Cough medicine is selected primarily depending on the type of cough. Therefore, the choice of a remedy that helps with cough depends on the goals that need to be achieved during therapy.

Antitussive drugs represent an extensive list that have different effects on the body and have a high effect in the treatment of cough in adults and young patients.

Do not think that one group of drugs is good cough medicine, and another is bad. When deciding what to take as therapy for a cough, the type of cough is first taken into account.

Before treating a cough, it is necessary to determine what type of problem is being dealt with.

There are two types of cough:

1. Productive. In this case, sputum secreted by the bronchi and containing dead cells and pathogenic microorganisms is discharged. The secret also contains a number of substances that destroy pathogens. Thus, when coughing, the respiratory system is cleansed and the resolution of the disease is accelerated. Productive coughing indicates the beginning of the healing process. At this time, the body is helped by prescribing drugs that enhance sputum production and facilitate its removal.
2. Unproductive. It is also called dry. In this case, sputum is not produced and, accordingly, is not excreted. Coughing is caused by irritation of dry airways, which is why it is also called a reflex cough. Severe unproductive coughing attacks can lead to increased pressure inside the capillaries of the respiratory organs and their ruptures. With such a cough, you need to take drugs that suppress attacks.

In each individual case, the best medicine for cough is the remedy corresponding to the phase of the disease and the course of the process.

The choice of drug is also influenced by the reasons causing the cough symptom.

Test: Is your lifestyle causing lung disease?

Time limit: 0

Navigation (job numbers only)

0 out of 20 tasks completed

Information

Since almost all of us live in cities with very unfavorable health conditions, and in addition to this we lead an unhealthy lifestyle, this topic is very relevant at the moment. We carry out many actions or, on the contrary, remain inactive, without thinking at all about the consequences for our body. Our life is in breathing, without it we cannot live even a few minutes. This test will help you determine whether your lifestyle can provoke lung diseases, and will also help you think about your respiratory system health and correct your mistakes.

You have already taken the test before. You can't start it again.

Test loading...

You must log in or register in order to begin the test.

You must complete the following tests to start this one:

results

Time is over

• You lead the right lifestyle

  You are a fairly active person who cares and thinks about your respiratory system and health in general, continue to play sports, lead a healthy lifestyle and your body will delight you throughout your life. But do not forget to undergo examinations on time, maintain your immunity, this is very important, do not overcool, avoid severe physical and strong emotional overload. Try to minimize contact with sick people; if forced contact, do not forget about protective equipment (mask, washing your hands and face, clearing your respiratory tract).

• It's time to think about what you are doing wrong...

  You are at risk, you should think about your lifestyle and start taking care of yourself. Physical education is required, or even better, start playing sports, choose the sport that you like most and turn it into a hobby (dancing, cycling, gym, or just try to walk more). Do not forget to treat colds and flu promptly, they can lead to complications in the lungs. Be sure to work on your immunity, strengthen yourself, and be in nature and fresh air as often as possible. Do not forget to undergo scheduled annual examinations; it is much easier to treat lung diseases in the initial stages than in advanced stages. Avoid emotional and physical overload; if possible, eliminate or minimize smoking or contact with smokers.

• It's time to sound the alarm!

  You are completely irresponsible about your health, thereby destroying the functioning of your lungs and bronchi, have pity on them! If you want to live a long time, you need to radically change your entire attitude towards your body. First of all, get examined by specialists such as a therapist and a pulmonologist; you need to take radical measures, otherwise everything may end badly for you. Follow all the doctors’ recommendations, radically change your life, perhaps you should change your job or even your place of residence, completely eliminate smoking and alcohol from your life, and reduce contact with people who have such bad habits to a minimum, toughen up, strengthen your immunity as much as possible spend more time in the fresh air. Avoid emotional and physical overload. Completely eliminate all aggressive products from everyday use and replace them with natural, natural remedies. Do not forget to do wet cleaning and ventilation of the room at home.

1. With answer
2. With a viewing mark

1. Task 1 of 20

   1 .

   Does your lifestyle involve heavy physical activity?

2. Task 2 of 20

   2 .

   How often do you undergo a lung examination (eg fluorogram)?

3. Task 3 of 20

   3 .

   Do you play sports?

4. Task 4 of 20

   4 .

   Do you snore?

5. Task 5 of 20

   5 .

   Do you treat acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, influenza and other inflammatory or infectious diseases?

6. Task 6 of 20

   6 .

   Do you carefully observe personal hygiene (shower, hands before eating and after walking, etc.)?

7. Task 7 of 20

   7 .

   Do you take care of your immunity?

8. Task 8 of 20

   8 .

   Have any relatives or family members suffered from serious lung diseases (tuberculosis, asthma, pneumonia)?

9. Task 9 of 20

   9 .

   Do you live or work in an unfavorable environment (gas, smoke, chemical emissions from enterprises)?

10. Task 10 of 20

    10 .

    Do you or your household use sources of strong odors (aroma candles, incense, etc.)?

11. Task 11 of 20

    11 .

    Do you have heart disease?

12. Task 12 of 20

    12 .

    How often are you in damp, dusty or moldy environments?

13. Task 13 of 20

    13 .

    Do you often get sick with acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections?

14. Task 14 of 20

    14 .

    Do you or any of your relatives have diabetes?

15. Task 15 of 20

    15 .

    Do you have any allergic diseases?

16. Task 16 of 20

    16 .

    What kind of lifestyle do you lead?

17. Task 17 of 20

    17 .

    Does anyone in your family smoke?

18. Task 18 of 20

    18 .

    Do you smoke?

19. Task 19 of 20

    19 .

    Do you have air purification devices in your home?

20. Task 20 of 20

    20 .

    Do you often use household chemicals (cleaning products, aerosols, etc.)?

Medicines that treat conditions ranging from coughing to severe attacks are divided into the following groups:

1. Drugs that block the cough center of the medulla oblongata. May contain narcotic substances, such as Codeine and Ethylmorphine. Given the fact that these drugs simultaneously depress the respiratory center, which often leads to dangerous complications, they are currently not used in therapy. Therefore, non-narcotic drugs from this group are mainly used to treat cough. Any drug from this group blocks the passage of a nerve impulse from alveoli irritated by inflammation to parts of the central nervous system, which leads to suppression of the cough reflex.
2. Bronchodilators. Relieves spastic tension in the muscles of the respiratory apparatus, expands the lumen of the respiratory tract. This group includes a large number of drugs from other pharmacological groups that have a similar effect. Therefore, you can often see how a doctor prescribes desensitizing agents, corticosteroids and other substances to ease breathing and relieve cough spasms.
3. Preparations with mucolytic action. A distinctive feature of these products is the ability to reduce the viscosity of sputum, making it more liquid and easier to cough up, without increasing its volume.
4. Medicines with expectorant action. Such substances facilitate and accelerate the cleansing of the bronchi from excess secretion secreted by them.
5. Substances that relieve inflammation in the respiratory system. Drugs that suppress the inflammatory process thus eliminate the very cause of the cough.
6. Combined medications. They contain a number of substances that act on various parts of the mechanism of its appearance. They often complement and enhance each other’s effects.

With combined pathology, it is not always clear how to treat a severe cough accompanied by other inflammatory phenomena, so as not to cause harm to the body.

This is where combination medications come to the rescue. Effective treatment can only be obtained if the combination cough remedy is chosen correctly.

Combination cough medications may include active principles that affect various symptoms of the disease. Also, in order to quickly cure a cough, they use products that contain various groups of expectorant substances, for example, mucolytic substances and expectorants.

The most common combinations are:

1. One medicine contains several expectorants. This combination produces a powerful drug that treats even a very severe cough in an adult. The advantage of such drugs is that a lower dosage of active principles is used for therapy, but the effect is much higher. Representatives of this group of drugs: Bronchipret, Pertussin, Bronchofit and others.
2. The combination of expectorant and mucolytic principles, as, for example, in Bronchosan, allows you to quickly cure a severe cough.
3. Supplementation of antitussive substances with expectorant additives is used extremely rarely. Usually in such combinations they use a fairly strong remedy to eliminate coughing attacks. Relief usually occurs within the first hour after administration. But such an effective medicine can only be taken during the first two to three days of a viral infection! Even the best drugs from this group, if taken for a longer period of time, will lead to severe complications of the disease! Therefore, from the third day of manifestation of a viral respiratory tract infection, you should switch to monotherapy with expectorants. Representatives of this combined group are Codesan, Stoptussin, Glycodin.
4. Drugs that suppress the cough reflex and mucolytics in one drug are used extremely rarely. If you start taking such medications on your own, you can very quickly lead your body to develop lung flooding syndrome, because... a large amount of liquefied sputum in the absence of a cough reflex will already pose a great threat.
5. A combination of cough components and substances belonging to other groups. Such drugs are selected taking into account the etiology of the disease. Thus, drugs containing antibiotics and cough suppressants will be effective for the treatment of pneumonia. Antitussives in combination with bronchodilators are used for bronchial asthma and bronchiolitis. Medicines containing antihistamines will help stop coughs of allergic etiology.

The decision which combination drugs are best to choose for the treatment of severe cough in an adult or child should be made only by a doctor after a preliminary examination and examination!

Despite the fact that combination drugs are the most effective cough remedies, their use in therapy is quite difficult. It is not always possible to select a medicine so that all components are ideally suited to the symptoms of a particular patient. Also, the dosage of medicinal substances in a combination drug may not correspond to that required for individual treatment. Monotherapy is more convenient in terms of adjusting the single and daily dose of necessary substances.

If the composition of the medicine is incorrectly selected, then even the most effective substances will not only not help, but may also aggravate the course of the disease.

When trying to choose the most effective cough medicines, there are several important rules to remember and follow:

1. Don't forget that cough suppressants depend on the type of cough! You should not take medications that dilute bronchial secretions or expectorants for a dry cough! Also, you should not take medications that include cough suppressants in case of a productive process.
2. Do not forget about the side effects of any medications. When deciding what is best to choose for treatment, from drugs of equal effect, choose those that do not have serious complications and side effects.
3. You also need to remember about contraindications. When reading the instructions, be sure to pay attention to this point, and then you will know exactly what you can drink, taking into account concomitant diseases, and what you cannot.
4. Don't judge the quality of a drug by its price. Cheap medicines do not mean they are bad. Often, an inexpensive domestic product has a higher effect than its expensive counterparts. In most cases, imported medicines have exorbitant prices just for using a famous brand in the name. Also, prices in different pharmacies can also vary significantly.
5. Buy medicines from manufacturers known to you and already verified.

Do not self-medicate your cough! All medications should be prescribed only by a doctor, taking into account the etiology of the disease, cough productivity, the presence of other symptoms and concomitant diseases.

Dosage forms

Medicinal substances used to treat cough can be produced in various forms, in which the drug acts on the body most effectively.

Medicines in tablets are simple and easy to use.

The most commonly used in cough treatment are:

• Mukaltin. Used for productive cough. Liquefies bronchial secretions and promotes coughing. An effective medicine for productive cough in adults and children.
• Ambroxol. A strong remedy that helps with severe wet cough. It is perfectly combined with antibacterial therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs, enhancing their effect. This drug can even be given to small children to drink.
• Falimint. This cough remedy is suitable for adults and children over 4 years of age. Helps relieve unproductive cough attacks.

Cough medicine for adults and children, pleasant to the taste. Easy to dose using the included measuring spoon.

Examples:

1. Syrup Doctor Mom. Helps easily relieve symptoms of a number of respiratory diseases. Has an expectorant effect.
2. Plantain syrup. Transforms dry cough into sputum form, speeds up recovery. Can be prescribed to young children.
3. Bronholitin. Suppresses the cough center. The drug is taken to quickly relieve cough symptoms. Quickly expands the lumen of the bronchi, effectively relieves inflammatory swelling of the mucous membranes. Children can be prescribed starting from 3 years of age.

Drops

When diluted with water, even small children can easily take the drops. Pleasant to the taste and with a mild odor, the drops will be easy to give to even the most capricious children. Medicines available in the form of drops are easy to dose.

Examples:

1. Ammonia-anise cough drops, Gedelix, Bronchipret, Chest cough drops and Bronchosan will cure productive cough in adults and children.
2. Stoptussin and Sinekod are effective cough drops without sputum production or discharge. They will help relieve a convulsive cough attack. These drugs should not be taken in parallel with antibiotic treatment.

The dosage form is very simple and easy to use. To calm a cough using inhalation, just breathe through a nebulizer. You can also treat a cough using various sprays. Such preparations should be sprayed at inhalation height. This dosage form will help soften a cough without phlegm.

Examples:

1. Bioparox. An excellent drug that helps in the treatment of the upper respiratory tract, containing an antibiotic.
2. Chlorophyllipt, Faringosept. Helps well with non-productive cough. Substances that soothe inflammation also moisturize the mucous membranes, thereby eliminating the prerequisites for the occurrence of a reflex cough attack.

