"Ascoril" refers to drugs that make sputum liquid, the drug relaxes smooth muscles in the area of the bronchial tree and provides an expectorant effect. Can children be treated with Ascoril syrup? How often should the drug be given to babies, and how long should such treatment last? We will talk about all this below.
Release format
Ascoril is produced in the form of syrup, which is packaged in containers of 100 or 200 milliliters. The medicine is an orange transparent liquid that tastes good and has a specific aroma. A solid form of the drug, which is a tablet, is also released. One package contains ten, twenty or fifty pills.
Reviews about Ascoril syrup for children are available in large numbers.
The composition of the drug
There are three active ingredients in syrup:
- The substance is salbutamol, which is presented in a 2-milligram dosage per 10 milliliters of the drug. The detailed composition of the Ascoril syrup for children is indicated in the annotation.
- Component Bromhexine. In 10 milliliters of the drug, this element is present in the form of hydrochloride and is in an amount of 4 milligrams.
- Substance guaifenesin. This component in 10 milliliters of the drug is contained in an amount of 100 milligrams.
Among the auxiliary components of Ascoril cough syrup, menthol is the most valuable. In addition, compounds in the form of citric acid, glycerol, sucrose, yellow dye, flavors of pineapple and currant, sodium benzoate, sorbic acid, purified water, sorbitol and propylene glycol are added to the syrup.
Many people wonder at what age Ascoril syrup for children can be taken.
Principle of exposure
The effect of the drug on the human body is explained by the therapeutic effect of its components:
- Salbutamol relaxes the smooth muscles that are located in the bronchial walls. Thanks to this effect, the medicine stops the spasms of the bronchial tree and prevents their occurrence. Among the effects of Ascoril, it is also worth mentioning the improvement of bronchial patency along with the expansion of blood vessels. This component has a positive effect on lung capacity.
- The main effect of bromhexine is the mucolytic effect. This ingredient effectively helps with coughing and makes sputum not so thick, increasing its volume. In addition, this compound activates the epithelium in the bronchi. As a result, the mucus quickly leaves the bronchial tree, that is, it becomes easier for a person to expectorate.
- Guaifenesin also reduces the viscosity of sputum and increases its amount. This component activates the areas of the bronchi that are responsible for the withdrawal of mucus.
- Menthol, added to the syrup, relaxes the bronchi, soothing the cough. This component in the bronchial tree activates the secretion of glands, providing an antiseptic effect.
Indications for Ascoril syrup
The reason for prescribing this syrup to children is often a bronchial disease, in which difficulties arise in the body with the separation of sputum. This drug is prescribed to children in the following cases:
- If the child has tracheobronchitis.
- Against the background of any type of bronchitis.
- In the presence of asthma or laryngotracheitis.
- With the development of pneumonia caused by one or another pathogen.
- With the development of obstructive pulmonary disease.
- In the presence of whooping cough, when a child develops a strong spasmodic cough, worse at night.
- In the presence of emphysema.
- Against the background of tuberculosis infection.
- In the presence of cystic fibrosis.
Can I use the medicine for babies up to a year? Syrup for children "Ascoril" has certain age restrictions, they are described below.
At what age are children allowed to be treated with the drug?
In pediatrics, Ascoril is used in syrup format to treat children who are already one year old. At six months and generally under the age of one year, this medicine is not prescribed for babies. But even if the child is older, for example, when he is three years old, the use of this syrup should be very careful.
In that case, if you give Ascoril syrup for children with a wet cough, then the excess sputum formed in the airways will only worsen the general condition of the baby. If there is a dry cough, when the mucus is too thick and viscous, the drug will be a good help, making the cough productive. Thus, syrup can be given only to children older than a year and provided that they have a dry cough.
Contraindications
As with any other medication, Ascoril Syrup for Children has many different contraindications. We will find out in which cases the presented drug is not suitable for babies for treatment. So, this medicine is not prescribed for children in the following cases:
- If the child has an increased sensitivity to the ingredients of the drug.
- In the event that the thyroid function in the child is impaired.
- If the child has a stomach bleeding.
- If the baby has diabetes in the stage of decompensation.
- In the event that the child's kidney function is severely impaired or there is liver failure.
Against remission of peptic ulcer disease or in the presence of compensated diabetes mellitus, Ascoril syrup for children is used with caution.
Side effects
The following side effects are possible:
- Allergies to Ascoril are possible in the form of a rash or itching.
- The urine of a child taking Ascoril may turn pink, which should not cause any feelings.
- The nervous system of children can respond to drug use by sleep disturbances, headaches, drowsiness, tremors of the body or limbs. Excitability and even convulsions are also possible.
- Treatment with this syrup can cause diarrhea along with nausea, bloating and other symptoms of dyspepsia.
- Under the influence of Ascoril, biochemical analysis, as a rule, is unreliable.
- The drug can cause a decrease in blood pressure in children.
- In extremely rare cases, in children using this medicine, bronchospasm and severe pallor are observed along with dry wheezing in the lungs. This is a paradoxical reaction to the drug, which is due to individual intolerance.
Instructions for use for children
When treating a child with Ascoril cough syrup, the following instructions must be followed:
- Syrup is drunk after a meal in about sixty minutes. The medicine is given to the child three times. Wash the product with water. You can not use milk and mineral water for this, since these products reduce the therapeutic effect of the drug.
