With a phenomenon such as coughing, we encounter more than once in our lives. Any cold and viral disease often occur with this unpleasant symptom. Therefore, it is very important to always have at hand effective means to alleviate the condition. Moreover, choosing one drug that will help in any situation will not work. Depending on the symptoms, each time you have to choose new treatment regimens, combine pharmacy drugs with folk remedies. Today we want to conduct a general review of the most effective drugs and methods for treating cough.
What is a cough?
First of all, this is a protective reaction of the body. Despite some nuisance, it is very important. Thus, the body tries to get rid of harmful microorganisms and mucus. Therefore, your task is not to suppress a cough, but to help the body bring this work to the end. Based on the fact that there are many varieties of this symptom and ways to treat it, today we will only talk about expectorants for wet coughs.
How to get rid of him faster
Actually, you should not rush things. A wet cough is productive; it is not as unpleasant and painful as dry. Therefore, expectorants with a wet cough are not aimed at suppressing, but at stimulating the purification of the lungs and bronchi. However, in addition to taking special medications, you can take a number of measures to recover more quickly.
- Stop smoking, including second-hand smoke.
- Ventilate the room more often.
- Be sure to use a humidifier. It can be special devices or just wet towels on the heating system.
- Be sure to drink as much warm liquid as possible.
- Massage can also stimulate sputum discharge. To do this, ask loved ones to lightly tap on your back.
What drugs should be discarded
Often with this symptom, we don’t go to the hospital, but go directly to the pharmacy to choose expectorants for a wet cough. The choice today is very large, and in most cases, pharmacists do not ask about the appointments of the attending physician. However, there are drugs that definitely won’t benefit you.
First of all, these are actually antitussive drugs. They are effective if the cough is dry, barking. The drug suppresses it, thereby relieving discomfort. In your case, taking such drugs can lead to the accumulation of sputum and the development of pneumonia. An example of such tools can serve as "Codeine", "Atussin", "Stoptussin."
Mucolytics are not the best choice. They thin the sputum and have a slight anti-inflammatory effect. However, their use is justified only if the sputum does not go away on its own, that is, it is too thick. An example is the well-known drugs “Bromhexine”, “Ambrobene”, “ACC”, “Lazolvan”.
The problem of expectorant drugs
Let’s understand now what they are for. Expectorants for wet coughs are used to reduce the viscosity of sputum and facilitate its discharge. Many of them contain herbal decoctions and infusions (coltsfoot, anise and fennel, licorice and marshmallow root). All these components are necessary in order to ensure the regeneration of the damaged bronchial mucosa.
It is forbidden to take them together with drugs that inhibit the cough reflex. You only torture the body, at the same time causing a response and blocking it. In addition, during treatment it is extremely undesirable to take diuretics and laxatives that dehydrate the body.
There is one more thing to keep in mind. It is not recommended to prescribe these medicines for bedridden patients, since the mucus outflow increases. This indicates a high treatment efficiency. Let’s now consider what kind of drugs are on the market and what doctors say about them.
We classify drugs
In fact, there is no clear border between them, but, nevertheless, among pharmacists it is customary to divide all expectorant drugs into four large groups.
1. Annoying . The basis is medicinal plants. Most often these expectorants are used for wet coughs in adults and children. Active ingredients act on mucosal receptors. Due to this, reflex stimulation of the bronchi occurs. Such remedies include broth of the marshmallow root, essential oils.
This also includes those drugs that directly affect the bronchial receptors. The result is stimulation of sputum production. These are potassium iodide and ammonium chloride.
2. Preparations with sulfhydryl forms . They are used for purulent infections to speed up recovery processes. Thanks to such active substances as acetylcysteine, carbocysteine, sputum and pus are effectively liquefied.
3. Derivatives of vasicin . These are the most effective expectorants for wet coughs for children. But they can also be used to treat adults. Initially, vasicin alkaloid was obtained from the leaves of plants, today, scientists were able to synthesize the artificial drug Bromhexine, which, when decomposed, turns into ambroxol. This active substance helps to thin the sputum and increases the activity of the epithelium.
4. Combined drugs .
Pediatric Drugs
Expectorants for wet coughs (for children the best option is syrups) are used very often. Despite the fact that doctors are quite optimistic about his treatment, this does not mean that you can leave him unattended. First of all, show the baby to the pediatrician, as self-medication can be quite dangerous.
The most difficult moment is that in children sputum is very thick and viscous. That is why in pediatrics expectorants are given special attention. There are two large groups of drugs: herbal and synthetic. Today, most parents for their baby will choose a tool based on natural ingredients. However, this is not always correct. By giving such expectorants for wet coughs to children, you run the risk of causing severe allergies.
In fact, modern synthetic drugs are more effective and safer, so do not try to choose those medicines on which herbs and roots are painted.
Potions for young children
The most difficult thing is to treat babies in their first year of life. We need a very competent pediatrician who will select the safest expectorant for wet coughs. Effective potions are usually taken by children willingly, as they taste good. Many are familiar with the drug “ACC” - a modern cough medicine that does a very good job.
