Which of us is not familiar with such a problem as a cough? By itself, it is not that very dangerous, although, of course, there is little pleasant in the eternal sore throat and the so-called lump standing in it. But the fact is that, firstly, a cough is often a concomitant symptom of a disease, and secondly, even starting just as an innocent cough, it can develop into something more. For example, in bronchitis - and it is already more difficult to treat it. In order to make life easier for potential patients, there are many medicines, among which expectorants are in great demand. What they are, what are the features and price category of each - described below.
What does it mean - expectorants
Cough is wet and dry. If the cough is wet, it means that in our respiratory tract, lungs, bronchi - in general, in the respiratory organs - sputum has accumulated, in which all kinds of bacteria have found their habitat. And the longer the sputum is in our body, the more chances microbes have to spread qualitatively through it. In order to remove mucus, it mustcough up - those very pieces of yellowish mucus that come out with a wet cough, this is sputum. And to cope with it, special drugs called expectorants help. They will be discussed further.
Why expectorant drugs are needed
Means prescribed for coughing are divided into three types - antitussives, they are aimed at stopping the cough itself, mucolytics, which help thin sputum, and expectorants, with whose help sputum is removed from the respiratory system. As mentioned above, the cough is dry and wet. With a dry, really dry cough, there is usually nothing to expectorate, therefore, as a rule, only antitussive medicines are prescribed. However, if the cough resembles something between dry and wet (that is, it is permissible to call it wet), and, accordingly, it is required to thin the accumulated sputum and facilitate its withdrawal, expectorants will become an indispensable assistant, since this is exactly what they have - thinning and expectoration. They thin the thick mucus that interferes with normal breathing and promotes coughing and prevents it from attaching to the walls of the airways.
Besides a wet cough, similar expectorant and sputum-thinning drugs are prescribed for bronchitis, pneumonia, acute viral infections, and the like. By the way, you should think about this: it absolutely makes sense to take medication only if the sputum is firmly stuck in the body and does not want to part with it. This mucus is calleddifficult to separate, and it is she, in combination with a wet cough, that is a direct indication for taking thinning and expectorant drugs. In the same case, if the accumulated mucus is coughed up easily, it becomes not advisable for everyone to drink medicines.
Important to know
Antitussives should never be mixed with expectorants and mucolytics, so if one is prescribed, one should not drink the second at the same time. The exceptions are drugs that are a combination of all three of these effects, but this is a completely different case and, as they say, a different story.
If a person has the flu or a cold with a dry cough, neither mucolytics nor expectorants are shown to him, which, however, has also been mentioned above. By the way, as a rule, they first drink mucolytics so that the sputum becomes less viscous, and only then they switch to expectorant medications. And if such medicines are prescribed, then it is very important and simply necessary to consume liquids as often as possible - tea, fruit drink, compote, juice, of course, ordinary water.
What are expectorant drugs
Despite the fact that all the drugs that will be discussed further are expectorants, the principle of their action is largely different. So, funds aimed at liquefying sputum do, surprisingly, just that. And medicines, whose goal is to activate the work of the bronchi, increase peristalsis in them. There are expectorants that dilate the bronchi, eliminating spasms that interfere with breathing andsputum output. Spasms in the bronchi are common in babies - this is indicated by their wheezing.
In addition, effective expectorants are peripheral. This means that they stimulate receptors in the respiratory tract, thinning sputum and promoting its release. With bronchitis, expectorant drugs can irritate the stomach, increase its peristalsis (but do not cause vomiting and nausea). These are herbal medicines based on coltsfoot, thyme, psyllium and so on. Medicines can irritate not only the stomach, but also the bronchi, thereby increasing secretion and producing sputum. These are mainly drugs such as potassium iodide or ammonium chloride. By the way, do not be surprised if the word "secretolytic" is written on the packaging of the expectorant drug. This is one of the names of these medicines.
We drink and don't get sick
What are the best expectorant drugs to buy? Which are the fastest and which are the longest? What expectorant drugs are inexpensive, but effective? We will try to give a detailed answer to these and other questions below.
The first thing to talk about is herbal medicines. These drugs are quite well tolerated, they are completely harmless and safe. The best reviews regularly receive ivy-based medicines. They can rightfully be classified as the best expectorant drugs. They have not only expectorant, but also mucolytic, as well asantispasmodic effect. Many of these drugs are allowed even for babies and their mothers during lactation, in addition, even pregnant women are not forbidden to take them. An interesting feature of these medicines is that they are inherently universal - they are prescribed for any kind of cough, whether it be dry or wet. Therefore, these medicines can be considered both antitussive and expectorant drugs. These include such means as "Prospan", "Gerbion" and "Gedelix". Each will be discussed in more detail below.
