Cough is a cleansing function of the respiratory tract from foreign components at the reflex level. Being a protective mechanism, it removes excess from the respiratory tract, clears it of mechanical obstacles and restores patency over the entire surface of the mucosa.
Effect of cough on the way of treatment
The choice of treatments and pills for cough depends on the causes of its occurrence. There are several ways of coughing:
- appears due to infections;
- inflammatory reactions;
- under the influence of some allergen;
- due to mechanical stimuli;
- reaction to chemical and thermal stimuli;
- cough that is not related to the respiratory system and has a different nature of occurrence.
Causes of cough
Coughing is a normal reaction to irritants that helps the respiratory system cope on its own. The concern should be a prolonged cough that is uncomfortable and can lead to a range of complications.
Conducting an examination of the body in a medical institution will help determine the cause and, together with the doctor, selecteffective cough pills.
Types of drugs used
Drugs manufactured by the pharmaceutical industry today can be divided into 6 subspecies:
- Drugs that inhibit the reflex function of the body at the level of the central nervous system and are called means of central action.
- Peripheral drugs that give an inhibitory signal directly to smooth muscles.
- Combined antitussives.
- Mucolitics that act to thin the secretion and push it out of the body.
- Mucoregulators that act to increase fluid in sputum in order to increase its volume to normalize viscosity.
- Expectorant cough tablets.
Principles of treatment
Based on the causes of the disease and the symptoms that appear, cough is wet and dry. Manifestations of dry cough are eliminated by antitussive drugs. The use of mucolytic cough tablets according to the instructions in cases of wet cough is a priority. After liquefaction of sputum, its excretion is carried out with the help of expectorants.
Central antitussives
"Sinekod" - butamirate is used at the heart of the action. The drug is available in the form of drops for children from 2 months to 3 years, syrup - up to 6 years and dragees for other ages.
The dragee contains 20 mg of active ingredient, 5 ml of syrup - 7.5 mg,5 ml drops - 25 mg. The remedy suppresses in the brain and turns off the cough reflex. The therapeutic effect of the use of "Sinekod", as from most of the used cough tablets of central action, comes down to facilitating breathing with additional saturation of the organs with oxygen. The drug is used for dry cough, provoked by whooping cough, tracheitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis and pleurisy. Also, the drug is used to suppress the reflex during surgical and diagnostic procedures. In order to avoid re-infection and lack of effect, the use of the drug simultaneously with mucolytic or expectorant agents is unacceptable. Contraindications are the use in newborns and in the 1st trimester of pregnancy. Perhaps the development of allergic reactions, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness.
"Intussin" has the same basic substance - butamirate. According to the instructions, cough tablets affect a dry cough of any origin. The release forms are identical to Sinekod and have the same recommendations for use. A distinctive feature is the complete absorption and the achievement of the maximum concentration within 90 minutes. Side effects such as nausea and vomiting are sometimes observed.
Peripheral antitussives
"Libexin" - an anesthetic with a pronounced bronchodilatory effect with a blocking of the cough reflex. It is produced in the form of tablets with the main substance - prenoxdiazine hydrochloride. It is used for pleurisy and pleuropneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, flu and colds. In accordance with the instructions for use,cough tablets "Libexin" are used 1 piece at a dosage of 100 mg 3-4 times a day. In childhood, the daily amount of the active substance is about 200 mg. The main contraindication to admission is abundant sputum. Cough tablets may cause nausea, numbness or dry mouth, stomach pain, and constipation.
Levopront is a well-known bronchodilator drug that suppresses the intensity and reduces the frequency of coughing. It is used for infectious, inflammatory and allergic problems. Available in the form of syrups with a concentration of levodropropizine in the amount of 60 mg per 10 ml. It has an additional device in the form of a measuring cup with divisions. Adults use 10 ml of syrup several times a day with an interval of 6 hours, for children, 1 mg of medication per kilogram of weight is calculated. The suspension is not used during pregnancy and in children under 2 years of age.
Combined antitussives
Codelac - the most famous cough tablets with thermopsis and licorice root.
