Drugs Used in Cough
Robin Brain
August 30, 2008
Expectorants
These help in the production of more watery secretion in the respiratory passages and stimulate coughing by a reflex action from the stomach. Some examples of expectorants are menthol, guaiacols, ammonium chloride, sodium citrate, potassium iodide, vasaka, balsam of tolu, and volatile oils. Their action is usually very weak. The best expectorant is warm water!
A number of preparations contain drugs which produce liquefied and thin sputum (mucolytics). These drugs are bromhexine, ambroxol, carbocysteine. There are also available as a single ingredient preparations. In other preparations antihistaminics are combined with expeoctorant. The idea is to suppress cough of allergic origin and help expectoration of common cold, coryza and influenza. These, however, cannot be considered to be ideal preparartions.
Adverse Effects
Ammonium salts may cause gastric irritaion or abdominal pain and are nauseants.
Mucolytics may cause running of nose and excessive formation of tears. They are irritant to stomach also.
Skin rash may occur in allergic individuals.
Noscapine (Coscopin Linctus)
It does not have sedative effect and no addiction is reported. It is equal in efficacy to codeine in a dose of 15-30mg thrice a day. In some preparations antihistaminic or decongestant drugs are combined. It can cause nausea, vomiting and headache and is never given in asthmatics.
Note: These preparations should not be used for children as cases of drowsiness and coma may occur with inadvertent use.
These help in the production of more watery secretion in the respiratory passages and stimulate coughing by a reflex action from the stomach. Some examples of expectorants are menthol, guaiacols, ammonium chloride, sodium citrate, potassium iodide, vasaka, balsam of tolu, and volatile oils. Their action is usually very weak. The best expectorant is warm water!
A number of preparations contain drugs which produce liquefied and thin sputum (mucolytics). These drugs are bromhexine, ambroxol, carbocysteine. There are also available as a single ingredient preparations. In other preparations antihistaminics are combined with expeoctorant. The idea is to suppress cough of allergic origin and help expectoration of common cold, coryza and influenza. These, however, cannot be considered to be ideal preparartions.
Adverse Effects
Ammonium salts may cause gastric irritaion or abdominal pain and are nauseants.
Mucolytics may cause running of nose and excessive formation of tears. They are irritant to stomach also.
Skin rash may occur in allergic individuals.
Noscapine (Coscopin Linctus)
It does not have sedative effect and no addiction is reported. It is equal in efficacy to codeine in a dose of 15-30mg thrice a day. In some preparations antihistaminic or decongestant drugs are combined. It can cause nausea, vomiting and headache and is never given in asthmatics.
Note: These preparations should not be used for children as cases of drowsiness and coma may occur with inadvertent use.
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