What cough medications will help? What can you try if the child is sick, and what means will save the adult? There are many options: on the pharmacy shelves there is a large selection of drugs to improve the condition of the throat and bronchi, and special publications with folk recipes are filled with tips telling how to restore health in one evening. However, many old-fashioned people drink tea with honey and lemon. But what else will help besides this reliable and safe tool? Let's consider different options.
Pills: many options
On the pharmacy shelves, cough preparations in tablet form are presented in the following types:
- stopping the cough reflex;
- stimulating expectoration;
- antihistamines;
- mucolytics.
Each of the types has its own characteristics, advantages, indications and contraindications.
And if more?
Antitussives are substances that affect the brain center that activates the cough reflex. Some drugs in this class are narcotic. Mostly they are used by adults and only in a serious case. You can’t buy such medicines without a prescription. Sometimes they are prescribed in childhood, but only if other means are ineffective. There are non-narcotic antitussive medicines. They do not cause addiction, but are used only after the recommendation of a doctor.
Expectorants are cough medications that stimulate the cough reflex, which means sputum goes away faster, along with pathological microscopic life forms. On sale there are many tablets based on herbal ingredients - althea, thermopsis.
Mucolytics are medicines that can change the quality and consistency of sputum, making the secret less viscous. Coughing up such a substance is much easier.
Antihistamines as cough medications are prescribed if the cause of the disturbing manifestation is an allergic reaction.
Effectively and time-tested
What cough medications do children usually recommend for a sick child or adult? Perhaps the most famous is Kodelak. The drug belongs to the class of antitussive, lowers the activity of the center of the brain responsible for the cough reflex. At the same time, the active components affect the quality of sputum, so its discharge is simplified. “Codelac” can be used by children and adults, and the medicine contains natural substances - extracts obtained from licorice root, thermopsis. Such a tool can be used from the age of two.
Reliable is the drug "Libexin". This cough medicine is suitable for children and adults. It has a pronounced peripheral effect, that is, it reduces the sensitivity of receptors located in the respiratory system. Under the influence of active substances, bronchial lumens expand. For children, the dosage is selected based on the weight of the patient, age.
At the age of over twelve, the cough drug Terpincode is often used for children. Currently, he belongs to the number of perhaps the best-selling products. It contains codeine, terpinghydrate. The substance simultaneously inhibits the brain centers responsible for coughing and stimulates the effective discharge of sputum.
It has no narcotic effect and effectively affects the brain centers responsible for cough, the Tusuprex drug. It can be used in therapy for children from the age of two years. Application must be agreed with the doctor - a powerful tool.
With a central cough, Omnitus will help. This effective cough medicine can be used from the age of six. It affects the bronchi, expanding the lumens, and also arrests inflammatory processes (the effect is rated as moderate).
“Stoptussin” is popular. These pills can reduce the activity of the initiating cough of the brain. Under the influence of the active components of the gland of the respiratory system, mucus is more actively produced. You can use tablets from the age of twelve.
Moist cough
With a productive process, mucolytics, medications that facilitate sputum discharge come to the rescue. Among the most famous is Mukaltin. The tool is based on an extract obtained from the rhizome of the marshmallow. To enhance efficiency, the manufacturer used sodium bicarbonate. An effective cough medicine stimulates the passage of the mucous secretion of the respiratory system, relieves inflammatory processes, envelops the mucous membranes of the respiratory system. You can use the medicine from the age of three. For babies, the tablets are first crushed, then mixed with water.
The list of drugs for wet cough necessarily includes "Thermopsol." The medication is made on sodium bicarbonate, an extract obtained from the herb of Thermopsis. Under the influence of such components, sputum is more actively generated in the bronchial system, the productivity of the cough process increases. For young children, the doctor should choose the dose, focusing on age and weight, especially the case.
From 12 years old, the drug for the treatment of cough "Ambroxol" is allowed. This is a pronounced mucolytic. No less reliable and popular composition from the same class is Bromhexine. It can be used from the age of three. Has an expectorant effect. To some extent, Lazolvan and Flavamed, based on the same active component, are similar to Ambroxol. It is also used by the manufacturer Ambrobene. In the form of tablets, these drugs are allowed from 12 years.
One of the best cough medicines is Ascoril. It is prescribed for adults and children over the age of six. The tool belongs to the class of combined, at the same time it is a mucolytic, stimulates liquefaction and sputum discharge, expands bronchial lumens, significantly facilitating the patient's condition.
Of the inexpensive cough medicines, Pectusin is worth mentioning. These pills are able to stimulate sputum discharge, stop inflammatory processes in the respiratory system, inhibit the activity of the brain areas responsible for coughing. The manufacturer used menthol, a natural eucalyptus oil in the manufacture of the product. You can use the tool from the age of seven. For one package of tablets in pharmacies ask no more than 50 rubles.