Ointments

Sometimes parents are lost and don’t know what to do or how to help their child with a severe cough. Meanwhile, the use of various warming ointments for coughs has proven itself very well for many decades.

Examples:

1. Ointment Doctor Mom. A good remedy to relieve a cough attack. Not knowing how to soften an attack in very young children, you can safely use this cough suppressant. Should not be used at high body temperature, because the warming effect of the ointment may increase hyperthermia.
2. Vishnevsky ointment. Excellent in helping to calm a cough for three hours. A universal remedy will help out when you don’t know what to do if there are no other medications at hand. The ointment is applied to the bandage in a thin layer and, applied to the chest, remains on the skin for no more than three hours. The top of such a compress must be insulated. The ointment does not have a warming effect, but it helps with coughs.

Powders and effervescent tablets

A convenient form of medication that allows you to treat severe cough in an adult. Antitussives of this form are absorbed very quickly and begin to have a therapeutic effect.

Examples:

• ACC. Available in the form of powders and effervescent tablets. Emollient treatment for productive cough. The drug should not be taken with substances that suppress the cough reflex;
• Fluimucil. Liquefies mucus, reducing its viscosity. An effective medicine for cough. To relieve a cough attack, dissolve 1 tablet in a third of a glass of water and drink. The result will appear very quickly and will last for a day.

To get the best treatment results, you should follow some simple rules:

In stressful situations, the human body uses reserve forces and a defensive reaction. This often happens during an illness that is accompanied by a cough. An attack is a natural mechanism to combat harmful microorganisms. Thanks to it, viruses, bacteria and other foreign bodies are removed along with sputum.

Doctors do not always immediately prescribe antitussives in the hope that the patient’s immune system will cope with the disease on its own. Unfortunately, there are situations when the cough is painful, annoying and long: it is not easy to eliminate it. An untreated symptom can cause complications. To prevent the disease from becoming severe, you will need cough medicine. A qualified specialist prescribes it after diagnosing the patient and determining the nature of the illness.

Cough remedies have different effects on internal organs: some medications eliminate a dry cough, others provoke the removal of mucus from the bronchi. Choosing the right medication can be difficult. There are a number of medical recommendations that need to be taken into account.

• Features of the pathological process.
• Type of cough - wet or dry. In the first case, tablets are suitable, the action of which is aimed at quickly removing mucus from the upper respiratory tract. In the second option, it is necessary to take drugs that act on certain centers of the brain in order to suppress the spontaneous cough reflex. You should not mix medications to avoid serious consequences.

Today, the pharmaceutical market offers a variety of foreign and domestic drugs. Sometimes it is difficult to choose which cough medicine is best for adults and which for young patients.

Types of cough tablets

Antitussives are conventionally divided into several groups:

Bronchodilators have a symptomatic effect: they relax tense bronchial muscles, relieve spasms, and facilitate breathing. These include the following medications:

• Hexoprenaline relieves an attack of suffocation. Used in the form of tablets, dosed aerosol and intravenously. This is a strong drug that is prescribed for severe cases of the disease.
• Troventol expands the lumen of the bronchi, relieves inflammation. It helps with chronic bronchitis and pneumonia, accompanied by bronchospasms.
• Eufillin is a good cough remedy that dilates the bronchi, reduces hyperactivity of the respiratory tract, and promotes oxygen saturation in the blood.

Mucolytics

Mucolytics are the main drugs in the treatment of wet cough. They thin out viscous mucus, facilitate the evacuation of sputum without increasing it, and restore tissue elasticity. The ranking of effective medicines in this group includes:

• ACC - has a pronounced productive effect. Improvement is observed a few days later after the first dose. The drug is well tolerated in any form, so it is suitable not only for adults, but also for infants. Cough tablets are strong. They remove stubborn purulent fluid and soften breathing.
• Ambroxol is an effective cough medicine, as it not only relieves attacks, but also increases local immunity. The reason for taking it may be various pathologies of the respiratory system. The medicine is available in the form of tablets, syrup and inhalation solution for nebulizer.
• Bromhexine is a bright representative of its group. It contains substances with emollient, anti-inflammatory, secretolytic, stimulating and expectorant effects. Well absorbed by the body. It is not recommended for pregnant women and children under three years of age.
• Carbocytein reduces the viscosity of bronchial secretions, improves the process of sputum discharge, and accelerates the regeneration of mucous tissues. It has two forms of release - syrup and capsules.

Centrally acting drugs

Centrally acting drugs that suppress the cough reflex. They are based on codeine and act on afferent regulatory pathways and receptors:

• Codelac has a complex composition. In addition to sodium bicarbonate, it contains medicinal herbs - thermopsis and licorice. In pediatric practice, the drug is used for children from the age of two.
• Sinekod expands the bronchi, relieves inflammation, thanks to the active substance - butomirate. The dosage is selected individually. This is a good medicine that can be given to babies from two months.
• Glauvent contains the alkaloid glaucine, which acts on certain areas of the brain to eliminate an attack. The drug eliminates inflammation, relieves spasms, and treats dry cough. It is not addictive, but may lower blood pressure.

If you suffer from a wet cough, medications on this list are contraindicated.

Expectorants

Expectorants activate the cough center of the brain, increase the amount of mucus produced, stimulating coughing. They cannot be combined with mucolytic agents, which only destroy the bonds between mucus molecules.

• The best cough medicine in this group is Guaifenesin, which is available in the form of tablets and syrup.
• Its analogues are Cashnol, Stoptussin, Ascoril, Coldrex Broncho.
• If the patient is being treated at home, he can use ordinary mineral water as inhalation. This is the best cough remedy, recognized by most medical specialists.

Combination drugs

Combined medications correct functional disorders of the respiratory system. They simultaneously act in several directions: they eliminate many of the symptoms that cause an attack and affect the state of the immune and cardiac systems. This is an extensive list of drugs in the form of syrups, drops, solutions, suspensions, tablets, mixtures, sprays, inhalers, tinctures. All medicinal types are made from plants. The choice of combined agents depends on the age, gender and individual characteristics of the patient’s body. The therapeutic effect is determined by the presence of bioactive substances. Among the many medications in this group, several new generation drugs can be distinguished:

• Doctor Mom is a pharmaceutical product that contains extracts of various herbs that provide high results. The main components are elecampane, licorice root, basil, turmeric, ginger and agave flowers. It comes in one release form - syrup, ointment, pastille. Since Doctor Mom does not contain alcohol-containing components, it can be used in the treatment of acute respiratory diseases in children aged three years and older.
• Stodal is an effective homeopathic remedy that relieves various types of cough. Has an expectorant and bronchodilator effect.
• Pectoral - promotes the discharge of viscous sputum. This is a pleasant-tasting dark brown syrup with a pronounced spicy aroma. The product contains extracts of plantain, primrose, senegia and thyme. The medicine is prescribed for various respiratory disorders.
• Equabal promotes the rapid removal of secretory secretions from the ciliated epithelium. The drug is based on an alcoholic infusion of plantain.

What medications can pregnant women take?

The most gentle method of getting rid of cough during pregnancy is steam inhalation. They can be made from boiled potatoes and decoctions of medicinal plants. The duration of the procedure is 10 minutes. A tea drink with linden, licorice, and plantain will also help relieve an attack. Warm milk with mineral water or honey gives a positive result. Products that are safe during pregnancy include: Doctor Theiss, Gerbion, Mucaltin, Doctor Mom, Bronchipret.

How to treat a cough attack in children

Babies can be treated with all kinds of folk remedies, except those that cause allergies. Of the medications, Gedelix is ​​allowed for children from the age of one year, and Bronholitin and Libexin from three years of age. ACC, Ambroxol, Mucaltin, Bromhexine, marshmallow or licorice root are safe as expectorant and mucolytic drugs. The dosage is determined by the age and weight of the child.

The presence of any cough should alert parents. Numerous diseases are hidden under the alarming symptom, from infectious to cancer, so you should definitely consult a doctor. Only a specialist will provide professional assistance and help prevent serious negative consequences.

What a cough is is known to many, because this condition is not always associated with illness. In this way, the body clears the airways of viruses, bacteria, dust or foreign bodies that have entered them. Cough can be caused by various reasons, but in any case it is annoying and prevents you from working and resting normally. In most cases, it signals a serious illness and requires immediate treatment. Many people are looking for the best cough remedy, but it is impossible to understand the abundance of drugs without the help of a doctor. After all, choosing the wrong medicine can only make the problem worse. Therefore, before starting treatment, you need to consult a doctor and determine what kind of cough is bothering the patient. In addition, in most cases, even the best cough remedy will not help if the cause is not eliminated. On the contrary, it can only get worse.

Types of cough

Depending on the characteristics of the disease, you need to choose drugs. After all, different drugs have different effects. And before you determine the best cough remedy, you need to know what it is. Usually the instructions for the medicine indicate what type it treats.

1. A dry cough can occur for various reasons. It is mainly caused by irritation of the mucous membrane by chemical or physical factors. It also occurs during viral infections and colds.
2. A wet cough is characterized by the discharge of sputum that accumulates in the lungs or bronchi. It can be counterproductive when it is sticky and difficult to clear. Or wet, when a lot of sputum is released.

Causes of cough

• Colds and infectious diseases - tonsillitis, tracheitis or ARVI. They can be viral or bacterial. This is the most common cause of cough.

• Inflammatory diseases of the bronchi and lungs - bronchitis, pneumonia, lung abscess or tuberculosis.
• Allergic reactions, such as bronchial asthma.
• Respiratory irritation from chemicals or dust.
• Heart failure.
• Entry of a foreign body into the respiratory tract.
• Organic brain damage or neurosis.
• Smoking.
• Taking certain medications, such as blood pressure lowering medications.

How to properly treat a cough?

Without determining the cause that caused it, it will be almost impossible to cope with the symptom. And in some cases, taking antitussives or expectorants is completely contraindicated. But most often, when looking for the best remedy for cough, they try to eliminate its most common cause - infectious and inflammatory diseases. In this case, you need to remember that the disease most often begins with a dry cough, which over time turns into a wet one. Therefore, treatment should be changed throughout the course of the disease. It is not recommended to suppress a dry cough; you should try to transform it into a more productive one, so that the bacteria and viruses that cause the disease come out with sputum. For allergic coughs, on the contrary, drugs that suppress the cough reflex and antihistamines are prescribed. If the cough occurs due to nervousness or heart failure, there is no need to take any additional medications at all. Having cured the underlying disease, a person gets rid of it.

Features of the action of cough remedies

When the cause and type of the disease is clear, then you can choose a drug to treat it. They all have different effects:

1. Suppresses the cough reflex. Such drugs may be based on narcotic drugs and can only be purchased with a doctor's prescription. They are needed if the cough is painful and dry. He does not allow him to communicate, eat or sleep. But under no circumstances should you drink them if you have a wet cough, so that phlegm does not stagnate in the lungs.
2. Expectorants increase the production of mucus and facilitate its elimination by stimulating the bronchi. Such medications are used only to treat a wet cough; if it is dry, they will be useless.
3. If a lot of sputum is produced, but it is difficult to expectorate, you need to use mucolytics. These are agents that liquefy it and facilitate its removal.
4. There are also local cough remedies. They treat it due to its anti-inflammatory and aseptic effect. Sometimes they have a local anesthetic effect, and if the cough was caused by irritation of the respiratory tract, it stops.
5. Recently, combination drugs have appeared that contain various substances and have a complex effect on the respiratory tract.

Types of cough medications

1. Tablets or capsules. Most often they are used to treat cough in adults. This form of medication is convenient if the treatment is long-term and the drug needs to be taken several times. After all, they are easy to take with you and drink at work or on the road.
2. Effervescent soluble tablets or powders have a faster effect due to easier absorption and a large amount of water drunk. But they can have a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
3. Syrups, drops and mixtures are most often used to treat children, as they have a pleasant taste. They are also easily and quickly digested.
4. Lozenges or lozenges are used mainly in the treatment of cough caused by infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract or an allergic reaction.
5. Means for inhalation, rinsing and compresses are used to relieve cough that appears as a result of inflammation.

Antitussives

In many cases, a dry cough is so painful and exhausting for a person that the only salvation is to suppress it. Such drugs are divided into two groups:

1. Dry cough suppressants that act on the cough center in the brain. They are used only in the complete absence of sputum and come on a different basis:
   - with a narcotic effect - drugs “Codeine”, “Hydrocodone”, “Morphine chloride” and others, sold only with a doctor’s prescription;
   - without a narcotic effect - Tusuprex, Sinekod, Glauvent and others (they can be purchased without a prescription, but should be used with caution).
2. Drugs that act on the nerve centers of the middle sections of the respiratory tract. These are Libexin or Levopront.

