption of phenytoin was increased by honey. This effect has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, honey may increase the risk of bleeding when used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
In vitro, honey inhibits platelet aggregation and increases the time to clotting. Furthermore, animal research suggests that feeding mice large doses of honey for 12 days increases bleeding time when compared with no intervention. However, these effects have not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Unlikely Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

Theoretically, honey might decrease levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4, but research is conflicting.
Some clinical research shows that honey induces CYP3A4. However, other clinical studies found no effect on CYP3A4 activity. Different honey preparations may have different effects on CYP3A4.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Honey Cough Syrup, from the product label.

Little Remedies

See all Little Remedies products
Name
Medtech Products Inc.
City
Tarrytown
State
NY
ZipCode
10591
Phone Number
1-800-754-8853
Web Address
LittleRemedies.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Honey Cough Syrup by Little Remedies : Common Questions

Does Honey Cough Syrup by Little Remedies interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Honey Cough Syrup has a known interaction with 736 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Honey Cough Syrup contains 2 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I give this to my baby?
Honey is safe for children over 1 year old. Infants under 1 year should not be given honey (even pasteurized) due to the risk of botulism, a serious bacterial infection. If your child is older than 1, this product is generally safe, though you may want to check with your pediatrician first.
Will honey really help my cough?
Honey is rated possibly effective for cough, meaning the evidence suggests it may help, but it's not a proven cure. Some people find it soothing, and it may reduce irritation in your throat. It won't work like a prescription cough suppressant or expectorant.
What are the most common side effects?
Nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting can occur when honey is swallowed. If you apply it to skin, you might feel burning, pain, or stinging. These effects are usually mild and uncommon.
Is it safe if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
Honey as a food is considered likely safe during pregnancy and when breastfeeding. If you plan to use it as a medicine (rather than just eating it), talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice.
Does the source of the honey matter?
Yes. Honey from the Black Sea coast of Turkey can contain a toxin from rhododendrons that causes serious heart problems. Make sure your honey comes from a reliable, standard source.
Can I use this if I'm allergic to bee products?
If you're allergic to bee pollen or other bee products, avoid this syrup. Honey can trigger allergic reactions in people with allergies to honey, pollen, or bee secretions. Check the product label and talk with your doctor first.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Honey Cough Syrup is safe with your meds?