The content of codeine gives reason to classify the drug as a narcotic drug. Due to the combination of herbal and chemical components, the drug has a combined effect, expressed in antitussive, expectorant and analgesic effects with additional sputum thinning and an increase in the activity of secretions in the bronchi. When applied, there are malfunctions in the digestive and nervous systems. It is unacceptable to treat cough tablets with thermopsis for children under 2 years old, pregnant women, when managing complex mechanisms, including vehicles. In addition to tablets, they produce drops, elixir and syrup with different dosages. Given the variety of types of Codelac, the selection of funds must be entrusted to a specialist. Only the doctor will select the correct dose and recommend the form of the drug acceptable to the patient.
"Stoptussin" is also a combined drug both in content and in the form of impact on the disease. A feature of the drug is a different composition, which depends on the age of the patient. The syrup for children contains only natural ingredients, and cough tablets and drops contain guaifenesin and butamirate dihydrocitrate. Active substances act on sputum and relieve bronchospasm. For the children's form of the drug, the use of syrup from a year is allowed. Cough tablets may cause dizziness, nausea and associated loss of appetite, drowsiness, abdominal and chest pain.
Direct-acting mucolytics
"Fluimucil" has a bright mucolytic effect. The tool is available in 3 versions:
- in the form of effervescent products - the most effective cough tablets for adults with 600 mg of acetylcysteine;
- in the form of granules for children from 2 years old with a dose of the substance 200 mg per pack;
- in a solution used for inhalation and injection, with a dosage of 100 mg per 1 ml of liquid.
Used to facilitate the removal of sputum evenwith purulent discharge, has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. Sometimes used for washing or processing during surgical interventions. It is not desirable to take the drug for diseases of the stomach, asthma, phenylketonuria. According to the instructions for use, cough tablets are drunk 1 time per day, dissolved in 50 ml of water, granules are taken 2-3 times a day, depending on the patient's age and doctor's prescriptions.
"ACC" has a similar composition with "Fluimucil", namely, the active substance is acetylcysteine. The remedy differs in a variety of forms of release with various dosages from 100 to 600 mg, including syrup for children, which is not available in the line of the previous drug. Both drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation. What cough pills to choose if you need to use a mucolytic? This is best advised only by the attending physician. Most likely, the appointment will depend on the required dosage, since even the price of the drugs is almost the same, with the exception of the effervescent version of the cough tablets. Reviews reflecting the effectiveness of the treatment with drugs in this group are directly related to the amount of fluid the patient drinks. Drinking plenty of water in combination with the drug immediately brings recovery closer.
Mucoregulators as means of indirect action
"Ambroxol" - highly effective cough tablets. Instructions for use describe the action of the active substance ambroxol hydrochloride to reduce viscosity by increasing fluid in the sputum. Available in effervescent and lozenges containing 30 mg ambroxol,and in syrup with a dose of 15 mg of the substance in 5 ml of suspension. The drug is used in all age categories, including respiratory disorders in newborns, in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy. The medicine is contraindicated for an ulcer, in the 1st trimester of pregnancy, with intolerance to the components. Reviews of Ambroxol cough tablets in most cases have a positive trend, since the drug is non-toxic and easily tolerated by patients. Very rarely, adverse reactions in the form of allergies or general weakness of the body can be observed.
"Bromhexine" has bromhexine hydrochloride as an active ingredient.
According to the instructions for use, cough tablets are not the only form of the drug. They also produce a suspension, an injection solution, as well as tablets for children with a reduced dosage. The tool is used for any diseases of the respiratory system associated with the formation of too viscous sputum. It is undesirable to prescribe the drug to pregnant women, it is possible to use it in children before the age of two years under the strict supervision of a pediatrician. Injections are used in the postoperative period as a prophylactic. "Bromhexine" has practically no side effects. But treatment with cough pills according to the instructions does not give an instant result, so the use of the drug without a doctor's prescription may not have the desired therapeutic effect and deceive the patient's expectations.
Expectorants
"Travisil" - a drug for resorption from a complex of naturalherbal ingredients with honey and menthol flavor.
Instructions for use of Travisil cough tablets are classified as anti-inflammatory and expectorant. The course of the drug is prescribed 1 tablet 3 times a day for two to three weeks. The product is not used in children under 6 years of age, during pregnancy and with intolerance to the components.
Choice of drug
What cough pills to use in each specific situation, you should not decide on your own. Usually the choice of the drug depends on many components, ranging from the degree and nature of the disease, symptoms and ending with financial capabilities. But the main task of the patient is to contact a competent specialist in order to prevent the development of complications.