Important Nuances
In order for the medicines to show the most pronounced effect, you need to drink a lot, maintain high humidity in the room. This has a positive effect on sputum, contributes to its softening and discharge. The combination of antitussive drugs for dry cough with mucolytics, expectorants is strictly prohibited. Such a combination can provoke a sharp deterioration in the condition, unpredictable complications, since it inhibits the work of the respiratory system.
Taking measures to get rid of cough at home, it is necessary to adequately assess their capabilities. If the selected strategies did not show a pronounced result on the third day of treatment, you need to make an appointment with the doctor, otherwise the condition will worsen, which means that the treatment will be more difficult the longer the patient delays a visit to the doctor. If a barking cough is disturbing at night, breathing difficulties are observed, fever rises, and inclusions of pus and blood are visible in the waste substance, an urgent need to be examined in a hospital setting.
Not single tablets
For adults, for children, drugs for dry cough and wet come in three forms:
- tablets already described;
- syrups;
- drops.
The safest are syrups. They are convenient to use, which is especially important in childhood. The medicine tastes good, so even a baby can easily persuade him to be treated. Almost all drugs for coughing up to a year are syrups, but for children older than a year, they are also suitable for adults.
Cough tablets are available in different tastes. Some are coated with a neutral shell, while others are sweetish or sour.
A good alternative to syrup is a cough drop. The main advantage is the possibility of using inhalation formulations. Most pharmaceutical products are made on herbal ingredients.
Nature to the aid of the patient
Dry cough preparations for children and adults on herbal ingredients are special collections presented in any modern pharmacy. They are encoded with numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4 - all fit a different type of cough, differ in components. Instructions, manufacturer's recommendations can be seen on the packaging. In compiling these fees, the manufacturer was guided by information about the expectorant effects of pine, anise and ledum, sage and marshmallow, ivy and plantain. Actively used in the pharmaceutical industry are licorice, oregano and thyme. Special fees include thermopsis, thyme, coltsfoot prepared during the season. One of the main features of such fees is their maximum safety. True, you need to carefully study their list, especially if the patient is allergic to any product used by pharmacists.
But antitussive drugs for dry cough are often used combined. However, there are some for the case of a productive cough. In their composition there are not only plant substances, but also synthetic compounds. Of the natural products I most often use anise, thermopsis, thyme. Chemicals that alleviate the condition of a person suffering from a cough are potassium bromide, sodium bicarbonate, ammonium chloride.
Cold ointment
In this form, preparations for dry cough are rarely used. The composition of the medications has antiseptic substances, as well as providing a warming, irritating effect. Perhaps the most famous medication in this group is Doctor IOM. Balsam et Tayss also has a good reputation. Use them should be when the cough is just beginning to bother.
Ointments are not intended for children under two years of age. Both of these preparations contain eucalyptus and camphor, and manufacturers also used additional components. In Doctor MOM ointment, this is turpentine, thymol, menthol, and in the second ointment, coniferous essential oil. Such drugs stimulate sputum discharge and effectively stop the foci of inflammation.
The drugs are applied with gentle massage movements between the shoulder blades, covered with the foot. The person, the area of ​​the heart smear is strictly prohibited. In the form of an ointment, dry cough preparations are not used, if the heat is bothering, the integrity of the skin is broken. The manufacturer recommends using the product before going to bed, then wrapping the patient in warm nightwear.
For children under one year of age, Pulmex Baby ointment can be used for coughing. The manufacturer indicates that the product is safe for babies older than 6 months. The active ingredients are extracts obtained from various plants growing in the tropics. Use such a preparation once a day, gently applying massage movements to the skin on the back, chest.
Lollipops and cakes
Cough medicines suitable for both children and adults are lozenges. They make breathing easier, relieve cough, eliminate perspiration, and ease pain. Lollipops are made using essential oils and extracts of mint, eucalyptus, anise. Strepsils and Septolete are on sale in a wide variety. A good reputation is the means of "Falimint". You can use lollipops from the age of five. Between meals, you must withstand three-hour breaks or more. In addition to lollipops, there are pastilles on sale - they can be treated from the age of two. Produce different options: ginger, licorice, menthol.
Antitussive cakes are suitable cough medicines for children and adults, which are therapeutic compresses. Medicinal mixtures are applied to the back, chest. Some people try to make cakes on their own at home, using mustard mixed with alcohol and vinegar. Doctors categorically do not recommend this option - there is a high probability of getting a burn, poisoning, but there will be no benefit. Honey cakes are much more effective. Ready-made mixtures for their application can be bought at the pharmacy, or you can cook yourself. For example, gauze is impregnated with a mixture of honey and salt and applied to the chest, covered with a film on top and fixed with a warm shawl. It is necessary to hold the compress for several hours.
Alternative: honey is mixed with flour and vegetable oil. All products are taken in equal amounts. Use similarly to the composition described above.