The best remedy for dry cough

But recently, new generation drugs that have a combined effect are most often prescribed. In infectious-inflammatory diseases, if the cough is unproductive and there is no sputum, complications are possible, since the infection is not cleared from the respiratory tract. Therefore, we need medications that do not suppress cough symptoms, but help with sputum discharge. But a dry cough is often so exhausting for the patient that it is necessary to slightly reduce its intensity. Modern combination drugs have exactly this property. The most famous of them are the products “Stoptussin”, “Tussin plus”, “Butamirat”, “Lorraine” and others. At the moment, the best remedy for dry cough is the drug “Broncholitin”. Its peculiarity is that in addition to antitussive substances (glaucine and ephedrine), it contains basil oil. It dilates the bronchi, has an anti-inflammatory effect and reduces the viscosity of sputum. This drug has a mild non-narcotic effect on the cough center and bronchial muscles and is available in the form of syrup. Therefore, we can say that this is the best cough remedy for children over 3 years old.

How to take medications for dry cough?

You need to choose a product strictly individually. For example, for children, medicine in the form of syrup is better suited, and soluble tablets act much faster than usual. But you need to know that, unlike expectorants, even the best cough remedy without sputum has many contraindications. You should not take most of these medications:

• children under 3 years old;
• pregnant and lactating women;
• people with allergic reactions;
• those with respiratory failure or bronchial asthma.

In addition, you need to remember that as soon as the sputum begins to leave, it is necessary to change the drug. Under no circumstances should such a cough be suppressed, as this can cause serious complications.

How to treat a wet cough?

It is very important that the mucus that accumulates in the respiratory tract comes out easily. Many drugs for the treatment of wet cough are designed to strengthen and facilitate its secretion. When there is a lot of phlegm, you need to help the airways clear it. Therefore, the composition of drugs for the treatment of wet cough includes substances that restore cells of bronchopulmonary tissue. In addition, they dilute the sputum itself. Most often, such medicines have an anti-inflammatory effect and contain herbal components. The best remedy for a wet cough is the drug Bromhexine. It easily helps to cope with the disease and has few side effects. That's why they give it even to children.
The "ACC" product dilutes sputum very well, making it easier to remove. In addition to these most popular drugs for wet cough, the following medications are also effective: Sinupret, Gedelix, Glyciram, Ascoril and some others. But they should be used only as prescribed by a doctor.

The best expectorant

There are many medications available for coughs that produce little sputum. Their purpose is to help in its passage by stimulating the bronchi or reducing its viscosity. They must, of course, be selected in accordance with individual reaction. But there are drugs that are not only effective, but also safe. They contain plant components and can even be given to children.

• Licorice root syrup has anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating effects and helps with phlegm removal.
• The drug "Mukaltin" has been known for a long time. This medicine based on marshmallow root is the best remedy for wet cough. In addition to the expectorant effect, Mukaltin has an anti-inflammatory effect and slightly thins the mucus.

• The drug "Thermopsis" is also a fairly well-known herbal remedy that has an expectorant effect. It enhances mucus secretion and reduces its viscosity.

How to help a child?

Cough exhausts any person, but it is especially bad when children suffer. The respiratory tract of babies is very sensitive to any external influences, and most effective medications are contraindicated for them to take. Basically, children over 2 years of age are prescribed plant-based syrups: Pertussin, Thermopsis, Doctor Mom, licorice or marshmallow root syrup. Many parents are looking for the best children's cough remedy not only among official drugs, but also in traditional medicine recipes. This disease has long been dealt with using herbal decoctions, honey solutions, inhalations and compresses.

Traditional medicine

Despite the abundance of medications for different types of cough, many are still treated with home remedies using old recipes. This is convenient because all the ingredients for this are always at hand, and they cause fewer side effects. What are the most popular recipes?

But any remedy, both official and folk, should be used only after consultation with a doctor.

Antitussives and expectorants for dry coughs

Cough is a protective, reflex reaction of the body that removes pathologically altered bronchial secretions from the respiratory tract. Sometimes it occurs when foreign substances are found in the trachea or bronchi.

Cough is not a disease, but a symptom, so it should be treated as a manifestation of the underlying disease. The choice of medications that affect cough depends on the individual characteristics of the person, the type and clinical manifestations of the disease.

The effectiveness of basic treatment of any disease accompanied by a cough increases significantly with the rational use of antitussives, mucolytics and expectorants. We will look at the causes of a dry cough and the medications used to soften it and transform it into a productive, wet one.

What is the best medicine for dry cough?

The choice of drug primarily depends on the nature of the cough and should be agreed with the doctor:

• Cough is dry, painful, painful, unproductive, frequent, leading to disturbances in appetite and sleep, choice - antitussives or combination drugs.
• Productive cough, but with difficult to clear, thick, viscous sputum, choice - mucolytic drugs.
• The cough is productive, with sputum, and it is not viscous or thick - expectorant cough medicines are the choice.
• Mucolytic agents should not be used simultaneously with antitussive drugs.

Dry cough - causes:

Most often, a dry cough occurs at the onset of a cold, flu, acute bronchitis, pneumonia, as well as when inhaling various substances that irritate the mucous membrane. In the case of a severe attack of dry cough, inhalation is accompanied by a whistling noise between coughing impulses. This occurs due to narrowing of the lumen of the bronchi, larynx or trachea and leads to difficulty breathing. Before an attack of dry cough, pain may be felt when taking a deep breath.

Causes of dry cough:

Read also on the topic:

• Dry cough without fever in adults - causes
• Barking cough in a child - treatment
• Chest cough pack - instructions
• Treatment of dry cough in children and adults
• Why does a dry cough not go away? Causes of a dry cough
• Herbion for dry and wet cough - instructions
• Sinekod - instructions for use
• Causes of dry cough without fever
• Inhalations for bronchitis and laryngitis
• Allergic cough - symptoms
• Antibiotics for bronchitis
• Laryngitis in a child - treatment

• Viral and infectious diseases - ARVI, influenza, parainfluenza, pneumonia, bronchitis, etc.
• Allergies - allergic rhinitis, allergies to dust, chemicals, may be the initial sign of asthma.
• Bronchospasm – spasm in the bronchial tubes
• Medicines that reduce high blood pressure – enalapril maleate, caproptil, lisinopril.
• Reflexive reaction to smoke, cold air, pungent odor

Severe dry cough - how to treat it?

What is the best treatment for dry cough? The use of antitussives is considered advisable only in conditions where the cough is severe, frequent, dry (debilitating) and only as prescribed by a doctor.

If the cough is dry and unproductive, it should first be converted into a wet one, and then mucolytic or expectorant agents should be used. And also for non-productive coughs, combined drugs that have both an antitussive and expectorant effect are effective:

Sinekod

Sinekod - instructions for use

Dosage form: Tablet form, for children in syrup and drops for oral administration.
Pharmacological action: Sinekod is an antitussive drug that has a direct effect on the cough center. It has expectorant properties, has a moderate anti-inflammatory, bronchodilator effect, and improves spirometry. Indicated for acute dry cough of various origins.
Contraindications: Cannot be used by pregnant and lactating women. Children under 2 months of age are contraindicated; children under 3 years of age should not use syrup; only drops; tablets are contraindicated for children under 12 years of age.
Side effects: Nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, allergic reactions.
Price: syrup 220 rubles, drops 320 rubles. Analogue Omnitus syrup 150 rub., table. 190 rub.

Gerbion

Gerbion - plantain syrup

Dosage form: syrup
Pharmacological action: Gerbion is a combined medicine of plant origin, has an antitussive, expectorant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory effect. Contains extracts of mallow flowers and plantain herb. The drug softens and relieves dry cough.
Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to herbal preparations, fructose intolerance. Take with caution if you have diabetes.
Side effects: Allergic reactions.
Price: average price in pharmacies is 220 rubles.

Codelac Phyto

Dosage form: elixir, syrup
Pharmacological properties: Codelac Phyto is a combined antitussive agent. Contains codeine and extracts of thermopsis, thyme and licorice. Has an expectorant effect.
Contraindications: bronchial asthma, cannot be used by children under 2 years of age, pregnant and lactating women, with respiratory failure and hypersensitivity to the herbal components of the drug.
Side effects: allergic reactions, nausea, vomiting, headache, drowsiness, constipation. With prolonged use, drug dependence on codeine develops.
Price: 130-140 rub.

Stoptussin

Dosage form: tablets, drops for internal use
Pharmacological action: Stoptussin - combined antitussive and secretolytic effect. The composition includes Butamirate citrate, which has a local anesthetic, bronchodilator and antitussive effect, and Guaifenesin reduces the viscosity of sputum, improving its discharge. Effective for dry cough in children and adults.
Contraindications: Children under 1 year of age and during pregnancy in the 1st trimester cannot be used.
Side effects: Allergic reactions, rarely - vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache.
Price: drops 70-80 rub., tablets 130-140 rub.

Bronchicum

Dosage form: syrup, elixir, lozenges
Pharmacological action: Combined drug with anti-inflammatory, expectorant, bronchodilator effects. The syrup and tablets contain thyme herb extract, and the elixir also contains primrose root extract. Bronchicum is universal, it is an effective expectorant for dry and wet coughs. At the stage of the disease, when the cough is dry, Bronchicum helps to cope with severe attacks, transforming a dry cough into a wet one. Then, with a wet cough, it facilitates expectoration of mucus, helping to remove it from the lungs.
Contraindications: The syrup is contraindicated for children under 6 months, and children under 6 years old should not take lozenges, patients with significant impairment of liver and kidney function, with individual intolerance, during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Side effects: irritation of the gastric mucosa, allergic reactions.
Price: 270 rub.

Bronholitin

Dosage form: syrup
Pharmacological action: Broncholitin is a combined drug with antitussive, bronchodilator and bronchoseptic effects. The composition includes Glaucine hydrobromide, which has an inhibitory effect on the cough center and a weak anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. Basil oil has minor sedative, antimicrobial, and antispasmodic properties. Ephedrine stimulates breathing, dilates the bronchi, has a vasoconstrictor effect, thereby eliminating swelling of the bronchial mucosa.
Contraindications: heart failure, children under 3 years of age, pregnant and lactating women are not recommended to use.
Side effects: tachycardia, tremor, insomnia, drowsiness, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, difficulty urinating, rash, increased sweating.

Price: 60 rub.

Libexin

Dosage form: tablets
Pharmacological action: Libexin is a peripheral antitussive agent. It has a local anesthetic, bronchodilator effect, and its antitussive effect is approximately comparable to codeine. Unlike codeine, Libexin does not cause addiction and has no effect on the central nervous system. In chronic bronchitis it has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Contraindications: diseases with abundant bronchial secretion, use with caution in childhood, not recommended during pregnancy.
Side effects: dry mouth, temporary numbness of the oral mucosa, mild sedation, skin rash.
Price: 260-280 rub.

When the cough is no longer so dry, you can use this herbal preparation.
Dosage form: Brown syrup, contains extracts of 10 medicinal plants - marshmallow flowers, onosma, hyssop, violet, alpinia, long pepper fruits, licorice root, adhatoda leaves, etc.
Pharmacological action: Linkas is a combined drug of plant origin, reduces the intensity of cough, increases its productivity, has a mucolytic, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory effect.
Contraindications: It is not recommended to use for children under 6 months, if hypersensitive to herbal remedies, use with caution in case of diabetes.
Side effects: allergic reactions.
Price: 130-140 rub.

The attending physician should prescribe and determine the duration of taking the listed medications and expectorants for dry cough. There are cases when medications do not help with a painful, debilitating non-productive cough, and simple methods of traditional medicine, such as mustard plasters, cupping, steam inhalations, warming ointments and creams bring significant relief and quickly transform a dry cough into a wet one.

Flu and colds are always accompanied by a pathological condition of the respiratory tract, accumulation of sputum in the lungs and bronchi. When choosing a cough medicine for adults, it is important to pay attention to the nature of the symptom - whether it is wet or dry, the presence of allergic reactions to the components of the drug, and the severity of side effects.

How to choose an effective and strong cough medicine for adults?

To purchase an effective drug, you first need to familiarize yourself with their classification. There are 2 types of medications in question:

1. Expectorants. Intended for the treatment of wet cough with the release of thick, viscous mucus.
2. Antitussives. Prescribed for dry, painful cough, irritation of the pharynx and vocal cords.

Each of the presented groups is available in various forms - syrups, tablets, soluble capsules, powders. In addition, drugs may differ in composition; they are based on both artificial chemical compounds and natural components. It is also worth paying attention to herbal raw materials in the form of breast mixtures.

