In the treatment of bronchopulmonary diseases accompanied by a cough with poorly separated sputum, expectorant preparations often called secretolytics are often prescribed. One of such means is "Mukaltin", the indications for use of which are pathologies in the lungs and bronchi of varying severity. The drug is completely of herbal origin and is approved for use by pregnant women and children.
Description of the drug
To understand what “Mukaltin” is, why it is prescribed and in what cases, you should first familiarize yourself with its composition.
The active substance of the drug is a concentrated extract of the herb Althea officinalis. The plant improves tissue regeneration, reduces inflammation, and has expectorant properties. Relieves inflammation of the tonsils, folds of the mucous membrane of the back of the palate, trachea.
Mukaltin is a mixture of polysaccharides from the herb of a medicinal plant. The drug activates the reflexes of the ciliated epithelium and peristalsis of the final branches of the bronchial tree. As a result of this, secretion by the bronchial glands increases.
"Mukaltin" is available in brownish-gray tablets with a specific odor. One tablet contains 50 mg of active pharmaceutical substance. Additional substances:
- Sodium bicarbonate - 87 mg. Performs the function of a neutralizer of burns of the mucous membrane.
- Tartaric acid - 160 mg.
- Calcium Stearate - 3 mg. Using this substance, the drug is shaped into tablets.
Some manufacturers produce the drug in the form of a substance or extract of plant materials.
What does Mukaltin help from?
The drug belongs to bronchosecretolytics. These drugs affect the rheological properties of sputum, on which its exposure depends. It must be understood that Mukaltin does not eliminate the cause of the cough and does not eliminate it, but will facilitate its course.
They take the drug only for cough caused by pathologies of the lower respiratory tract. If the cough is caused by diseases of the nose, oropharynx and other parts of the upper respiratory tract, then the use of secretolytic will not be effective.
Indications for use of "Mukaltin":
- Bronchitis complicated by obstruction (acute and chronic form).
- Inflammation of the lung tissue of infectious genesis.
- Inflammation of the lower airways (tracheobronchitis).
- Bronchial asthma.
- Pathology of lung tissue, in which, as a result of destruction of the alveoli and alveolar walls, its airiness increases (pulmonary emphysema).
- Deformation of the bronchi, accompanied by suppuration of the bronchial tree.
- Pneumoconiosis.
- Prevention of complications after intratracheal anesthesia.
What cough should I use the medicine for?
The main purpose of the drug is to relieve coughing attacks. The drug refers to drugs, so you need to know exactly how to use it.
Before you learn how to drink "Mukaltin" when coughing, you should understand at what reflex act it is used. The main pharmacological action of the drug is an expectorant. In the normal state, the glands of the trachea and large bronchi produce secretions in the form of mucus. It has bactericidal properties, contributes to the death of inhaled particles. Normally, tracheobronchial secretions produce no more than 100 ml per day.
With pathology, sputum volume increases sharply up to 1.5 liters per day. The bronchi cannot cope with such an amount on their own, and mucus with processed products of cellular detritus begins to accumulate, exacerbating the pathology. A cough appears with the remnants of sputum, i.e. wet.
The pharmacology of Mukaltin is to improve sputum discharge by changing its adhesive properties, facilitating the advancement of the pathological secretion of the bronchi from the lower respiratory tract to the upper.
In what cases "Mukaltin" is contraindicated
The drug consists almost entirely of natural ingredients. And there are not several, but one. The main contraindication to the use of the drug is individual sensitivity to the herb of the medicinal marshmallow.
It is also highly not recommended to drink a secretolytic for a pathology characterized by peptic ulcer of the duodenum.
Another contraindication is children's age up to a year.
Can I drink "Mukaltin" during pregnancy and during breastfeeding?
There are no contraindications regarding the use of the drug during the period of bearing the child. The only thing in the first trimester is to use it with extreme caution. A gynecologist should prescribe it. Based on how the pregnancy proceeds, the doctor will evaluate the advisability of using an expectorant.
The gynecologist also paints the scheme, but it usually is no different from the dosages for adult patients. Pregnant women drink 1-2 tablets 2-3 times a day at equal time periods. The duration of therapy depends on its effectiveness and is also determined by the doctor. But in any case, the course should not exceed 14 days.
In the instructions, the method and dosage of administration are prescribed, but nothing is indicated when to take Mukaltin before or after meals. On the medicinal properties of the drug, food intake is not reflected. The tablets are acidic, so as not to disturb the pH of the stomach, they are recommended to drink before meals.