Potions and Sprays
The list of drugs for dry cough in adults and children necessarily includes potions, including dry ones. As a rule, these are combined formulations that simultaneously stimulate sputum discharge and relieve inflammatory processes. Potions make the sputum produced in the respiratory system thinner, so that it is excreted faster. Pharmacy medicines are mainly created on the rhizomes of the marshmallow - a safe and effective component. You can buy a powder that is already bred at home immediately before use. The tool is allowed from the age of two. The main advantages of the drug:
- no side effects;
- not used preservatives, dyes;
- allergic reactions are rare;
- low cost.
No less popular preparations for dry cough in adults and children are aerosols. In childhood, they are allowed if the baby has learned to control breathing. Adults can be used at any age, including advanced. It should be remembered: spraying directly into the throat can provoke a spasm. Cough aerosols (the main percentage of the drugs presented in pharmacies) are recommended for use by people over the age of three.
Sprays are more often used if the upper parts of the respiratory system are inflamed, the cough is dry, anguished, and the throat is irritated. Aerosol components moisturize the mucous membranes, eliminate swelling, relieve pain, and inhibit inflammation. With pneumonia, bronchitis aerosols are not used. The most popular remedies presented in the pharmacy are called “Lugol” and “Tantum Verde”. Well-known medicines are “Faringosept”, “Chlorophyllipt”, “Alvogen”. The choice of a specific option is best entrusted to the doctor. Sometimes the doctor advises staying at the Ingalipt and Shunam.
Cough Drinks
Effective and safe preparations for dry cough in adults and children are herbal teas. You can cook them using pharmacy fees, or you can dry berries, herbs and flowers in season, useful for the throat and bronchi. You can drink regular tea by adding medicinal products to the tea leaves. It is customary to read teas with the inclusion of:
- sage;
- violet petals;
- licorice rhizomes;
- plantain;
- linden inflorescences;
- fennel;
- buds of pine.
Of the berries, when coughing, the most useful are elderberry, raspberry, and strawberry.
Herbal products, although considered safe, should be used reasonably. An overdose can cause an allergic reaction or other complications.
The subtleties of treatment
Medications containing thermopsis can cause vomiting.
Syrups try not to choose if diabetes or fructose intolerance is detected. In the absence of a safer alternative, such medications are used only when it is possible to monitor the patient's condition.
If the chosen remedy provokes an allergy, hypersensitivity reaction, its reception must be urgently stopped.
If the drug contains alkaloids, they can first stimulate the respiratory act, but then the effect turns into the opposite. This is especially pronounced if drugs with cytisine are used.
Before using the remedy, you need to study the instructions, especially carefully reading the graph containing contraindications. Most of the cough suppressants are prohibited in ulcerative processes in the digestive tract, liver and kidney failure. To prevent the negative effects of treatment, you need to analyze information from the manufacturer.
When using mucolytics, there is a risk not only of an allergic reaction, but also of bronchial spasm. To a greater extent, such dangers are associated with the use of compounds not according to the rules, in excess dose.
Folk remedies to help the patient
Alternative medicine specialists may advise inhalation when coughing. This option is suitable for both children and adult patients. The effect is most pronounced in the first three days of the disease, with a dry cough. For inhalation, decoctions of the following herbs are used:
- pharmacy chamomile;
- watch;
- marshmallow (rhizomes);
- plantain.
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Infusions irritate the gastric mucosa, which activates the cough center in the chest. Although the recipes are effective, they have a drawback: excessive stimulation can cause vomiting (often it occurs even with prolonged and severe coughing - this is due to the human anatomy). To alleviate the condition of the patient, during the disease you need to eat fractionally and in small portions. Even if a gag reflex occurs, it will be easier to transfer. It is important to drink a lot, especially if vomiting - this can cause dehydration.
Wet cough: folk secrets
With this form, it is recommended to use infusions, decoctions that can thin the sputum, as well as stimulating its excretion from the body. The most important rule is to drink plenty, often abundantly. For effective cleaning of the bronchi, herbal decoctions should be used, the components of which dry the tissues and knit. Useful are:
- lingonberry leaf;
- succession;
- mint leaves;
- rhizomes of licorice, marshmallow;
- eucalyptus;
- Ledum.
Drinks are also medicines!
Useful for coughing warmed milk sweetened with honey. This drink is perhaps the oldest recipe for fighting cough. Take a tablespoon of sweets in a glass of liquid, use the medicine up to five times daily until the cough passes. At a particularly tender age (2-3 years), honey is used, carefully monitoring the condition of the child - this product can provoke severe allergies.
It is recommended to water the patient with dried fruit compote, jelly, which significantly alleviates pain in the throat. Cooking jelly is better on lingonberries and cranberries. Cherry, raspberry drink will be useful. Fresh juices will also benefit - they are tasty, rich in vitamins, support the body's natural abilities to recover and resist pathological bacteria.