In the meantime, back to other inexpensive but effective expectorants. These are psyllium-based remedies that, like their "ivy" counterparts, affect any kind of cough. Most of them are also allowed during breastfeeding and pregnancy. Medicines with thyme are successfully used for both types of cough, they have all the available methods of action, and in addition, they have an antimicrobial effect. Not all of them are allowed for pregnant and lactating women, but, for example, these categories of citizens can take Bronchicum lozenges. It is impossible not to mention such an interesting medicine as Bronchipret, which combines ivy and thyme and is an effective expectorant drug. Those who care about a small price can pay close attention to marshmallow syrup and the medicine "Muk altin" based on it. These drugs are fairly inexpensive expectorants.drugs.
There are many more medicines that have an expectorant effect and are indicated for wet and / or dry coughs. "Pektusin", "Stoptussin", breast elixir, "Amtersol", breast fees and a million others. As promised above, some of these tools will be described in detail below, because it is impossible to tell about all of them in one article.
Prospan
In the list of expectorants, the first is "Prospan" - a herbal medicine based on ivy. It is an indispensable tool in the treatment of bronchitis, bronchial asthma, severe cough with sputum that is difficult to separate. The medicine is produced in the form of a syrup in bottles of different sizes. A bottle of one hundred milliliters will cost approximately three hundred rubles.
"Prospan" is allowed for both children and adults. The latter can take it three times a day, five to seven milliliters, the first two and a half milliliters three times a day (if the age is from one year to six years), and five milliliters the same number of times a day, if the age ranges from span of six to ten years. Children over ten drink "Prospan" in the same volume as adults; for babies under one year old, the drug is contraindicated.
It is not recommended to take the medicine for more than seven days. Overdoses are rare, in their cases nausea, vomiting, diarrhea are noted. Among the side effects of the drug are allergic reactions, a laxative effect. Its use is not recommendedpeople with individual intolerance to the components and fructose, as for pregnant and lactating women, the decision to drink or not drink the drug should be made only after consulting with your doctor.
"Gerbion" (ivy)
Good expectorants - preparations "Gerbion" based on ivy or plantain. Both of them are prescribed for bronchitis, tracheitis and other diseases accompanied by a strong cough with sputum. "Gerbion" based on ivy is available in the form of a sugar-free syrup, indicated for use by adults and children from the age of two. During treatment with this remedy, it is advisable to drink a lot of warm tea or warm water (the usual course is seven days).
Children from two to five years old can take "Gerbion" based on ivy, half a spoonful twice a day, from six to twelve - the same number of times, but already a whole spoonful. The dose for children over twelve and adults is from one to one and a half tablespoons. However, it should be remembered that Gerbion has side effects: allergic reactions, nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea. Also, taking the drug is not recommended for those who suffer from intolerance to fructose and / or components of "Gerbion", pregnant and lactating mothers.
Gedelix
Gedelix syrup is also produced in bottles of one hundred milliliters, which is prohibited for use in case of allergy to the components of the drug and metabolic disorders in the urea cycle, as well as duringpregnancy and lactation. The treatment cycle should not exceed a few days (except in exceptional cases, discussed with a specialist). It is also strongly recommended not to give "Gedelix" to babies under four years of age without first consulting a doctor. If the doctor has allowed the syrup to be used, then the dose for crumbs up to a year should not be higher than half a spoon once a day, and for children from one to four years old - no more than the same amount three times a day. A child up to ten years old can drink "Gedelix" four times a day in the same volume, starting from ten years old, a single dose is one spoonful three times a day. This medicine is best taken with plenty of plain water.
Side effects that may occur with this drug: Allergy, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. An overdose does not carry any danger if the dose is exceeded by a couple of spoons, but if you take a larger amount, you should definitely see a specialist. For those who suffer from ulcers or gastritis, it is better to refrain from taking the medication.
"Gerbion" (plantain)
From its fellow "Gerbion" based on ivy "Gerbion" with plantain compares favorably with a milder effect on the mucous membrane. It envelops the lungs, bronchi, larynx, helping inflammation disappear, and sputum successfully come out. "Gerbion" on plantain refers to expectorants for dry coughs, but it is often prescribed for wet coughs. Apart fromplantain, the composition of the drug includes water mallow and vitamin C, which makes it possible to use it as a prophylactic. All those who have reached the age of two can be treated with "Gerbion".
As a rule, the duration of taking the drug does not exceed five to seven days, during which crumbs from two to seven years old should be given one spoonful of medicine three times a day; children from seven to fourteen - two spoons the same number of times, and everyone over fourteen - three to five spoons at a time three times a day. Contraindications to the use of "Gerbion" with plantain are intolerance to the components, intestinal diseases, ulcers, diabetes mellitus, fructose intolerance, sucrose deficiency, lactation and pregnancy. A syrup in a bottle of one hundred and fifty milliliters costs around two hundred and fifty rubles.
"Bronchicum" (lozenges)
The price of "Bronhikum" lozenges varies from one hundred and eighty to more than two hundred rubles. It is prescribed for bronchitis, cough with phlegm, colds, flu, any respiratory tract infections, laryngitis. With the help of the essential oil contained in the extract of thyme, "Bronhikum" in lozenges minimizes swelling and inflammation of the mucous membrane, and also provokes a rapid sputum discharge and suppresses coughing. Thus, we can say that lozenges have all three available effects on the body.