However, such a dosage form for some reason is not popular with manufacturers, therefore, there are much more syrups and tablets on the market. Pediatricians most often recommend giving children either “ACC” or a medicine based on the root of the medicinal marshmallow, which is sold in jars, bottles or disposable bags. It is called: "The mixture is dry from cough." Its merits are undeniable. Inexpensive, completely safe and very effective, it allows you to quickly remove unpleasant symptoms.
In addition, quite often pediatricians prescribe Fluimucil powder, which has a mucolytic and anti-inflammatory effect.
Syrups are the fastest help
Preparations in liquid form are absorbed into the blood as quickly as possible, which means that they begin to act faster than their solid counterparts. Are these really optimal expectorants for wet coughs? Syrups have their pros and cons, but they are ideal for taking before bedtime. Let's briefly review the most popular drugs from this group.
- Fluditec is a very effective carbocysteine-based drug. Parents often take the syrup lightly, despite the fact that this is a serious drug. A children's form with a dosage of 2% can even be used to treat a newborn.
- Ambroxol is the most powerful mucolytic drug based on Ambroxol hydrochloride, which exists today. There is a children's form, which is recommended for children up to a year. "Ambroxol" is the most affordable means, its analogues like "Lazolvan" are much more expensive.
- If your child does not suffer from allergic reactions, then you can use herbal expectorants with a wet cough. Medicinal syrups based on medicinal herbs are effective and gentle at the same time. Pediatricians recommend paying attention to Prospan, an agent based on ivy leaves. It is prescribed to children from one year. Another popular drug is Herbion. In its composition is the herb of primrose and thyme. The syrup has not only an expectorant, but also an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect.
Syrups for adults
Expectorants for wet coughs in adults are much easier to choose, since you can consider drugs that have alcohol in their composition. First of all, it is necessary to mention the famous "Pertussin". It is most affordable and gives a good result. The drug is based on thyme or thyme herb . In addition, there is a medicine option with licorice root.
Pertussin stimulates the secretion of mucus and liquefies sputum. Its potassium bromide has a calming effect. However, during pregnancy, lactation and under the age of 3 years, the use of the drug is prohibited.
Other forms of medication for adults
Most often, expectorants for wet cough in tablets are prescribed for this particular category of patients. Pills are absorbed a little longer, but are often even more effective than syrups. One of the most effective and inexpensive options is Bromhexine. The tablets are taken orally without chewing with food.
"Thermopsol" is appointed from 12 years. The drug contains plant alkaloids, which stimulate the respiratory center, and sodium bicarbonate, thinning sputum.
For both children and adults, the Mukaltin preparation based on marshmallow and sodium bicarbonate is excellent. It can be dissolved in water or absorbed until completely dissolved.
Separately, there is the drug "GeloMirtol." These are enteric capsules that can be taken immediately before meals and washed down with water. The drug myrtle dilutes sputum, has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.
Preparations for expectant mothers
Expectorants for wet cough for pregnant women should be selected only by the attending physician. Do not forget that you are responsible not only for yourself, but also for your future baby. Cough tablets are selected taking into account the minimum risk to the fetus. Basically, experts prescribe herbal preparations, of course, if the mother does not have an allergic reaction to the active components.
Most often, doctors recommend women in the "Faringosept" position. The active substance - ambazon - is used to treat diseases caused by streptococci, staphylococci. This is a fairly safe antibacterial agent. In addition, in the list of drugs allowed during pregnancy, there are the following medicines:
- The Falimint.
- Laripront.
- Stoptussin.
- Bronchipret.
But the most common cough suppressant for expectant mothers remains the time-tested Mukaltin.
Folk remedies
We have listed far from all expectorants. With a wet cough, you can take different drugs. The tools listed above, even if they are highly effective and affordable, are far from the only ones. For example, do not forget about the experience of folk healers. Surely many of you will immediately remember the old recipes that were passed on to us from our grandmothers.
- Black radish is a unique tool that will help you quickly alleviate the condition and at the same time have no side effects. Preparing a medicinal syrup is very easy: the middle is taken out of the radish, honey is spread inside the recess. After a few hours, the collected juice can be used for therapeutic purposes.
- Onions are another vegetable that can quickly deal with the symptoms of a cold. To do this, just chop the onion, add a spoonful of sugar or honey. The gathering juice is drunk one spoon three times a day.
- Warm milk is the first treatment for colds and flu. Honey or baking soda is added to it, as a result, a healthy drink turns into a powerful means for sputum discharge.
- Honey is a source of vitamins and antioxidants, has a mucolytic and calming effect. It can be dissolved in warm tea or milk, or you can use water.
These are the safest expectorants for wet coughs. Folk remedies also include currant and raspberry jam, a decoction of chamomile and calendula, linden flowers. Official medicine fully confirms their effectiveness, but doctors warn that herbs must also be used under the supervision of a doctor. Only a competent specialist can assess the state of your health and tell you in time when you need to stop treatment with folk remedies and switch to more serious methods of therapy, and when you can do the opposite. In some cases, if the disease is not started, herbs and decoctions can be quite enough. Therefore, consult a doctor on time.