Cough is an unpleasant companion of many diseases of the bronchopulmonary system. He catches up at the most unexpected moment, and getting rid of it is extremely difficult. And so that the annoying cough passes as quickly as possible, experts advise using medications that help dilute and eliminate sputum.
On the shelves of modern pharmacies there are not so many truly tested, effective cough medicines, and Mukaltin is considered one of these. This medicine can be given to children without any concern, since it contains mostly natural ingredients.
General information
"Mukaltin" is deservedly considered one of the most effective cough suppressants. This excellently proven medicine has been used for more than a dozen years. The main ingredients of the medicine are obtained from a healing plant - marshmallow. This herb grows in Eurasia and has long been used in many recipes of traditional medicine. Its root and flowers are rich in substances that have an expectorant, anti-inflammatory and enveloping effect on the human body.
Structure
Marshmallow has long been used not only in the treatment of cough, but also in the treatment of gastritis, ulcers, colitis, diseases of the bladder and kidneys. To obtain medicinal substances, the root of the plant is extracted, containing a lot of useful trace elements:
- asparagine;
- starch;
- plant mucus;
- pectins;
- betaine.
Pharmacokinetics
These ingredients, and primarily polysaccharides, have a complex therapeutic effect on the mucous membrane of the bronchi, including:
- activate ciliated epithelium;
- reduce the density of sputum;
- prevent irritation of nerve fibers against the background of exposure to various components;
- have an expectorant, enveloping, anti-inflammatory, softening effect;
- improve peristalsis of bronchioles;
- make secret secreted by the lungs more liquid;
- accelerate the elimination of sputum;
- accelerate the restoration of damaged tissues.
Timely removal of sputum makes it possible to prevent the appearance of secondary pathologies in the lower parts of the respiratory system, since it contains an excellent environment for the propagation of pathogenic bacteria.
The formation of a film on the mucous membrane of the organ also contributes to the prolonged effect of other medicines. Including remedies based on marshmallow can be combined with other mucolytic and expectorant drugs.
Features
Among other things, the composition of the drug also includes auxiliary substances that significantly alleviate the condition of a patient suffering from cough. As additional components are used: sodium bicarbonate, which has secretolytic and antitussive properties, and tartaric acid, which also has an expectorant effect.
For children, "Mukaltin" is indicated for both dry and wet cough. The drug is produced in the form of tablets of 50 mg. In the package they can be from 10 to 30 pieces. Each tablet has a sour taste and a specific aroma. Color can vary from light gray to brownish. The heterogeneity of the tablet and the presence of inclusions are acceptable. The shelf life of the drug can reach two years.
Release form
Mukaltin is produced in the form of tablets with a hard shell and soluble in water. The dosage of the main active ingredient always remains unchanged - 50 mg of marshmallow root extract.
Mukaltin is produced in Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan by several different companies. Packages of the drug contain a different number of tablets. In addition, different manufacturers have their own, special composition, however, the drug always contains the extract of the medicinal marshmallow.
Price and reviews about "Mukaltin"
For children, instructions for use suggest using the medication in the first days of a cough. In this case, the tool will be truly effective and will act as quickly as possible.
The average cost of the drug ranges from 100 rubles. As many note, this tool is quite suitable for families with different levels of income. However, it is advisable to consult a doctor to determine the appropriate dosage and method of use.
Reviews of the properties of the drug indicate its high efficiency and safety. Although, as the parents say, you should not expect an instant result from taking the drug - the first result will be noticeable after some time, when the useful substances of the medication accumulate in the children's body. An undoubted plus is the fact that children take pills if not with pleasure, then at least without scandals and tantrums - the taste of the drug is peculiar, sour, but not nasty.
In addition, the tool is absolutely safe and well tolerated by small patients. Many parents, according to reviews, were satisfied with the drug.
As for medicines with similar properties, in a similar category are: "Herbion", "Bronhosan", "Doctor Mom", "Pertussin".
The properties
For children, "Mukaltin" is indicated for a variety of respiratory diseases accompanied by cough. The medication is rich in polysaccharides extracted from the medicinal marshmallow, which have an expectorant effect and help alleviate the condition of babies with bronchial pathologies.