"Bronchicum" in lozenges isan agent approved for use by any category of patients, with the exception of those who suffer from hypersensitivity to the components of the drug. It is recommended to dissolve one or two lozenges at a time throughout the day to achieve the desired effect.
Bronchipret
What other expectorants are there? Of course, "Bronchipret" - as mentioned earlier, this is a tool that combines extracts of ivy and thyme. There are as many as three forms of this medication - drops, tablets and syrup, which is very convenient - everyone can choose the option that he prefers. There is an insignificant difference between all three types of Bronchipret. So, drops have more mucolytic than expectorant effect, in addition, they have an antibacterial and antifungal effect. Drops are indicated for use from the age of six four times a day half an hour after meals in the following volume: forty drops for adults, twenty-eight for children from twelve to eighteen, twenty-five for children from six to twelve.
As part of the Bronchipret tablets, in addition to thyme, there is also an extract of primrose. The first has an anti-inflammatory effect, the second has an expectorant effect. It is believed that it is as an expectorant that this form of Bronchipret is best suited. Tablets are allowed to drink only from the age of twelve. Unlike drops, they are taken before meals (also half an hour) three times a day, one little thing, they need to be washed down with a small amount of water. Well,finally, syrup "Bronchipret" - its main feature is that it is, by and large, one of the expectorant drugs for children. Unlike drops containing ivy leaf tincture, the extract of this plant is present in the syrup. This form of medicine is more pleasant and tastes better, and therefore it is just right for children. Assign it, as a rule, to infants from the age of three months and up to six years, although, of course, those who are older (even adults) can also drink syrup. The medication should be taken after meals, be sure to drink it with water. If the remedy is indicated for a baby up to a year old with a weight of less than ten kilograms, ten to sixteen drops should be given to the baby three times a day. After reaching the age of one year, the volume of the medicine is calculated according to the weight of the child, while the doctor must determine the exact number of drops.
"Bronchipret" in any form should not be taken by pregnant women, nursing mothers, suffering from diseases of the liver, brain (including epileptics), babies under three months old, people with individual intolerance to the components of the drug. As for the cost of the medicine, it varies somewhat: syrup costs from one hundred and twenty to two hundred and seventy rubles, tablets - in the region of one hundred and sixty for twenty pieces, drops - about one hundred and ninety - two hundred and fifty rubles.
Muk altin
This inexpensive expectorant drug is based on the medicinal herb marshmallow, which has not only an expectorant, but also an anti-inflammatoryaction. Thanks to this property, marshmallow treats not only cough, but also ulcers, gastritis and many other diseases. As for the cough, you can drink "Muk altin" both with wet and dry forms. Laryngitis, tuberculosis, bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma - the medication is indicated for all these diseases that cause coughing. There are many expectorant drugs, but Muk altin compares favorably with all, firstly, by its low cost (up to fifty rubles), secondly, by the fact that patients do not get used to it, and thirdly, by its excellent tolerance. Incredibly rare are the side effects on the drug - allergies or reactions from the gastrointestinal tract. "Muk altin" can be drunk for pregnant women, but not for crumbs up to a year.
They are treated with "Muk altin" for no more than two weeks. Adults should take one to two tablets at least three times daily (preferably four). Children under three years old can drink half a tablet of medicine three times a day, from three to twelve - a whole tablet the same number of times a day. Muk altin dissolves in the mouth approximately one hour before meals.
Lazolvan
"Lazolvan" is based on ambroxol, which is famous for its expectorant, secretolytic, antimicrobial action. The medicine in the form of tablets, lozenges, baby syrup, inhalation solution and oral solution is an excellent remedy for pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, laryngitis, cystic fibrosis, chronic rhinitis, etc.next.
Syrup "Lazolvan" is shown to kids from two to six years old, half a teaspoon three times a day, from six to twelve - a teaspoon two to three times a day, from twelve and older - two teaspoons three times a day day. The tablet form of the drug is allowed to be used exclusively by adults - after meals three times a day, one tablet. The solution for internal use is allowed from the age of two. Its dosages are as follows: three times a day for everyone, regardless of age, in volume - for children two to six years old, twenty-five drops, over six - fifty drops, adults - one hundred drops. Inhalations of "Lazolvan" can be done by adults once a day, one or two inhalations of two or three milliliters, for children under six years old - the same way, but two milliliters each. For children over six years old, the dosage is the same as for adults.
Among the side effects of "Lazolvan" are allergic manifestations, heartburn, vomiting, nausea. Do not take the drug with intolerance to the components, as well as at an early stage of pregnancy (in the first trimester).
Among the huge variety of medicines, it is very easy to get lost. However, let's hope that, having a little understanding of the list of expectorant drugs on the Russian market, everyone will be able to find what they need.