There are no exact recommendations for taking secretolytic during lactation. The marshmallow is secreted with milk, and how such nutrition will affect a small child is not known in advance. The vast majority of doctors advise to abandon natural feeding for the duration of therapy.
The use of the drug in childhood
Most often, children suffer from respiratory diseases. Due to a weak immune system, pathologies are almost always accompanied by coughing. Parents are interested in how old Mukaltin children can be.
You need to remember well that the drug is taken only as directed by the doctor. The appropriateness of its use for the child is also determined by him. If the baby has a severe cough that makes breathing difficult at 2 years old, the doctor, under strict supervision, may prescribe a secretolytic.
In children, the cough reflex is poorly developed. Even a small accumulation of sputum causes difficulty breathing. The tool will contribute to the discharge of pathological secretions from the lower respiratory tract. The drug in addition to expectorant action and has anti-inflammatory. Its use will help speed up the healing process. It is necessary to give tablets to the child in strict accordance with the instructions of the pediatrician. Changing the schedule or dosage without first consulting a doctor can harm the baby's health.
The use of "Mukaltin" in babies up to 3 years
According to the instructions, the drug can be taken only after the child is 3 years old. In extremely rare cases, the medicine can be prescribed at an earlier age.
The main negative effect of the drug on the children's body is adverse reactions in the form of an allergy. The doctor evaluates the likelihood of negative consequences and therapeutic efficacy of the drug for each small patient individually. The pediatrician determines how many days to drink "Mukaltin." It is strictly forbidden to give the product to children on their own.
It is difficult for young children to cope with some actions that adults do involuntarily. Kids cannot dissolve or drink Mukaltin whole. Before use, it must be dissolved in a spoon with warm water. The drug should be taken exactly according to the scheme prescribed by the doctor, any changes can be made only after his consultation.
How to take "Mukaltin"?
The method of administration of the drug is oral. The dosage is determined by the doctor, but usually does not differ much from that recommended by the manufacturer.
- For children under three years, a single dose is half a tablet. It is dissolved in water and divided into two doses.
- 3-12 years - single doses, 1-2 tablets.
- Adults, as well as children from the age of twelve, are prescribed 1-2 tablets 2-3 times a day. With a strong cough, the doctor can increase the number of doses to six.
The duration of the course is determined by the doctor, but on average is 1-2 weeks.
Regarding how to take Mukaltin, before or after meals, doctors advise drinking tablets before meals, about half an hour.
special instructions
A herbal preparation, the negative reactions caused by it are rare. And if they arise, they are weakly expressed in the form of itching or urticaria. In rare cases, there is a feeling of discomfort in the abdomen, weak heartburn. In case of any adverse reactions, you should stop taking the drug and consult a doctor.
Based on the indications for use, "Mukaltin" is prescribed for various pathologies of the respiratory tract, including infectious genesis. Therefore, it can be drunk in combination with other medicines. The exceptions are drugs containing codeine:
- Kodelak.
- Unispaz.
- "But-rods."
- Codelmix.
- "Cofex" and other antitussive drugs that make sputum discharge difficult.
Analogues of the drug
Indications for use of Mukaltin are bronchopulmonary diseases accompanied by cough. If it is not possible to use this secretolytic, it can be replaced by analogues:
- "Alteyka".
- Atemix.
- Gedelix.
- "Rubital Forte."
- "Pectolvan."
- Eucabal.
Reviews
The tool is inexpensive, but effective. Doctors often include it in complex therapy for pathologies of the respiratory tract.
Those who drank “Mukaltin” according to the instructions for use often write in reviews that they do not understand why it is necessary for the doctor to prescribe the drug. After all, it is of plant origin and rarely causes adverse reactions. And some were generally unaware that he was being prescribed, since they had known about him for a long time as an effective, affordable and cheap over-the-counter drug.
Many reviews from mothers whose children are constantly suffering from respiratory diseases accompanied by cough. Younger children like the process of taking pills. After you throw Mukaltin into the water, it begins to hiss, which causes a storm of joyful emotions. The tablets taste good, so the course is drunk completely.
Mukaltin is a proven, inexpensive and effective cough suppressant. But despite the fact that the drug is of plant origin, it must be used as directed by a doctor. Only in this case, the tool will help get rid of painful symptoms without side effects.