Cough suppressants in adults

First, let's look at effective antitussives intended for the treatment of dry cough:

• Omnitus;
• Panatus and Panatus Forte;
• Alex Plus;
• Glycodin;
• Broncholin Salvia;
• Codelac Broncho and Codelac Phyto;
• Bronchicum;
• Cofanol;
• Neo-Kodion;
• Bronholitin;
• Bronchocin;
• Noscapin;
• Insti;
• Bronchitusen Vramed;
• Codipront;
• Tedein;
• Bronchoton;
• Oxeladin;
• Terpincode;
• Hexapneumin;
• Codelmixt;
• Paracodamol;
• Grippostad Good Knight;
• Tusuprex;
• Tercodin;
• Tussin Plus;
• Codterpin;
• Libexin;
• Sinecode;
• Prenoxdiazine;
• Levopront;
• Pentoxyverine;
• Stoptussin;
• Levodropropizine;
• Paxeladine;
• Fervex for dry cough;
• Sudotussin;
• pharmaceutical cough tablets.

Sometimes, to suppress very severe attacks, it is necessary to use drugs with narcotic effects that affect the main cough center and suppress unpleasant symptoms:

• Hydrocodone;
• morphine chloride;
• ethylmorphine hydrochloride;
• Demorphan.

The best expectorant cough medicine for adults

The described type of medication is intended to dilute mucus, reduce the intensity of its secretion, and destroy the polymer bonds between the molecules of bronchial sputum.

Good medicines for wet coughs for adults:

You should also pay attention to natural medicines:

• chest collection (No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4);
• Phytopectol No. 1, No. 2;
• common thyme herb extract;
• expectorant collection;
• eucalyptus rodum oil.

Most of the listed medications are combined and have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect.

When choosing a cough medicine, you need to not only know all the pros and cons of a particular drug, but also understand for which age category it is more preferable. This article is about cough medicines for adults.

Medicine for dry cough for adults

Almost every person has dealt with a dry cough in their life. Today in pharmacies you can find a large selection of drugs that are quite effective in treating dry cough in both children and adults.

The main cure for dry cough for adults is to transform the so-called unproductive cough into a productive one, in other words, from dry to wet. The process of removing phlegm from the lungs signifies the beginning of recovery, since it means the beginning of the removal of infection. For this reason, the patient is often prescribed drugs that cause expectoration - thus, artificial expansion of the bronchi occurs.

Mineral water, such as Borjomi, also helps with dry cough. It contains substances that help remove mucus from the lungs. At the same time, it is important that the mineral water is of truly high quality, preferably from pharmacies.

Medicine for wet cough for adults

Remedies for the treatment of wet cough differ significantly from those for the treatment of dry cough, and the treatment used differs depending on whether they are indicated for adults or children. Each product is approved by a doctor, due to the presence of individual specifics: whether synthetic components, vegetable or essential oils predominate. In addition, you should not take the same medicine for a long time due to the body getting used to it, since then there will be no reaction to the medicine.

Medicine for wet cough in adults is indicated by both folk and conventional medications. Traditional medicine is usually aimed at thinning mucus. Hot tea, in combination with lemon and raspberries, lingonberry syrup, honey and heated milk are well suited for these purposes. It is necessary to maintain indoor air humidity at the proper level and use household humidifiers if necessary. In case of urgent need, it is allowed to hang wet sheets in the room or inject room air with a special agent. Therapeutics indicated for wet coughs are aimed at intensifying expectoration, in addition, they help thin the sputum. Based on their operating principle, they are divided into two main groups. Resorptive drugs are made using a base in the form of iodides and sodium, reflex drugs are made from substances of plant origin, they act for 3-4 hours. When using the above drugs, stimulation of the gastric receptors involved in coughing occurs, so the dosage should be done carefully to avoid gagging.

Cough itself does not pose any significant threat to health, but its presence indicates that the body has been exposed to a certain external pathogenic effect. By exhaling air, repeated at a certain frequency, the body self-regulates by removing microorganisms, mucus and sputum accumulated in the lungs. The appearance of a cough can contribute to a certain irritation or swelling of the mucous membrane of the throat, negatively affecting the area of ​​the trachea and bronchi. Additional cough medications may be needed if the painful condition leads to a worsening of the overall picture.

A good cough medicine for an adult can come in many different forms. When it comes to a group of cough medications, these are usually sprays, tablets, drops, inhalers, and syrups. There are different types of tablets: some help suppress cough, others allow you to expectorate phlegm.

Drugs that promote suppression differ in their central and peripheral effects. Their use is permitted only after reaching 14 years of age, and it is necessary to strictly adhere to the dosage calculated for one day. Peripheral-acting drugs suppress cough, facilitate breathing and promote brain function. Drugs that act centrally do not have an effect on the respiratory system; they contribute to the liquefaction of sputum and their subsequent removal.

The best cough tablets for adults

The best medications have always been considered to be those that first help normalize blood pressure and then suppress the cough reflex.

• If the cough is not very strong, medicinal lozenges containing mint, eucalyptus, and sage work quite well.
• Bronholitin and Libexin are very reliable and tested.
• when a cough is accompanied by copious sputum, which is subsequently difficult to separate, Lazolvan, Bromhexine, ACC, Acetylcysteine ​​may be adequate remedies. They not only provide protection against inflammation, but also contribute to the narrowing of the bronchi.
• drugs that suppress and reduce the cough center include Stoptusin, Sinekod, Tusuprex.

Home remedies for coughs for adults

A very effective homemade cough remedy is a cocktail of milk with soda and honey. The milk must be heated, without bringing it to a boil, and stir in half a teaspoon of soda with a couple of teaspoons of honey. The resulting decoction must be drunk immediately.

A composition that includes milk with honey and fat, as well as a decoction of mint, rose hips, and chamomile, has proven to be a good cough medicine.

In the absence of fever and a cough that has lasted for a sufficiently long period, along with medications and heated decoctions, it is necessary to steam your legs, rub your body with goose fat or Zvezdochka balm.

It is useful to carry out steam inhalations, which in a short time can bring even a very cold person with a strong cough into working condition.

Honey cake for cough

Performed in several options:

• Honey is mixed with flour to form a dough of the required viscosity. Use two teaspoons of honey.
• Everything is the same, only mustard powder is used instead of flour. In order to obtain the required viscosity, add a little vodka or oil.
• 2-3 small boiled potatoes need to be peeled and crushed, so that they are gradually mixed into honey.
• Mix salt with honey, add just a little sunflower oil.
• Regardless of the option used, the resulting mass is placed on gauze or a bandage folded several times. A honey cake is applied to the center of the chest.

How to choose a cough medicine?

What cough tablets?

Effective medications for the treatment of cough in adults, adolescents and children is a hot topic today and this is due to common cases of self-medication and a huge selection of drugs in the form of syrups, tablets, mixtures, drops, suspensions, sprays, inhalers, infusions and tinctures. At the same time, patients often seek advice from pharmacists and pharmacists who cannot assess the nature of the cough, determine the diagnosis and severity of the disease, the possibility of a complicated course of the nosological form, which can only be determined by a qualified specialist - a therapist, pediatrician or family doctor. If necessary, additional instrumental examination methods are prescribed.

Proper treatment of cough does not consist in suppressing the cough reflex, which is the body’s protective reaction to irritation of the respiratory tract due to the development of an inflammatory process in them and with the production of sputum (wet cough) or with a minimal presence of mucus (dry unproductive cough), as well as any irritating factor entering the respiratory tract:

• small particles of dust;
• foreign objects;
• various infectious agents - pathogenic microorganisms, viruses, fungi;
• allergens.

In some cases, cough, especially in childhood, can occur due to diseases that are not associated with pathological processes directly in the respiratory system, but have a central (neurogenic) nature - with neuroses, hyperactivity syndrome, psychopathy. Cough is also an additional symptom for diseases of other organs or systems: allergic diseases, heart and vascular diseases, and digestive organs.

Therefore, in each specific case, diagnosis and careful selection of strictly defined and most effective cough tablets are necessary for complex therapy of the underlying disease with the elimination or relief of a certain type of cough.

Pathogenesis of cough

The mucous membranes of the trachea, bronchi and alveoli normally constantly produce mucus.

But in inflammatory processes that occur during seasonal infections, colds, cough is one of the symptoms of acutely occurring pathological processes, which are accompanied by fever, lethargy, weakness, runny nose and general malaise, due to the development of the inflammatory process in the epithelial cells of the larynx and trachea , pharynx, bronchi or alveoli. In this case, hyperemia develops with persistent edema and the production of mucous exudate, aimed at evacuating viruses and pathogenic microorganisms from the upper and lower respiratory tract.

Another cause of cough is bronchospasm.

Inflammation of the alveoli, pleura or lung tissue during pneumonia and pleurisy is accompanied by a frequent dry and irritating cough, but the diagnosis of these diseases is carried out only in a medical institution.

Cough, depending on the amount of sputum in the respiratory tract, is divided into wet and dry.

Moreover, the treatment of each type of cough has its own characteristics and determines the choice of cough medicine.

Tablets for dry cough, in most cases, suppress the cough reflex (by blocking the cough center or tracheobronchial tree receptors), so they

It is unacceptable to use for the treatment of wet cough, as a result of which the evacuation of sputum will be impaired and the lumens of the bronchi will be completely clogged with constantly produced secretions.

Also, do not use tablets for wet coughs, which dilute sputum and promote both its formation and easier expectoration when a dry cough occurs, which is associated with irritation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract by a catarrhal inflammatory process or irritation by chemical or physical agents. If they are not effective, they can stimulate the production of secretions when the cells are not ready for this, so swelling and inflammation of the bronchi and trachea worsens.

It is important to remember that cough is only a symptom of the disease and the main point of therapy is identifying and eliminating the cause of the pathological process.

Causes of cough in children and adults

Today, the main causes of cough are:

1. Diseases of the respiratory system

1. Colds and infectious diseases of the bronchopulmonary system of viral and bacterial etiology (considered the largest and main group of pathologies that are accompanied by cough):
   • diseases of the upper respiratory tract (nasopharyngitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, laryngotracheitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis);
   • pathological processes in the lower respiratory tract (tracheitis, tracheobronchitis, bronchiolitis, bronchitis, bronchopneumonia and pneumonia, pleurisy, alveolitis, lung abscess);
2. Specific infectious-inflammatory processes (tuberculosis and mycosis of the lungs, chlamydial pneumonia); 3) Diseases of infectious-allergic and allergic origin (bronchial asthma, angioedema of the larynx);
3. Congenital pathology of the bronchi and lungs (bronchial hypoplasia, congenital bronchiectasis);
4. Children's infectious diseases (whooping cough, measles, scarlet fever);
5. Benign and malignant neoplasms of the respiratory tract (pulmonary sarcoma, bronchogenic cancer, pleural tumors);
6. Irritation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract by aggressive chemicals (poisoning with gasoline vapors, acetone, carbon monoxide);
7. Foreign bodies in the respiratory tract;
8. Interstitial lung diseases.

2. Diseases of the heart and blood vessels

• heart defects (congenital and acquired);
• angina pectoris;
• heart failure;
• inflammatory heart diseases (myocarditis, pericarditis).

3. Diseases of the digestive tract

• gastroesophageal reflux;

4. Diseases of the nervous system

• neurogenic dysfunction of the pharyngeal muscles;
• neuroses;
• Parkinson's disease;
• organic pathology of the brain (post-stroke complications, brain tumors).

5. Other reasons

• smoker's cough;
• cough, as a side reaction when taking certain medications (renin-angiotensin inhibitors).

Effective elimination of the cause of cough is the basis of cough therapy aimed at the etiological factor.

Classification of drugs that eliminate and alleviate cough

The modern classification of medications that affect cough is extensive, but today medications that have a positive effect on the occurrence of the cough reflex, its productivity and intensity in pharmacology and medicine are divided into three main groups:

1. medications that directly have an inhibitory effect on the cough center of the central nervous system (in the brain) and on the nerve endings of cough receptors with complete or partial suppression of cough;
2. medications that affect smooth muscles and bronchial mucosa;
3. drugs that affect the state of bronchial secretions.

Dry cough tablets

A dry cough occurs as a complex reflex defense reaction of the body, which occurs with constant irritation of the respiratory tract by any infectious or other foreign agents with the simultaneous presence of catarrhal inflammation and swelling of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract with minimal sputum production, mainly with the development of viral or bacterial infections.

A dry cough is irritating and unproductive and most often occurs with catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract - the larynx, nasopharynx and/or the initial part of the trachea, as well as with their combined lesions - laryngopharyngitis, laryngotracheitis and pharyngotracheitis. Also, a frequent dry and irritating cough can occur in children with childhood infectious diseases - measles, paratussis, mumps, whooping cough and scarlet fever.

A dry cough can be a symptom of pleurisy, bronchoadenitis, the presence of a foreign body in the bronchi, as well as a symptom of diseases of other systems: a psychogenic cough with neuroses or an irritating cough with endocrinopathies and diseases of the digestive system (gastroesophageal reflux).