- The dosage of Ascoril syrup for a child who is younger than six years old, as a rule, is 5 milliliters at a time. For babies aged six to twelve, they give syrup 5 or 10 milliliters at a time. Children from twelve years of age and older are offered an adult dosage, which is 10 milliliters of syrup at a time.
How many days to drink Ascoril syrup? The medication is used for one week. If during this time he did not affect the course of the disease, then it should be canceled and he will again consult a doctor. Long-term treatment with this drug is not provided, undesirable complications may develop.
Syrup overdose
In the event that giving the child such a syrup at a dosage higher than recommended or treating with this drug for longer than prescribed by the doctor, this will certainly lead to an overdose, which will manifest itself as an increase in adverse reactions of the drug. It is better to stick to the amount indicated in the instructions.
Interaction with other medicines
When using Ascoril, along with such drugs as Berodual, Anaprilin, Ventolin, Propranolol or Clenbuterol, their therapeutic effect will increase, but adverse reactions will manifest themselves even more. The appointment of Ascoril in combination with glucocorticoid or diuretic drugs will provoke a decrease in the level of potassium in the blood.
The presented drug should not be combined with antidepressants. The simultaneous use of Ascoril and antitussive drugs prevents sputum production, and, in addition, worsens the condition of the child. With the simultaneous use of "Macropen" or "Cefazolin" and a number of other antibiotics, you can cause a greater penetration of these antimicrobials into the lung tissue.
Terms of sale and storage
The cost of a standard syrup in Russian pharmacies is three hundred rubles. As for bottles with a volume of 200 milliliters, they will cost about four hundred rubles. Just before you go to the pharmacy, you need to get a prescription from a doctor at Ascoril.
The storage location of Ascoril should be a well-ventilated, dry and remote from sunlight. This medication should not be kept where a small child can easily reach it. The air temperature in the selected room should not exceed twenty-five degrees. Ascoril syrup has a shelf life of two years.
Now we turn to the reviews of parents and pediatricians and find out what they write about the use of the medicine “Ascoril” for the treatment of children.
Reviews about Ascoril syrup for children
On the use of this drug in the treatment of dry cough in babies, most mothers leave many positive reviews. According to them, the presented tool can very effectively dilute sputum in children, and, in addition, helps to quickly remove it from the bronchi.
The fact that this medicine helps children quickly enough is also confirmed by the opinions of pediatricians. Many doctors note that the weekly course of treatment with Ascoril is often quite enough to completely rid the child of coughing.
The disadvantages of syrup, parents include frequent side effects. For example, many mothers and fathers note the occurrence of headaches in children, rapid heart rate, weakness and nausea. Also, parents do not like the fact that Ascoril syrup contains chemical additives. Some children, parents say, do not like the taste of this drug because it is bittersweet.
But, nevertheless, it is worth noting that the Ascoril medicine is today a very popular and often prescribed medication for treating children, which is associated with its effectiveness.
Next, we will go on to consider analogues of Ascoril syrup for children and find out what medicines can replace it today if it is not suitable for treatment for any reason.
Analogs
In the event that Ascoril was prescribed to the child, and it is not possible to give this medicine for any reason, the question naturally arises of what can replace this drug with. A similar effect is observed in the following drugs:
- The drug "Kashnol." This syrup acts as a complete analogue of Ascoril in composition, and, in addition, in the content of active components. It is a red liquid with raspberry flavor, which is sold in bottles of 100 and 200 milliliters. Indications for use and dosage for this medicine are exactly the same as for Ascoril syrup.
- The medicine "Erespal" is a medication based on which there is an antihistamine compound called fenspiride. This compound helps eliminate bronchospasm and reduces inflammation. It is prescribed for laryngitis, flu, whooping cough, sinusitis and other pathologies. This analogue also has the form of a syrup. It is prescribed for babies from the age of two. It is worth noting that it is allowed to take Erespal with Ascoril at the same time, because these drugs act on different receptors.
- The drug "Lazolvan" is an expectorant containing ambroxol (Ambrobene has the same active ingredient). It is produced in syrup format with various concentrations of the active component, in addition, this analogue is also produced in the form of a solution for inhalation, as well as in tablets. For babies, Ambroxol-based drugs are prescribed from birth, but under the mandatory supervision of a doctor in the first year of life. What other analogues of Ascoril syrup for children are there?
- The tool "ACC" is a popular mucolytic containing acetylcysteine. This medicine is effective against excessively viscous sputum. This product is available in various dosages, there is also a choice of production forms (sachets of powder for suspensions, effervescent tablets and syrup). This analogue is prescribed from two years.
- The drug "Fluditec" is a very effective analogue. Its basis is carbocysteine. This drug is very in demand in the presence of otitis media, sinusitis, tracheitis and other diseases in children. For babies, the drug is available in the form of a syrup with a reduced dosage of the active component (1 milliliter of the drug contains 20 milligrams of the active substance). This analogue is prescribed from the age of two, and a dosage form with a higher dosage is allowed from the age of fifteen.
- The drug "Gedelix" is a syrup that has an expectorant effect. It is prescribed for children from two years of age and older. This medicine has a plant base, which is represented by ivy extract.
- The medicine "Tussin." The active ingredient in this syrup is guaifenesin. The tool is allowed to give to children over the age of two years.
I must say that all of these drugs have a therapeutic effect similar to the Ascoril baby syrup. But the question of the replacement should still be decided with the pediatrician, since each of these medicines differs in composition, list of contraindications and other features. In addition, depending on the form of the disease, a small patient will need other drugs, for example, antipyretic drugs at elevated temperatures.