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Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Honey Cough Syrup label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Honey Cough Syrup’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Honey Cough Syrup's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 40 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Honey 40 references
  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  2. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
  3. Bose B. Honey or sugar in treatment of infected wounds? Lancet 1982;1:963. PubMed
  4. Ozhan H, Akdemir R, Yazici M, et al. Cardiac emergencies caused by honey ingestion: a single centre experience. Emerg Med J 2004;21:742-4. PubMed
  5. Centers for Disease Control. Botulism in the Unites Sates, 1899-1996. Handbook for epidemiologists, clinicians, and laboratory workers, 1998. Available online: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/botulism.PDF.
  6. Simon A, Traynor K, Santos K, et al. Medical honey for wound care - still the 'latest resort'? Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2009;6:165-73. PubMed
  7. Gethin G, Cowman S. Case series of use of Manuka honey in leg ulceration. Int Wound J 2005;2:10-15. PubMed
  8. Ingle R, Levin J, Polinder K. Wound healing with honey - a randomised controlled trial. S Afr Med J 2006;96:831-5.
  9. Johnson DW, van Eps C, Mudge DW, et al. Randomized, controlled trial of topical exit-site application of honey (Medihoney) versus mupirocin for the prevention of catheter-associated infections in hemodialysis patients. J Am Soc Nephrol 2005;16:1456-62. PubMed
  10. Sukriti and Garg, S. K. Influence of honey on the pharmacokinetics of phenytoin in rabbits. Ind J Pharmacol 2002;34(147).
  11. Jung, A. and Ottosson, J. [Infantile botulism caused by honey]. Ugeskr Laeger 2001;163(2):169.
  12. Gunduz, A., Turedi, S., Uzun, H., and Topbas, M. Mad honey poisoning. Am J Emerg.Med 2006;24(5):595-598.
  13. van der Vorst, M. M., Jamal, W., Rotimi, V. O., and Moosa, A. Infant botulism due to consumption of contaminated commercially prepared honey. First report from the Arabian Gulf States. Med Princ.Pract. 2006;15(6):456-458. PubMed
  14. Tushar, T., Vinod, T., Rajan, S., Shashindran, C., and Adithan, C. Effect of honey on CYP3A4, CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 enzyme activity in healthy human volunteers. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2007;100(4):269-272. PubMed
  15. Nilforoushzadeh, M. A., Jaffary, F., Moradi, S., Derakhshan, R., and Haftbaradaran, E. Effect of topical honey application along with intralesional injection of glucantime in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. BMC Complement Altern Med 2007;7:13. PubMed
  16. Koca, I. and Koca, A. F. Poisoning by mad honey: a brief review. Food Chem Toxicol 2007;45(8):1315-1318. PubMed
  17. Akinci, S., Arslan, U., Karakurt, K., and Cengel, A. An unusual presentation of mad honey poisoning: acute myocardial infarction. Int J Cardiol 2008;129(2):e56-e58. PubMed
  18. Yildirim, N., Aydin, M., Cam, F., and Celik, O. Clinical presentation of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in the course of intoxication with mad honey. Am J Emerg Med 2008;26(1):108.e-2. PubMed
  19. Shrestha, P., Vaidya, R., and Sherpa, K. Mad honey poisoning: a rare case report of seven cases. Nepal Med Coll J 2009;11(3):212-213.
  20. Fetzner, L., Burhenne, J., Weiss, J., Völker, M., Unger, M., Mikus, G., and Haefeli, W. E. Daily honey consumption does not change CYP3A activity in humans. J Clin Pharmacol 2011;51(8):1223-1232. PubMed
  21. Thamboo, A., Thamboo, A., Philpott, C., Javer, A., and Clark, A. Single-blind study of manuka honey in allergic fungal rhinosinusitis. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2011;40(3):238-243.
  22. Ahmed, A., Khan, R. A., Azim, M. K., Saeed, S. A., Mesaik, M. A., Ahmed, S., and Imran, I. Effect of natural honey on human platelets and blood coagulation proteins. Pak.J Pharm Sci 2011;24(3):389-397.
  23. Yarlioglues, M., Akpek, M., Ardic, I., Elcik, D., Sahin, O., and Kaya, M. G. Mad-honey sexual activity and acute inferior myocardial infarctions in a married couple. Tex.Heart Inst.J 2011;38(5):577-580.
  24. Biberoglu, S., Biberoglu, K., and Komsuoglu, B. Mad honey. JAMA 4-1-1988;259(13):1943.
  25. Biberoglu, K., Biberoglu, S., and Komsuoglu, B. Transient Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome during honey intoxication. Isr.J.Med.Sci. 1988;24(4-5):253-254.
  26. Gössinger, H., Hruby, K., Pohl, A., Davogg, S., Sutterlütti, G., and Mathis, G. [Poisoning with andromedotoxin-containing honey]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 1983;108(41):1555-1558.
  27. Fenicia, L., Ferrini, A. M., Aureli, P., and Pocecco, M. A case of infant botulism associated with honey feeding in Italy. Eur J Epidemiol 1993;9(6):671-673. PubMed
  28. Sutlupinar, N., Mat, A., and Satganoglu, Y. Poisoning by toxic honey in Turkey. Arch.Toxicol. 1993;67(2):148-150. PubMed
  29. von Malottki, K. and Wiechmann, H. W. [Acute life-threatening bradycardia: food poisoning by Turkish wild honey]. Dtsch.Med.Wochenschr. 7-26-1996;121(30):936-938.
  30. Abdulla CO, Ayubi A, Zulfiquer F, Santhanam G, Ahmed MA, Deeb J. Infant botulism following honey ingestion. BMJ Case Rep. 2012 Sep 7;2012.
  31. Johnson DW, Badve SV, Pascoe EM, Beller E, Cass A, Clark C, de Zoysa J, Isbel NM, McTaggart S, Morrish AT, Playford EG, Scaria A, Snelling P, Vergara LA, Hawley CM; HONEYPOT Study Collaborative Group. Antibacterial honey for the prevention of peritoneal-d
  32. Matos D, Serrano P, Menezes Brandão F. A case of allergic contact dermatitis caused by propolis-enriched honey. Contact Dermatitis. 2015 Jan;72(1):59-60. PubMed
  33. Oduwole O, Meremikwu MM, Oyo-Ita A, Udoh EE. Honey for acute cough in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Dec 23;12:CD007094. PubMed
  34. Vezir E, Kaya A, Toyran M, Azkur D, Dibek Misirlioglu E, Kocabas CN. Anaphylaxis/angioedema caused by honey ingestion. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2014 Jan-Feb;35(1):71-4. PubMed
  35. Wang YT, Qi Y, Tang FY, et al. The effect of cupping therapy for low back pain: A meta-analysis based on existing randomized controlled trials. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2017;30(6):1187-1195. PubMed
  36. Oduwole O, Udoh EE, Oyo-Ita A, Meremikwu MM. Honey for acute cough in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;4:CD007094. PubMed
  37. Wong D, Albietz JM, Tran H, et al. Treatment of contact lens related dry eye with antibacterial honey. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2017;40(6):389-393. PubMed
  38. Martina SJ, Ramar LAP, Silaban MRI, Luthfi M, Govindan PAP. Antiplatelet Effectivity between Aspirin with Honey on Cardiovascular Disease Based on Bleeding Time Taken on Mice. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019 Oct 14;7(20):3416-3420. PubMed
  39. Jhawar N, Gonzalez-Estrada A. Honey-induced anaphylaxis in an adult. QJM 2022;115(5):325-326. PubMed
  40. Di Costanzo M, De Paulis N, Peveri S, Montagni M, Berni Canani R, Biasucci G. Anaphylaxis caused by artisanal honey in a child: a case report. J Med Case Rep 2021;15(1):235. PubMed

See these in context on the Honey monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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