For this type of cough, in some cases, antitussive drugs are prescribed to suppress the cough reflex. It is important to remember that this type of medication is used only as prescribed by the attending physician at any age, but in young children (up to one year), in premature and weakened babies, in the presence of perinatal pathology of the central nervous system, these medications can inhibit not only the cough reflex, but also respiratory center. Therefore, in pediatric practice, these drugs are prescribed only under the constant supervision of a specialist in the case of severe dry cough, which significantly disrupts the child’s well-being and sleep, causing regurgitation and vomiting - for whooping cough, parawhooping cough and in the complex therapy of obstructive bronchitis and bronchopneumonia.

These medications are divided into:

• centrally acting drugs;
• peripheral action;
• combination drugs.

Centrally acting antitussives

A group of drugs that affect the cough center of central action are used to eliminate coughing attacks and are used to treat diseases with the absence of sputum. It mainly includes medications for the treatment of dry cough:

1. With a narcotic effect (Morphine chloride, Codeine, Demorphan, Hydrocodone, Codipront, and Ethylmorphine hydrochloride).

2. Without narcotic effect (Tusuprex, Glauvent, Sedotussin, Sinekod, Paxeladin, Butamirat).

Narcotic antitussive drugs

These drugs are sold in pharmacies only upon presentation of a prescription.

With caution, drugs in this group are prescribed for acute abdominal pain of unknown origin, convulsions (history), arrhythmia, alcoholism, attacks of bronchial asthma, suicidal tendencies, neuroses and emotional lability. And also for intracranial hypertension and brain injuries, prostatic hyperplasia, renal and/or liver failure, hypothyroidism, severe inflammatory bowel disease, and strictures of the urethra. It is extremely rare that drugs in this group are prescribed to weakened patients, at any stage of pregnancy and lactation, as well as to elderly patients and children due to the large number of adverse reactions, the possibility of overdose and poisoning.

It should be noted that the use of other antitussive and expectorant drugs simultaneously with narcotic antitussive drugs is prohibited.

The most common drugs in this group are Codeine and codeine-containing drugs and Ethylmorphine.

Codeine is an opium alkaloid and is formed synthetically by methylation of morphine. Its therapeutic effect is based on suppressing overstimulation of the cough center of the brain.

Codeine is part of combination medications that are used as symptomatic remedies for the treatment of obsessive, painful and debilitating cough:

1) in combination with expectorant drugs and terpinhydrate

• Terpincode;
• Codterpin;
• Kodarin;

2) with sodium bicarbonate, thermopsis herb and licorice root

• Codesan;
• Codelac;

3) in combination with anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, naproxen, metamizole, paracetamol and analgin and) with the inclusion of phenobarbital in some drugs with its calming effect

• Sedalgin;
• Pentalgin;
• Solpadeine;
• Nurofen Plus.

Ethylmorphine is a centrally acting antitussive that helps stimulate opioid receptors in brain neurons and reduce the excitability of the cough center and has an analgesic and sedative effect. It comes in tablet form.

The indication for use of Ethylmorphine is a non-productive, painful cough, which is accompanied by pain in pulmonary tuberculosis, pleurisy, and neoplasms of the bronchopulmonary system.

Contraindications to the use of this medicine are respiratory depression due to various infectious and inflammatory processes of the lungs (bronchopneumonia, bronchiectasis, emphysema and other COPD), especially in old age, as well as increased sensitivity to the drug. The most common adverse reactions are persistent headaches, insomnia, persistent constipation (especially in the elderly and senile, in debilitated patients) and the development of drug dependence.

Non-narcotic antitussive drugs

Today, the pharmacy chain has a very large selection of non-narcotic antitussive drugs that can be considered true cough tablets. Typical representatives of this group are Libexin, Paxeladin, Glaucin, Sedotussin, Tusuprex, Sinekod and other drugs.

The mechanism of action of these drugs:

• inhibitory effect on the nerve endings of cough receptors with complete or partial suppression of cough and indirect inhibition of the cough center;
• interruption or weakening of signals going to the brain (medulla oblongata) from the affected mucous membrane of the trachea and bronchi.

Some of the listed substances are included in combination products, mainly Glaucine, which is an antitussive component of many medications that also contain other emollients, expectorants or anti-inflammatory components (Stoptussin, Broncholitin).

Today, non-narcotic drugs are used widely by patients and, in some cases, by doctors, but, unfortunately, quite often unreasonably and incorrectly, because the indication for their use is considered to be the need to suppress a frequent, irritating cough. In pediatrics, such cases are rare - mainly with whooping cough or in cases of intense productive cough with intense sputum production with the formation of copious and liquid bronchial secretions (bronchorrhea), when there is a real threat of aspiration of bronchial contents.

In older patients (children over 12 years of age, adolescents, adult patients), these drugs are prescribed in cases of cough combined with moderate bronchospasm. Moreover, they are used both independently and as an addition to bronchodilator drugs that suppress catarrhal or allergic inflammation.

The most frequently prescribed drugs in this group are Butamirate, Libexin, Bitiodine, Paxeladin.

This antitussive drug effectively inhibits the excitability of the cough center, while providing moderate anti-inflammatory, expectorant effects and a weak bronchodilator effect, reducing irritation of the trachea and bronchi and potentiating the antitussive effect without a depressing effect on the respiratory center.

Butamirate tablets are used for symptomatic treatment of inflammatory diseases of the bronchopulmonary system in adults and children over 12 years of age, which are accompanied by frequent non-productive and severe irritating cough of an obsessive nature. Butamirate is the main component of the medicines Sinecod, Codelac-Neo, Omnitus.

An antitussive drug, the therapeutic effect of which is due to its active effect on the receptors of the mucous membrane of the bronchopulmonary system and, to a lesser extent, on the cough center of the central nervous system. Its active ingredient is Tipepidine, which is close in strength to codeine, but does not cause drug dependence even with long-term use.

Paxeladine

This drug is an antitussive that has no chemical affinity for opioids and their derivatives, nor for antihistamines. Its active component is oxeladine citrate, which acts selectively at the level of cough nerve centers. Paxeladine is available in extended-release capsules and syrup. Like all non-narcotic antitussive drugs, it is prescribed for the symptomatic treatment of frequent dry cough in most cases of a spastic or reflex nature. It is not used to treat productive cough - this makes it difficult to clear sputum and worsens inflammatory processes, creating conditions for the development of complications (bronchopneumonia, pleurisy). Paxeladin is also not used simultaneously with expectorants and mucolytic drugs - in this case, the production of viscous sputum is activated, which provokes the development of bronchospasm, peristalsis of small and medium-sized bronchi, and obliteration of the bronchial lumen occurs, which aggravates the cough.
The use of capsules is not recommended for children under 15 years of age.

Indications and features of the use of non-narcotic antitussive drugs

A group of non-narcotic antitussive drugs of central action is indicated mainly for coughs that are associated with severe irritation of the mucous membranes of the supraglottic (upper) parts of the respiratory tract resulting from infectious and/or catarrhal inflammation. Moreover, the positive result is usually enhanced when they are used together with peripheral antitussive drugs with an enveloping effect. An example of such a combined effect is Bronholitin. But the effectiveness of its use is justified only in the absence of pronounced inflammatory changes in the mucosa in the lower parts of the bronchopulmonary system, due to the fact that the ephedrine included in it “dries out” the bronchial mucosa, increasing the viscosity of bronchial secretions, increasing the unproductiveness of cough in bronchitis and pneumonia. Ephedrine also has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system, so the use of this medicine in children is unjustified and dangerous - it can disturb the child’s sleep, contributing to increased shortness of breath and unproductive cough.

It is important to remember that the use of this group of drugs as self-medication can do more harm than good, cause complications in the form of bronchial obstruction, increased viscosity of bronchial secretions and contribute to the progression of inflammatory processes, edema and descent of the pathological process into the lower sections.

Group of peripherally acting drugs

The peripheral action group includes pharmacological drugs for dry cough that act on nerve receptors and endings that are located in the tracheobronchial tree - Libexin, Levopront and Gelitsidin.

Libexin

Libexin is considered an effective antitussive drug, which additionally has local anesthetic, bronchodilator and antispasmodic effects and has a moderate expectorant and anti-inflammatory effect with a minimal decrease in the activity of the respiratory center. The main form of Libexin is round, flat, almost white tablets with a dividing strip into four equal parts on one side and an engraving “LIBEXIN” on the other, containing 100 mg of the active ingredient - prenoxdiazine hydrochloride.

This drug is today considered the drug of choice for the treatment of laryngitis, tracheitis, pharyngitis and, less commonly, bronchitis, which are accompanied by a dry, unproductive cough. Also as one of the components in the complex therapy of pleurisy and pneumonia, which are accompanied by pain and obstructive syndromes, and in congenital diseases of the bronchopulmonary system, cystic fibrosis and other chronic lung diseases: tuberculosis, pneumoconiosis, emphysema in children and adults as a symptomatic remedy for obsessive irritating cough .

This drug is prescribed with caution for ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as if there is a history of gastric bleeding, liver or kidney failure, glomerulonephritis, cystitis, an allergic form of bronchial asthma with a tendency to persistent bronchial obstruction.

Libexin is contraindicated in case of individual intolerance, pregnancy (especially in the first trimester), lactation and in early childhood.

Levopront

This drug is prescribed for frequent dry cough in children and adults. It is available in the form of syrup and drops for oral administration.

Absolute contraindications to its use are:

• pregnancy at any stage;
• lactation period;
• liver failure;
• decreased mucociliary function of the bronchi;
• hypersensitivity to the components of the drug.

Levopront can cause side effects such as increased fatigue, diarrhea, drowsiness, dizziness, tachycardia, heartburn, nausea, vomiting and allergic reactions. With long-term use of this drug, mental disorders, development of stupor and coma are possible, especially with overdose in childhood and old age.

Group of antitussive drugs of combined action

These drugs simultaneously have a cough reflex-reducing effect and an expectorant, moderate anti-inflammatory and mild bronchodilator effect due to the several components they contain - Stoptussin, Butamirate, Libexin-Muco, Tussin Plus, Broncholitin, Prothiazin, Hexapneumin.

All drugs in this group are widely used to treat dry and unproductive cough, but it is important to remember that

They are contraindicated in the presence of a productive wet cough or other conditions that are accompanied by copious sputum discharge, as well as in the likelihood of developing pulmonary hemorrhages.

Therefore, the choice of an antitussive drug should be made by a doctor based on anamnesis, clinical examination of the patient and, if necessary, additional methods (laboratory or instrumental).

Indications and features of the use of antitussive drugs

The group of “true” antitussive drugs of central and peripheral action is indicated mainly for cough, which is associated with severe irritation of the mucous membranes of the supraglottic (upper) respiratory tract, resulting from infectious and/or catarrhal inflammation. Moreover, the positive result is usually enhanced when they are used together with drugs that additionally have anti-inflammatory and enveloping effects. An example of such a combined effect is Bronholitin. But the effectiveness of its use is justified only in the absence of pronounced inflammatory changes in the mucosa in the lower parts of the bronchopulmonary system, due to the fact that the ephedrine included in it “dries out” the bronchial mucosa, increasing the viscosity of bronchial secretions, increasing the unproductiveness of cough in bronchitis and pneumonia. Ephedrine also has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system, so the use of this medicine in children is unjustified and dangerous - it can disturb the child’s sleep, contributing to increased shortness of breath and unproductive cough.

It is important to remember that the use of this group of drugs as self-medication can do more harm than good, cause complications in the form of broncho-obstruction, increased viscosity of bronchial secretions and contribute to the progression of inflammatory processes, edema and descent of the pathological process into the lower parts of the bronchopulmonary system.

Local cough medications

This group of antitussive drugs includes drugs that inhibit the cough reflex as a result of anesthesia of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, due to which the irritating effect of various agents, both infectious and non-infectious (chemical and physical factors), is sharply reduced. These drugs also reduce the viscosity of sputum and relax the bronchi.

Local anesthetics include Libexin, Tusuprex tablets and Falimint dissolving tablets.

Tusuprex

Tusuprex tablets are often used for the symptomatic treatment of cough in children over one year old, adolescents and adult patients, but in pediatric practice they are used only as prescribed by a doctor (due to the complexity of dosing in young children). Also, this drug should not be used against the background of the development of bronchospasm (with obstructive bronchitis and bronchial asthma), in the presence of confirmed bronchiectasis and for any disease that is accompanied by difficult sputum discharge.

Falimint lozenges are indicated in the presence of a non-productive irritating cough, which is caused by severe catarrhal inflammation of the upper respiratory tract (pharynx, larynx and upper trachea). This drug contains a local anesthetic component and therefore reduces the intensity of dry cough.

Falimint does not apply:

• in children under 4 years of age;
• during pregnancy and lactation;
• in case of hypersensitivity to the components of the drug;
• with fructose intolerance.

