A wide variety of cough syrups are now available. They can be suitable for use by adults and children, there are even those that are allowed in some cases to be used to treat babies. This form of medication is considered to be more convenient than tablets and lozenges. However, do not forget that only the doctor should make the choice of funds, since a different type of cough must be eliminated with the help of different drugs.
What are
Nowadays, cough syrups can be found in various varieties. They are made exclusively from plant materials, such products are suitable even for young children and pregnant women. There is also a list of drugs on a synthetic basis, they are subject to age restrictions. You can also purchase combined medicines, which will include medicinal extracts, plant extracts, and chemical components.
According to the mechanism of action, the funds can be divided into 3 main groups:
- Antitussive and combined - can block the activity of nerve endings in the bronchi and the cough center in the brain, some drugs additionally relieve swelling from the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, eliminate pain.
- Expectorants - promote the speedy elimination of non-viscous sputum, which helps to quickly get rid of the pathogens that provoked the disease.
- Mucolytics - help to reduce the viscosity of sputum, make it more liquid, and promote the fastest elimination of mucus from the respiratory tract.
Syrup selection
Only a doctor can tell exactly which cough syrup is best for a particular situation. The choice of funds is made only after the diagnosis and study of the clinical picture. You can independently study the names of the most popular drugs in alphabetical order, but you cannot find one that will be beneficial, since only a specialist can select the appropriate therapy.
To prescribe the best cough syrup, the doctor must take into account not only the type of bronchospasm, but also many other factors, among which are:
- the presence of additional acute or chronic diseases;
- working and living conditions of the patient;
- features of the patient's body;
- age;
- sensitivity to individual components of the funds.
Expectorants
When a patient has a cough with discharge of liquid sputum, he needs funds to help remove it from the body as quickly as possible.
This type of violation is considered the most favorable, since nothing interferes with the elimination of mucus, which contains pathogens and their waste products. Consider what effective cough syrup can be prescribed in this situation.
| Syrup name | Main components | Mechanism of action | Peculiarities |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Althea syrup" | Made on the basis of marshmallow root extract. | Coats the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, dilutes the secretion secreted by the bronchi, relieves inflammation. | Can be consumed from 12 years of age, can cause allergic reactions, not suitable for patients with fructose intolerance. |
| "Ambrobene" | The active substance is a metabolite of bromhexine, ivy extract. | It has a secretory, secretolytic and expectorant effect. | Can be consumed from 2 years old, does not contain alcohol. |
| "Gerbion" | Plantain syrup. | Dissolves phlegm and promotes gentle excretion. | Allowed for use by children, it helps smokers from coughing well, has a cumulative effect. |
| "Ascoril" | Bromhexine, guaifenesin, salbutamol, racementol. | It has a bronchodilating, mucolytic and expectorant effect. | Contraindicated in breastfeeding and pregnancy, may cause side effects. |
| "Pertussin" | Thyme extract. | Clears phlegm and promotes its excretion. | It has a minimal negative effect on the liver and kidneys, but at the same time it is ineffective, it is recommended to combine it with other cough suppressants. |
| "Ambroxol" | Ambroxol hydrochloride. | Stimulates the production of phlegm, reduces its viscosity and adhesion (the ability to stick together), facilitates the removal of mucus from the bronchi. | A synthetic drug that can cause negative reactions. |
| "Lazolvan" | Ambroxol. | Strengthens the bronchi, relieves inflammation, removes phlegm and regulates its composition. | A synthetic drug, mainly prescribed for coughs in adults. |
| "Jocet" | Salbutamol, guaifenesin, bromhexine, menthol. | Relieves spasm, thinns phlegm, improves coughing. | It has many contraindications and can cause negative reactions. |
Mucolytic agents
Choosing a cough syrup for adults and children from this category will not be difficult. The best preparations of this type are made on the basis of extracts and extracts from medicinal herbs, but synthetic substances may also be included.
Let's take a closer look at these drugs.
| Name | Main components | Mechanism of action | Peculiarities |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Doctor Theiss" | Lancet plantain extract. | Relieves inflammation, thinns phlegm and promotes its excretion. | Cannot be combined with antitussives, as this can cause stagnation of sputum when coughing and the development of suppuration. |
| "Doctor Mom" | Plant extracts: licorice root, turmeric, elecampane, pepper, ginger, nightshade, aloe. | Relieves inflammation, softens mucous membranes, has secretological and secretomotor properties, thinns phlegm and removes it from the respiratory tract. | A completely natural preparation, combines the best healing properties of herbs, due to its multicomponent it can cause allergies. |
| "Licorice syrup" | Liquorice root. | Relieves spasm and inflammation, eases mucus discharge, softens mucous membranes, fights viruses and strengthens the immune system. | Cough syrup can cause side effects and has many contraindications. |
| "Atma" | Extracts and extracts of plants. | Has antiallergic effect, thinns phlegm and relieves spasm, improves immunity. | Homeopathic medicine has a minimum of contraindications. |
| "Sinekod" | Butamirate. | Expands the bronchi, promotes soft sputum discharge. | A synthetic drug, the components of which are quickly absorbed in the body, provides instant relief. |
Antitussives and combined agents
It is impossible to choose the most effective syrup from this category on your own; consultation with a specialist is imperative. Such drugs contain aggressive substances that can negatively affect the body.
Let's get acquainted with the list of drugs in this group.
| Name | Main components | Mechanism of action | Peculiarities |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Codelac Neo" | Butamirate. | Affects the cough center, partially blocking its work, dilates the vessels of the respiratory organs, which makes breathing easier. | A synthetic drug that can cause side effects. |
| "Tussin Plus" | Guaifenesin, dextromethorphan hydrobromide. | It has an antitussive and expectorant effect. | Causes side effects, incompatible with drugs containing codeine. |
| "Linax" | Extract of hyssop, violet, marshmallow, galangal, ziziphus, pepper. | Relieves spasm and inflammation, relieves pain, stops the work of the cough center, loosens mucus and gently removes it. | A completely natural herbal preparation, contraindicated only in case of personal intolerance to the components. |
| "Bronholitin" | Basil oil, gluacine alkaloid, ephedrine. | Expands the bronchi, suppresses cough by blocking the work of the cough center, relieves swelling. | May be addictive, toxic. |
| "Tusuprex" | Oxeladin | Reduces the sensitivity of cough receptors in the brain, promotes expectoration. | Unlike drugs containing codeine, it does not cause dependence and does not depress breathing. |
Caveats
The choice of drugs that improve coughing should be especially careful. Be aware that even traditional medicines like onion cough syrup or radish juice syrup with honey can cause side effects. The use of pharmaceuticals is also unsafe if you have the following body characteristics:
- tendency to allergic reactions;
- disruption of the cardiovascular system;
- chronic and acute diseases;
- pregnancy or lactation;
- childhood.
It is worth paying attention to the fact that antitussive syrups should not be taken together with mucolytics. This can lead to the fact that the sputum, increased in volume, stagnates in the airways. Such a process is fraught with the spread of infection to nearby organs and the formation of suppuration.
Cough suppressants can also inhibit or exacerbate the effects of other drugs that may be in your treatment regimen.
In conclusion
Choosing the right cough syrup for any type is now easy. There is a huge range of drugs on the market with different compositions and different mechanisms of action. However, it is worth remembering that self-medication with such means is strictly prohibited, their choice should only be made by a doctor after an examination and identification of all the features of the disease.
Take care of yourself and treat yourself responsibly.
