Cough drops, sometimes called throat lozenges, help to soothe the throat and curb the reflex that makes you cough. Cough drops typically contain ingredients that act as a temporary cough suppressant, such as menthol or eucalyptus oil. Pin On Natural Diy And menthol, the minty compound that acts as a local anesthetic as well as a pain reliever. How does cough drops work . Basically, they trick your brain into thinking that it doesn’t need to cough, but the icky stuff in your lungs that’s causing the cough remains the same. Cough drops and a quick tidbit on how they work. The 'menthol' compounds are basically local anesthetic agents which can temporarily 'numb' the nerves in the throat that are irritated by the cold symptoms and provide some relief. The basic science behind a cough drop is that when you suck on one the lozenge starts to dissolve, and as the cough drop dissolves, medicine is released that can suppress a cough. There is no need to refrigerat...