Drugs affecting the state of bronchial secretions

There is a separate group of drugs that have a mucolytic and/or expectorant effect. These tablets and syrups, which are used for wet productive coughs, are divided into the following subtypes of drugs:

1. Expectorants:

a) having a predominantly reflex action:

• Terpinhydrate, Thermopsis, Sodium benzoate, Licorin;
• roots of Licorice, Elecampane, Istoda and Althea;
• essential oils.

b) stimulating the gastropulmonary and/or gag reflex:

• Guaifenazine, Ipecac, Sodium Citrate, Ammonium Chloride.

c) resorptive effect with increased bronchial secretion:

• Sodium iodide, Sodium bicarbonate, Ammonium chloride, Potassium iodide.

2. Mucolytic agents:

a) direct action, which quickly destroy the polymer bonds of bronchial mucus:

• Mukaltin;
• Mucomist;
• Mukobene;
• Exomyuk;
• Acetylcysteine, Fluimucil, Carbocysteine ​​group (Mukopront, Bronkatar, Mukodin, Fluvik, Mistabron, Mukosol;
• preparations with infusions of plantain leaves, coltsfoot, licorice;
• enzymatic preparations that reduce the viscosity of sputum - Chymotrypsin, DNAase, Trypsin, Ribonuclease, Streptokinase, DNAase, Pulmozyme;

b) Indirect action (mucoregulators):

• Ambroxol (Ambrobene, Ambrosan, Ambrohexal, Halixol, Medovent, Lazolvan, Ambrolanlazolvan);
• Bromhexine (Fulpen, Flegamine, Broxin, Bisolvon);
• Carboxymethylcysteine, Sobrerod, Sodium ethanesulfate, Letostein, Sodium bicarbonate;
• those that change the productivity of the bronchial glands are anticholinergic and antihistamine drugs.

3. Anti-inflammatory drugs with bronchodilator and/or expectorant effect:

• Suprima-broncho, Sinupret, Pulmotin, Glyciram, Ascoril, Gelomirtol, Gedelix, Eucabal and Prospan.

Features of the use of expectorant drugs

The mechanism of action of expectorant drugs is based on increased secretion of sputum by the bronchial glands, dilution of the secretion by a reflex and, as a result, easier discharge of mucous or mucopurulent sputum from the lower parts of the bronchopulmonary system to its higher parts. These drugs actively irritate the receptors of the mucous membranes of the stomach and, by stimulating the vomiting center, which is localized in the medulla oblongata, and therefore significantly increase the secretion of sputum by the bronchi.

Expectorants are prescribed for diseases that are accompanied by a decrease in the production of sputum or, conversely, an abundance of thick, viscous, difficult to separate mucus, which accumulates in the bronchi (with bronchitis and bronchial asthma), the larynx (with laryngitis), in the trachea (with tracheitis), in the alveoli and small bronchioles (with bronchopneumonia and cystic fibrosis).

The use of expectorants for the treatment of respiratory diseases cannot be combined with antitussive drugs of central and peripheral action, which suppress the cough center or inhibit the cough reflex. In this case, a large amount of sputum accumulates in the lower respiratory tract, which often leads to their obliteration and the development of severe infectious and inflammatory diseases (obstructive bronchitis, bronchopneumonia, pleurisy).

There are two groups of expectorant drugs that differ in the mechanism of their therapeutic action:

• means of reflex action;
• drugs with direct effect.

• herbal preparations;
• synthetic drugs.

Basically, almost all expectorants with a reflex mechanism of action are represented by medicinal plants and their extracts, which enhance and accelerate the removal of mucus from the organs of the bronchopulmonary system. This group of medicines is extensive and in most cases they are represented by herbal medicines.

Medicinal plants have expectorant properties:

• licorice;
• thermopsis;
• anise;
• marshmallow;
• plantain;
• elecampane;
• wild rosemary;
• oregano;
• thyme;
• coltsfoot;
• ipecacuanha;
• thyme;
• violet;
• pine buds, etc.

Plant extracts of these herbs are included in various breast mixtures, tablets, powders and syrups for the treatment of wet productive cough in children and adults.

Cough tablets with thermopsis

In most cases (and this is actually true) this drug is considered the best drug for treating wet cough.

Cough tablets with thermopsis and sodium bicarbonate were very popular in the past and are effective today. Their balanced composition - thermopsis herb, which enhances the secretion of sputum, while simultaneously reducing its viscosity, and sodium bicarbonate - softening and gently breaking bonds in sputum molecules - effectively liquefy sputum, facilitating its speedy evacuation from the upper and lower parts of the respiratory tract.

These tablets do not contain artificial additives or synthetic components, and they are not inferior in effectiveness compared to expensive medications.

But there are absolute contraindications for prescribing this drug:

• individual intolerance to the components of the drug;
• erosive and ulcerative pathological processes of the stomach and other parts of the digestive system;
• pregnancy.

Thermopsis today is considered an excellent medicine for the treatment of wet cough in children. But it is important to remember that it is not used for infants for the treatment of bronchitis or bronchopneumonia with a large amount of sputum, while the child cannot cough up effectively, and thermopsis additionally activates increased secretion of mucus by the bronchial glands, which quickly leads to the development of respiratory failure. Also, thermopsis grass has an emetic effect and babies experience frequent regurgitation and vomiting, which leads to dysfunction of the digestive system, development of lethargy, reduced weight gain and general weakening of the baby’s body.

Also, if the dose of Thermopsis is exceeded, its emetic effect manifests itself, which can cause nausea at the beginning of treatment at any age (especially in children).

Mukaltin

Another effective herbal preparation for the treatment of wet cough is Mucaltin cough tablets, which are based on marshmallow extract. It has a pronounced anti-inflammatory and expectorant effect, which is caused by reflex stimulation of the ciliated epithelium of the respiratory tract and increased peristalsis of the bronchi and bronchioles with activation of the secretion of the bronchial glands.

Mucaltin tablets also contain sodium bicarbonate.

Currently, this drug is recognized as one of the most effective expectorant drugs that are used to treat productive wet cough in children and adults.

Doctor Mom

Doctor Mom is a complex herbal preparation that is used in the treatment of diseases accompanied by wet productive cough or cough with viscous sputum. It contains active plant substances that have expectorant, emollient, secretomotor, anti-inflammatory, moderate bronchodilator and mucolytic effects.

The lozenges and syrup are based on dry extracts from the leaves, roots, seeds, bark, and flowers of medicinal plants: aloe, elecampane, basil, ginger, licorice, turmeric, cubeba pepper, terminalia belerica and Indian nightshade.

An additional positive characteristic of this medicine is its good tolerability, even with long-term use.

This medicine should be taken with caution by pregnant women and during lactation and only with the prescription of the attending physician and with constant monitoring.

Also, Doctor Mom is not prescribed simultaneously with medications that suppress the cough reflex. A good effect is achieved by using this herbal expectorant in combination with mucolytic drugs (Ambroxol, Lazolvan and Bromhexine).

At the beginning of treatment or with prolonged or uncontrolled use of the drug, nausea to vomiting or frequent regurgitation in young children may occur, which is due to the presence of licorice extract in the drug, which has a weak emetic effect.

Expectorants of artificial origin

The mechanism of action of direct-acting expectorant antitussive drugs is based on increased excretion of bronchial secretions as a result of the effect on sputum and stimulation of bronchial peristalsis. This group of drugs is represented by artificial drugs - iodized potassium and sodium salts, sodium benzoate, sodium hydrochloride, terpinhydrate, ammonium chloride, potassium bromide and essential oils - eucalyptus fir, anise. They are quite effective and are mainly used for inhalation.

In the pharmacy chain you can purchase combination drugs for the treatment of wet cough, which contain both herbal substances and artificial components - Ammonia-anise drops and Pertussin, which contains thyme extract and potassium bromide.

Mucolytic drugs

The action of mucolytic drugs is aimed at thinning the thick and viscous secretion of the bronchial glands without increasing the secretion of sputum to facilitate their evacuation from the lower and upper respiratory tract.

Mucolytic tablets are today considered one of the main components in the treatment of wet cough. They also restore the mucous membranes of the bronchi and the elasticity of the lungs.

This group of drugs includes Ambroxol, ACC, Bromhexine, Carbocytein. When combining various herbal expectorants with mucolytics, the effectiveness of both increases dramatically. Mucolytics also potentiate the effect of antibacterial drugs, increasing their effectiveness, therefore they are widely used in the complex treatment of pneumonia, bronchiolitis, obstructive bronchitis and pleurisy.

Ambroxol and Bromhexine activate the formation of pulmonary surfactant, which ensures the normal functioning of the alveoli of the lungs, preventing them from collapsing and sticking together, therefore they are widely used in pediatric practice for the treatment of bronchopulmonary pathology in young children, premature babies and babies with intrauterine malnutrition.

Their negative side is the ability to cause bronchospasm, which is considered a contraindication to the use of these drugs during periods of exacerbation of bronchial asthma.

Main groups of mucolytic drugs

In medicine and pharmacology, mucolytics are divided into several groups:

1) drugs that are developed on the basis of proteolytic enzymes - chymotrypsin, trypsin and mesna. But this group of drugs is used only in extreme cases, always in a hospital setting and under the supervision of the attending physician;
2) drugs based on acetylcysteine ​​- ACC, Mukobene, Fluimucil, Exomyuk, Mucomist and others.

The mechanism of action of these drugs is based on the dilution of thick and viscous sputum as a result of the rupture of large mucus molecules into small ones; therefore, the process of coughing and evacuation of sputum from the respiratory tract is facilitated. Acetylcysteine ​​preparations also have a protective effect on inflamed cells of the bronchopulmonary system.
Drugs of this group cannot be taken simultaneously with antitussive drugs, which leads to stagnation of sputum in the bronchi and alveoli, suppression of coughing and the development of complications (bronchopneumonia, respiratory failure, and with the accumulation of aggressive microflora - lung abscesses and purulent pleurisy).
3) medicines based on carbocysteine ​​(mucoregulators) - Bronkatar, Carbocisteine, Drill, Mucodin, Fluvik, Mucopront.

They normalize not only the qualitative composition of sputum (thinning it and facilitating coughing), but also increase the activity of cells that produce bronchial secretions and the work of the cilia of the epithelium of the bronchi and bronchioles. They also have an anti-inflammatory effect and stimulate local immunity due to an increase in the production of protective immune complexes (group A immunoglobulins).
The most modern drug in this group is Fluifort; its distinctive feature is its longer action.
4) mucolytics with expectorant effect - derivatives of Ambroxol and Bromhexine

The mechanism of action of these drugs is based on stimulating the secretion of liquid sputum by the alveoli and liquefying already accumulated mucus, stimulating the formation of immunoglobulin and lysozyme in bronchial secretions and having an expectorant effect.
But the pronounced effect of these drugs does not occur immediately, but only on the fourth to sixth day from the start of treatment.
Bromhexine preparations include Flecoxin, Bronchosan, Flegamine, Bromoxin, Fulpen, Solvin.
Drugs in this group also cannot be used simultaneously with antitussive drugs due to the possible accumulation of excess sputum as a result of cough suppression and the lack of evacuation of accumulated secretions from the bronchi and alveoli. Additionally, when prescribing this group of drugs, the use of vibration (drainage) massage and postural drainage (the patient's adoption of certain body positions that improve the outflow of sputum) is indicated.
Ambroxol preparations are active metabolites of Bromhexine with an improved chemical structure, therefore these drugs have a complex effect on the condition of the respiratory tract - mucolytic, anti-inflammatory and expectorant. Since 2012, Ambroxol has been included in the list of essential and vital medicines. But Ambroxol preparations should also not be taken simultaneously with antitussive drugs.

The main drugs are Ambrobene, Lazolvan, Ambrohexal, Halixol, Bronhovern, Deflegmin, Ambrolan.

Good cough tablets

There is no definition of “good cough tablets” from either a medical or pharmaceutical point of view. Cough is only a symptom, the complete elimination of which or even its reduction may do more harm than good. With the development of bronchopulmonary pathology in both children and adult patients, treatment is aimed at eliminating the cause of the pathological process - relieving bronchospasm, eliminating inflammation, removing a foreign body from the trachea and bronchi, or treating other systems and organs - neuroses, psychopathy (with a neurotic cough).

Therefore, the choice of drug for the treatment of cough is individual and is made after examining the patient, carefully collecting anamnesis and establishing a diagnosis.

Cough tablets for children

The correct choice of medications for the treatment of cough in children is determined by the main factors - the cause of the cough, the mechanism of action of antitussive drugs, the characteristics of the cough reflex in the child, and the full range of all these factors can only be assessed by a specialist who will prescribe the correct treatment for the child in each specific case.

Suppression of the cough reflex in a child, the simultaneous use of several antitussive drugs from different groups, increasing the dosage, frequency and duration of taking the drug can lead to many negative consequences, the development and progression of complications dangerous to health and even life.

Cough tablets during pregnancy

Pregnancy in most cases is an absolute contraindication to taking many antitussive medications, especially narcotic antitussives, many complex medications, due to their pronounced negative effect on the embryo with the subsequent development of fetopathies and other disorders of the correct formation of organs and systems of the unborn child.