Due to the intense reflex stimulation of nerve endings located on the mucous membranes, the drug significantly increases the activity of the ciliary layers of the epithelium and peristalsis of the middle sections of the lungs. In addition, at the time of a coughing attack, increased secretion of the pulmonary glands and active sputum production are carried out.
Due to the presence of plant extracts and sodium bicarbonate in the composition of the medication, the capsules bring an enveloping effect on the mucous membrane of the child’s organ, which helps the epithelium recover faster. This property is especially pronounced with dry cough. In this case, the amount of sputum in a baby is minimal, and the drug has an anti-inflammatory, antitussive, analgesic effect.
Indications for use
As you know, cough is a reflex phenomenon, which is designed to eliminate foreign substances from the lower parts of the respiratory system. Despite the benefits this process has in itself in inflammatory pathologies of the lungs, patients, especially small ones, cause a lot of troubles and discomfort. Especially if the cough is unproductive, in other words, is not accompanied by the cleaning of the bronchi from excess impurities.
According to reviews, "Mukaltin" for children is good in that it can be used with both dry and wet type of cough, during which elimination of sputum from the lungs is observed. As for the first variant of pathology, in this case the drug will help make the phenomenon productive. And with a wet cough, Mukaltin will make the attacks milder. You can use the medication in case of a chronic disease, and with exacerbations of the syndrome.
Children "Mukaltin" is advisable to give for diseases that are accompanied by severe cough:
- emphysema;
- bronchial asthma;
- laryngitis;
- tuberculosis;
- pneumonia;
- tracheitis;
- bronchiectatic pathology;
- bronchitis;
- tracheobronchitis.
Efficiency
However, parents should take into account the fact that the drug does not eliminate the causes of the disease, such as a bacterial infection, but only alleviates the symptoms that appear in this case.
Accessible instructions and reviews about Mukaltin for children make many parents pay attention to this particular tool, despite the huge assortment of modern medicines presented on the shelves of pharmacies. In addition, many are attracted by the availability of drugs and ease of use. This drug is deservedly considered one of the best remedies that fight with an obsessive cough. In addition, the medicine has many fans due to its natural herbal composition.
How to give children "Mukaltin"
The duration of the therapeutic course depends on how long the patient suffers from the disease. Doses of "Mukaltin" from coughing for children are determined by the doctor, starting from the severity of the course and signs of the disease. Adult patients are recommended to take 50-100 mg of the drug several times during the day. The usual duration of use of "Mukaltin" is 1-2 weeks. Sometimes the course of treatment can reach several months.
Due to its natural composition, the dosage of "Mukaltin" for children under three years of age can be half a tablet three times a day. Babies aged 3-12 should be given a whole tablet 3 times a day. As for children over 12 years of age, they can be prescribed the usual (as for adults) dosage of Mukaltin.
For children, the composition (reviews fully confirm this fact) of the drug will not cause harm, and the tablets will be useful for both dry and wet coughs.
Now about the intake regimen. The full instructions for "Mukaltin" indicate that tablets should be consumed about half an hour or an hour before a meal. The drug should be kept in the mouth until completely resorbed.
For convenience, you can also dissolve the daily dosage of the drug in half a liter of water. Drink the prepared liquid throughout the day. If you need to give a pill to a small child, it is best to dissolve it in a third of a glass of compote, juice or plain water. It is advisable to give preference to a sweet liquid, since the drug has a specific taste.
Contraindications and side effects
In general, this drug is famous for its excellent tolerance by both adults and children. It is neither addictive nor local irritation. The occurrence of all kinds of allergic manifestations like skin itching, rashes, urticaria and other unpleasant phenomena when taking "Mukaltin" is extremely rare.
In some cases, when using antitussive tablets, side effects such as nausea, fever, migraine, heartburn are observed.
With certain pathologies, the medication is contraindicated. Patients suffering from:
- duodenal or stomach ulcers;
- gastritis;
- thromboplephitis;
- gastroduodenitis;
- diabetes mellitus;
- phenylketonuria.
As for the last two diseases, the use of "Mukaltin" is not recommended if these pathologies are present in the family history of a small patient.
Preparations in the form of tablets, as a rule, are not prescribed for babies up to a year, and the remedy we are considering is no exception. For children under two years old, "Mukaltin" is recommended only when absolutely necessary.