To the Core of the Cough Drop

Halls-Plus, a new over-the-counter cough tablet from Warner-Lambert Co., has syrup in the center to help soothe sore throats.

The active ingredient in the tablet is menthol, says a company spokesman, and the syrupy center contains sugar and corn syrup.

Worth a try?

Beverly Hills pharmacist Max Stollman says the syrupy center is a gimmick to sell the product and makes it no better than other lozenges.

Instead, he recommends drinking warm tea, taking a cough syrup and humidifying dry air--which can aggravate coughs--in the home, says Stollman, past president of the California Pharmacists Assn.