Relatively contraindicated drugs for the treatment of cough are:

• insufficiently studied drugs, the use of which may pose a risk of dangerous effects on the baby’s body;
• medications with a possible risk of developing side effects in the expectant mother.

Also, at any stage of pregnancy, some medicinal plants and medicines that contain them are contraindicated - juniper, nettle, oregano, coltsfoot, St. John's wort and others. The negative effect of medicinal herbs on the fetus is sometimes many times more active than synthetic drugs - they have a fetopathological and teratogenic effect on the embryo, change the hormonal background of the pregnant woman, can stimulate myometrial contractions and cause miscarriages, especially in the early stages.

Therefore, even at the planning stage, and even more so in the early stages of pregnancy, it is necessary to take any medications and/or homeopathic drugs and herbs with caution.

An effective cough medicine for adults. Nebulizer medicines for cough

Coughing may not always be a symptom of illness; it is an important protective reflex of the body, allowing you to get rid of phlegm and foreign bodies in the respiratory tract. In what cases should you start treatment and what cough medicines are best to take, you should ask your doctor. After all, the most expensive drug is not always the most effective. If you look at it, sometimes the best cough medicine is the one whose price fluctuates within reasonable limits.

Causes

The disease can be caused by a number of negative factors. A sudden cough reflex helps clear the throat and respiratory passage of foreign particles, microbes that irritate the mucous membranes. By its nature, it can be both involuntary and intentional. There are three phases of the cough reflex:

• inhalation;
• forced exhalation with a closed glottis, which is located in the middle part of the larynx;
• When the glottis opens, air is released explosively, which is why the cough has a characteristic sound.

The illness is caused by respiratory tract infections such as colds or flu. Viruses can take up residence in the body and manifest various symptoms within a few days. Smoking is also one of the most common causes of a cough with a characteristic sound called “smoker's cough.” In this case, the disease is chronic and difficult to treat. Asthma most often develops in childhood and includes characteristic wheezing, which makes the disease easy to identify. Severe forms of asthma require long-term treatment, otherwise the disease becomes chronic and remains with the person for the rest of his life.

Other factors that cause the cough reflex include damage to the vocal cords, bacterial infections (pneumonia, whooping cough, bronchitis), pulmonary embolism, heart failure, gastrointestinal reflux, psychological problems and certain medications.

Classification of the disease

Before choosing a cough medicine for adults, you should determine what type it is. The following types of manifestation of the disease are distinguished:

• acute – appears suddenly and lasts up to 2-3 weeks;
• subacute – this type can last from 3 to 8 weeks;
• chronic – persists for more than 8 weeks;
• wet, moist or productive - occurs with the formation of sputum rising up the respiratory tract;
• dry or unproductive - a painful barking cough in which sputum is not produced;
• nocturnal – occurs only at night, during the patient’s sleep.

Correctly identifying the type of illness will allow you to choose an effective cough medicine for adults, which will quickly relieve the symptoms of the disease and alleviate the patient’s condition.

Diagnosis of the disease

Typically, an experienced physician will determine the nature of the disease using his or her medical experience, but sometimes additional diagnostic tests may be required. Before deciding which cough medicines are best in a particular case, you should rule out diseases of the internal organs (heart, stomach, thyroid gland), which provoke involuntary contraction of the lungs and diaphragm and cause the disease.

Additional diagnostic tests include sputum samples from the patient, chest X-ray, spirometry, etc. Coughs of an infectious nature are treated with the same medications; for bacterial coughs, completely different medications are used. If, for example, a patient is diagnosed with asthma, the patient is prescribed specific medications.

How to treat an infectious cough

Infectious, or viral, cough has its own characteristics. It usually develops suddenly over 1-2 days and can be quite annoying. Additional signs include headache, malaise, and sometimes fever. In some cases, the infection affects not only the respiratory tract, but also the nasopharynx, then a runny nose is added to the symptoms. In this case, the medicine for throat and cough should be aimed at fighting the viral infection. Taking Paracetamol, Ibuprofen or Aspirin will help relieve symptoms while the immune system gets rid of the infection. They will help reduce high fever and reduce pain. Prices for such drugs are low and vary between 150-300 rubles. Before taking this cough medicine during pregnancy, you should carefully study the instructions so as not to harm your unborn baby.

During treatment, the patient should receive plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and, as grandmothers like to say, to “flush” the infection from the body. An important component of treatment will be quitting smoking (if this bad habit occurs). Tobacco smoke not only provokes the disease, but also aggravates its course. In this case, adults should not use any medicine for dry cough. Sucking lozenges will help relieve irritation and sore throat. Antibiotics are not usually recommended because they do not kill the viral infection.

Treatment of bacterial cough

Medicines for bronchitis and cough are aimed at thinning mucus and improving the process of its removal. A disease of a bacterial nature is a complication of a viral infection when secondary infection with microbes (bacteria) occurs. Such phenomena can lead to the development of bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, pleurisy and other diseases of the upper respiratory tract. In this case, the most effective cough medicine for adults, called an antibiotic, is prescribed. It is necessary to eliminate a bacterial infection, the symptoms of which are characterized by fever, fatigue, weakness, chest pain, heavy breathing, which is often accompanied by whistling and wheezing. If the cough continues for a long time, blood may be present in the sputum. Unfortunately, bacteria are very adaptable; prolonged use of antibiotics makes them more resistant to various therapies. In hospital treatment, patients are prescribed medications for bronchitis and cough in various combinations of drugs in order to obtain more effective treatment results.

It is important to remember that all antibiotics must be used as directed. The effect of these drugs on the body weakens over time. Failure to complete the prescribed course of treatment increases the likelihood that drug-resistant strains of microorganisms will develop. That is why it is very important to continue treatment with antibiotics for as long as prescribed by the attending physician, without stopping therapy after the symptoms disappear.

Productive or unproductive?

A productive, or wet, cough is often useful because it helps the lungs and bronchi get rid of mucus and phlegm, so there is no point in suppressing it. In more serious cases, the doctor may prescribe a special medicine for coughing up phlegm to improve the process of phlegm removal and make it easier for the patient to breathe.

A dry, or non-productive, cough is characterized by painful symptoms: a feeling of continuous sore throat, headaches and pain in the trachea (or bronchi). In this case, sputum is not produced, which prevents the patient from coughing.

Medicine for dry cough in adults should help soften it and remove phlegm. As soon as it begins to separate, we can assume that recovery is near, and until that time the infection will “sit” firmly in the respiratory tract. Which cough medicine to choose for adults largely depends on the cause of its occurrence (infection, allergy, etc.). If the disease is allergic, the patient is prescribed antihistamines, if it is viral, antiviral agents, and if it is bacterial, antibiotics. Drugs that alleviate the symptoms of the disease and improve the expectoration process include Bromhexine, Ambroxol, Mucaltin and other mucolytics. If the symptoms of the disease are so painful that they interfere with sleep, then the best cure for dry cough for adults is suppressants that suppress the cough reflex. These include medications "Folkodin", "Codterpin", "Sinekod" and others. Milk with the addition of baking soda, Borjomi mineral water or any other natural mineral water is very useful for non-productive coughs. A good expectorant are syrups and mixtures, for example the drug "Broncholitin", syrups of plantain, marshmallow root, and ivy.

Medicines for coughs containing phlegm are called expectorants. They facilitate the passage of mucus from the bronchi and lungs and promote its rapid elimination. Taking expectorants is necessary if a large amount of thick mucus is produced. This category of medicines as medicines for cough with sputum includes tablets and syrups “Lazolvan”, “Prospan”, “Givalex”, “Flavamed”, “ACC” and others. Prices for medicines range from 250-400 rubles. The same drug should not be taken for a long period, as the body may become accustomed to this drug and the treatment will become ineffective. Walking in the fresh air, drinking plenty of fluids and inhalations are helpful if a wet cough is diagnosed. The medications that the patient takes must be prescribed by a doctor, since self-medication can have bad consequences.

Treatment during pregnancy

During pregnancy, any treatment should be approached with great caution, and cough is no exception. Of course, while expecting the birth of a baby, a woman should take care of her health and try not to get sick. In case of illness, you should not self-medicate, because the best medicine for cough during pregnancy is one that will not harm the child. As a rule, expectant mothers prefer traditional medicine, but even here there are some pitfalls. The fact is that not all medicinal plants are equally useful: some of them can be poisonous or toxic. Before starting treatment for cough during pregnancy, you should definitely consult with your doctor about the advisability and safety of taking certain medications. Among the medicines that are sold in pharmacies, you can use marshmallow and plantain root syrup, Prospan, Givalex, Erespal syrups.

Folk recipes

A safe medicine for throat and cough for pregnant women is homemade lollipops. The only contraindication to the use of medicinal lozenges (or to reducing their quantity) is elevated blood sugar levels. To prepare medicinal lollipops, you need to mix sugar with thyme decoction. Mixing proportions: for 300 grams of sand, 100 milliliters of decoction. Dissolve the sugar in the thyme decoction, pour into an enamel bowl and put on fire. Cook the syrup for about 20 minutes, stirring it occasionally. As soon as the mixture begins to harden, use a spoon to pour it into silicone ice cube trays. Such lozenges can be dissolved throughout the day, the cough will go away by the end of the first - maximum second day of treatment.

Cough medicine, the price of which is relatively low, is also prepared at home. For pregnant women, this remedy is the safest and no less effective. To prepare it, you will need one liter of milk and 1 large carrot. Peel the carrots, cut into 2-3 parts, put in milk and simmer on low heat. When the milk has boiled down by half, it should be strained, cooled and drunk throughout the day in small portions warm.

Using a nebulizer to treat a cough

A nebulizer is a device that is used to deliver medication directly into the airways to the lungs. It does this by converting liquid medication into an aerosol that can be easily inhaled.

Nebulizer medications for cough include:

• inhaled corticosteroids - drugs that reduce inflammation in the airway caused by swelling;
• bronchodilators - drugs used to treat asthma;
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - reduce inflammation in the airways, but do not control the symptoms of allergic asthma.

Prevention of cough in adults

If a person has a cough, treatment and medications not only produce a positive effect, but also have a negative effect on the body: they undermine the immune system. It would be more correct to take preventive measures and strengthen the immune system to prevent illness. Preventive measures include the following:

• Hypothermia should be avoided and wear warm clothes in the cold season.
• It is necessary to wash your hands frequently during the season of colds and infectious diseases. This will help prevent the spread of the virus that causes the cough.
• Avoid contact with people who have symptoms of a cold or infectious disease, if possible, of course.
• Stop smoking any tobacco products (including hookah). A dry, hacking “smoker's cough” means that a person's lungs are constantly irritated. This circumstance can lead not only to any complications such as bronchitis or pneumonia, but also to more serious problems of an oncological nature.
• It is important to avoid exposure to tobacco smoke (so-called “passive smoking”) at home, at work, and in public places.
• Increase the amount of fluid consumed per day. This will keep the level of mucus in the respiratory tract within normal limits and prevent dehydration.
• During the cold and infectious disease season, you should get a flu shot annually.

How to treat a cough? Cough medicines

Thank you

The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!

The most common symptom of respiratory system diseases is cough- This is a forced, sharp, repeated exhalation of air. Thanks to coughing, the upper respiratory tract self-cleanses itself of phlegm, mucus, germs, and foreign bodies.

The immediate cause of this phenomenon is irritation and swelling of the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, bronchi, and trachea. Coughing is a reflex action, in some cases it can be caused voluntarily.

In chemical plants where people work with toxic, harmful volatile substances, workers are required to wear protective equipment against the penetration of chemicals into the respiratory tract. If you ignore safety rules and do not wear masks or respirators, then a cough reflex may also occur from mechanical and chemical irritation.

Differential differences

Even when coughing severely, people do not always seek help from a doctor, preferring to treat themselves. Sick people come to the pharmacy and ask the pharmacist to give something to stop coughing" Of course, self-selected medications can relieve a cough. But it’s better to consult a therapist.

The pharmacist usually asks what kind of cough is observed - wet or dry ?
The choice of medicine will depend on this. " Wet or dry" - this is the simplest differentiation based on the presence of sputum; in addition to this, they also distinguish:

• Periodic (occurs with bronchitis).
• Short continuous (pleurisy).
• Hoarse (inflammation of the vocal cords).
• Barking (damage to the larynx; hysterical syndrome).
• Paroxysmal (whooping cough).

Treatment

If a person coughs painfully, dryly, feeling a “scratching” in the chest and throat, then in this case it is advisable to take cough medicines, which suppress the cough reflex and normalize sputum production. It is recommended to take lozenges and lozenges with sage, medications Libexin or Bronholitin.

If a person coughs with sputum, and it is difficult to separate and has a viscous consistency, then it is necessary to use drugs that thin the sputum, such as: Fluifort, Lazolvan, Acetylcysteine, Bromhexine. These drugs have a protective and anti-inflammatory effect on the mucous membrane of the throat, relieve spasm ( narrowing) bronchi.

Fluifort has proven itself well. The drug helps transform a dry cough into a wet one. Carbocysteine ​​lysine salt in the syrup, unlike acetylcysteine ​​preparations, not only helps to liquefy and separate mucus, but also prevents it from flowing into the lower respiratory tract. That is why Fluifort helps restore the structure of the mucous membranes of the respiratory system, reduces the intensity of cough and makes breathing easier. The effect of the syrup begins in the first hour after administration and lasts up to 8 hours. Due to its neutral pH, the drug does not cause stomach irritation. Fluifort syrup is prescribed for rhinosinusitis, adenoiditis, otitis media, laryngotracheitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia.

For acute respiratory diseases ( acute respiratory infections), the doctor will prescribe antitussive drugs and will not administer antibiotic therapy. And if a patient is diagnosed with bronchitis or pneumonia, then treatment with antibiotics will be carried out first, since suppressing the activity of microbes is a priority therapeutic goal. This is why it is important to get examined by a doctor. Mistaking a serious bronchial disease for a cold, the patient will try to relieve only one symptom - cough, not suspecting that he is worsening his condition with ineffective self-medication.

It is necessary to take expectorants and antitussives if dry, annoying, frequent coughing interferes with normal sleep. Drugs that suppress the cough center - Stoptussin-Fito, Glaucin, Libexin, Tusuprex, Sinekod.

Expectorants and mucus thinners are called mucolytics. These drugs help clear the lungs of mucus and remove it out. Commonly used mucolytic drugs: Mucaltin, Bromhexine, Halixol, Mucopront, Mucodin, Fluimucil.

If the cough does not go away for several weeks and is accompanied by severe chest pain; If your cough produces bloody sputum or yellow-green sputum, contact your local doctor as soon as possible.

Treatment with herbal preparations

Herbal preparations significantly weaken cough symptoms, have an anti-inflammatory effect, stimulate the formation of sputum and improve expectoration, and relieve bronchospasm. These include: Gedelix, plantain preparations ( Bronkhin, Stoptussin-Fito, Eucabal, Breast collection No. 2). Combination drugs are also widely used: Kofol, Doctor Mom, Kofrem, Suprima-Broncho. These medications eliminate coughs of any etiology, and relieve inflammatory manifestations of whooping cough, pharyngitis, and laryngitis.

Most of these drugs are used to treat both adults and children, since they have no side effects and consist of natural substances.

Other herbal preparations:
1. Herbal tea No. 25 by Dr. Seleznev (facilitates expectoration, relieves inflammation of the respiratory tract).

2. Preparations from marshmallow. Marshmallow has an enveloping and softening effect on the membranes of the bronchi, relieves irritation and improves sputum separation. It is used for both dry and wet coughs. Preparations containing marshmallow: Altemix, Chest collection No. 1, Mukaltin, Dry cough syrup, Licorice.

3. Oregano has an antimicrobial and expectorant effect, is part of Breast Collection No. 1 and Bronkhina.

4. Thyme has an antimicrobial effect, is part of domestic and foreign drugs - Eucabal, Stoptussin-Fito, Pertussin.

Flu or a cold is manifested not only by coughing, but also by fever and runny nose. To treat these diseases, drugs are used that contain several active substances, each of which is aimed at a specific symptom.

These drugs include antipyretic, antitussive, and antiallergic components. However, it is worth remembering that this is symptomatic treatment and is not always justified. For example, when the temperature rises, this is a protective action of the body aimed at suppressing microbial activity. Therefore, it is not recommended to bring down a temperature of up to 38 degrees with antipyretic drugs.

Or in the case when you cough up phlegm, you should not suppress the cough reflex, because the phlegm will linger in the body and can cause stagnation.

Treatment with folk remedies

1. Gogol-mogol. Prepare as follows: grind the egg yolks with sugar until white. Drink the resulting mixture on an empty stomach.

2. Wine with pepper roots. Boil 50 grams of pepper roots in 250 ml of wine ( white). Then you need to strain the mixture and drink it hot at least three times a day.

3. Onions and goose fat. Grate the onion and mix it with fat. Rub this mixture into the chest and neck area. After rubbing, wrap your chest and neck with a warm scarf or handkerchief.

4. Onions and milk. Finely chop a large onion or two small ones, boil in 250 ml of milk. Leave for at least 4 hours, then strain. Take 20 grams every three hours ( about one tablespoon).

5. Onions and sugar. Cover the chopped large onion with sugar in the amount of two tablespoons. After 8 - 10 hours the mixture will be ready. For treatment, you need to consume not only sweet onions, but also the resulting juice.

6. Onions and honey. Chop 500 grams of onion, add 400 grams of sugar, pour 1 liter. water. Cook for 3.5 hours. After the mixture has cooled, add 50 grams of honey. You should take onions with honey after meals, a few tablespoons at a time.

7. Bananas. Grind bananas into a paste, add hot water ( two bananas – 1 cup of water). Add sugar. Heat over low heat.

8. Butter with egg yolk. Prepared this way: 20 grams of butter, 30 grams of flour, 30 grams of honey, two egg yolks. Mix thoroughly. Take before meals.

9. Cream, milk. These products coat the irritated throat and reduce the unpleasant scratchy sensation during coughing. You can drink hot tea with butter.

10. Milk and oats. Pour the oats into a small saucepan, two-thirds full. Add one third of the milk. Simmer in the oven over low heat. As the milk boils, add more. Cook until the oats are cooked through. Drink 3 tablespoons of the mixture, morning, afternoon and evening.

11. Wormwood tincture. 20 grams of dried wormwood is poured with vodka ( 500 ml). Leave for at least a day. Drink the resulting product one tablespoon several times a day. Due to the alcohol content, this product is not given to children.

12. Eucalyptus tincture. Sold in pharmacies.

13. Radish with sugar. The radish is chopped finely and covered generously with sugar. After a few hours, sweet juice is released; You need to take it every hour, a spoonful. This effective remedy cures even very severe coughs.

14. Infusion of coltsfoot. Used for pneumonia, cough, bronchitis. Pour boiling water over the coltsfoot leaves, in the ratio “a glass of water – a tablespoon of leaves.”

15. Rub with goat fat. After rubbing your chest with goat fat, you need to wrap yourself warmly. Rub it every day for a week.

16. Eucalyptus inhalations. Grind and brew eucalyptus leaves ( if they are not there, buy eucalyptus oil at the pharmacy), pour into a cup or deep plate, roll a cone out of cardboard, the wide end of which should be pressed tightly to the edges of the plate, and through the narrow end, inhale the steam for 15 - 20 minutes.

Expectorants

Basis for the preparation of expectorants ( herbal teas) can be purchased at the pharmacy.

• Decoction of wild rosemary.
• Decoction of nine strength.
• Viburnum decoction.

For dry cough

• Onions and milk. Finely chop 10 medium onions and one head of garlic and cook in milk, after cooking, add honey. Drink a tablespoon after an attack of dry cough.
• Keep a tablespoon of granulated sugar on the fire until the sugar turns brown. Then pour the sugar into the milk. Keep the resulting substance in your mouth until it dissolves.
• Before going to bed, drink milk with poppy seeds. Grind a couple of teaspoons of poppy seeds in a mortar, then pour in hot milk. After straining, drink while the milk is warm.

If a child coughs...

Folk remedies, with the exception of those containing alcohol, are excellent for children. Dosages for children should be halved.

1. Freshly squeezed carrot juice with added honey. Take a tablespoon 5 times a day.

2. "Sugar" radish. Cut black radish into small cubes, cover with sugar and bake in the oven. Then you can throw away the baked radish, drain the juice and take it 3 times a day before meals, 2 teaspoons.

3. Lemon with honey. Boil the lemon over low heat for about ten minutes until it becomes completely soft. Then squeeze the juice out of it, add 30 grams of glycerin to the juice, and a little honey for the eye. Take one teaspoon of syrup five to six times a day. When coughing attacks become noticeably less frequent, you need to reduce the number of doses. This remedy is recommended for both children and adults. Instead of lemon, apple bite is sometimes used.

4. Milk and honey. Half a glass of hot milk and a teaspoon of honey is a wonderful cough remedy.

5. Honey with anise. A teaspoon of honey, two tablespoons of anise seeds, add a pinch of salt. Pour a glass of water and turn on the gas. After boiling, let the infusion cool, then strain the mixture. Children – a tablespoon 8 times a day. For adults, double the dosage.

6. Honey with butter. Take the ingredients in a 1:1 ratio and stir into a homogeneous paste. Eat 1 teaspoon, several times a day.

7. Figs boiled in milk. 2 - 3 figs are boiled in a glass of milk, drunk warm, before bed. Effectively relieves cough. This remedy has long been used when children suffered from whooping cough and colds.

Nutrition for patients with cough

To soften the mucous membrane of the throat, it is advisable to include milk porridge, mashed potatoes with added milk, and tea with milk in your diet.

Grapes promote expectoration and healing of the lungs. Grape juice, if you add a little honey to it, is an effective antitussive remedy.
Lemon works well juice and crushed peel) in combination with honey - this remedy not only helps to cope with cough, but also improves immunity with the help of vitamin WITH.

Hot milk relieves bronchospasm. It is advisable to drink it with honey.

It is better not to eat spicy, burning foods, in order to avoid even greater irritation and “scratching” of the mucous membrane of the throat.
THERE ARE CONTRAINDICATIONS. BEFORE USE, YOU SHOULD READ THE INSTRUCTIONS/INFORMATION FOR USE AND/OR CONSULT A SPECIALIST.

Before use, you should consult a specialist.

Cough is a symptom of a cold that causes a lot of trouble. With the onset of cold weather, most people suffer from coughing; it becomes more difficult to work, rest, sleep normally and eat. Discomfort is caused not only to the sick person, but also to everyone around him. When choosing a cough remedy, you do not need to self-medicate; you should consult a doctor for help and prescription of the drug. But, if you decide to choose a remedy yourself, remember that you need to buy the medicine primarily depending on the type of cough: dry or wet. Here is a list of not only the most effective means, but also affordable ones. Cough medicines are inexpensive and effective.

For dry cough

In the absence of sputum discharge, the cough is called dry. :

Effective Falimint

Price: from 211 rubles.

Its properties are similar to menthol. Causes a feeling of coolness and freshness in the mouth. It does not dry out the mucous membranes, the effect and cessation of reflex cough is noticeable after the first use. It comes in the form of lozenges, can be given to a child, is suitable for children over 5 years old, has no contraindications other than minor allergic reactions.

Libexin

It has a triple effect, reducing the sensitivity of nerve endings, relaxing the bronchi and reducing the reaction to irritation. It is also prescribed for children, the effect is observed within four hours after administration. Available in the form of tablets and syrup, it is not contraindicated for children; there are side effects (dizziness, allergies, fatigue).

Price – from 450 rub.

Medicine Codelac

Price – from 160 rubles for 20 tablets.

Herbion with plantain

Price: from 200 rub.

Omnitus

Price of the drug: 90 rubles.

Available in the form of tablets and syrup. Reduces inflammation, fights infections, relieves dry cough, and has a positive effect on the general condition of the body. Has a number of side effects, incl. drowsiness, dizziness, vomiting, bowel dysfunction. This is not suitable and is also contraindicated for children under 6 years of age. Link - .

Stoptussin

Price: 150 rubles.

It is a combined remedy, has an antitussive and mucolytic effect. Used in the treatment of dry and unproductive cough, produced in the Czech Republic. Available in the form of tablets, drops and syrup of plant origin. According to, the drug is suitable even for infants.

Inexpensive drug Lorraine

The product is suitable in the fight against dry cough and is available in different forms: capsules, tablets, suspension and solution. Eliminates pain, has antipyretic properties, suitable for children over 6 years old. Side effects include increased blood pressure, dizziness, and mild excitability. Price: 200 rubles.

Bromhexine (tablets)

Price: 30 rubles.

Used for acute and chronic bronchial diseases with sputum of high viscosity. The drug is well tolerated, prescribed from 6 years of age, combined with antibiotics, promoting their penetration into bronchial secretions. During treatment, you need to drink more fluids, avoid driving and performing hazardous work.

Ambroxol

Price: 25 rubles.

Bulgarian expectorant anti-inflammatory drug. It is also used for the prevention of respiratory tract infections and is available in the form of a syrup with a pleasant raspberry smell and taste. Helps with . Intended (for dry and wet coughs), also treats tracheitis, pneumonia, whooping cough in a short time.

Mukaltin

A product of natural origin fights wet coughs, eliminates viscous sputum that interferes with normal breathing. The effect of taking the tablets is observed a couple of days after the start of the course. Contraindications: gastrointestinal diseases, allergies, diabetes. It is not addictive and can be taken by children from 12 years of age.

Cost: 15 rubles.