What are antitussives and expectorants?
Antitussives are cough suppressants. They relieve your cough by blocking the cough reflex. Expectorants thin mucus. This may help your cough clear the mucus from your airway.
What is difference between mucolytic and expectorant?
Expectorants and mucolytic agents are different types of medication, yet both are intended to promote drainage of mucus from the lungs. An expectorant increases bronchial secretions and mucolytics help loosen thick bronchial secretions.
What are mucolytic agents?
Mucolytics are medicines that thin mucus, making it less thick and sticky and easier to cough up. They are used to treat respiratory conditions characterized by excessive or thickened mucus, such as a chesty (productive) cough.
Which agent is used as expectorant?
Guaifenesin is the most widely used expectorant. Other agents that have been used as expectorants include ammonium chloride, which can cause acidosis in patients with renal failure; terpin hydrate, which can cause nausea and vomiting; potassium iodide, which has several side effects; and iodinated glycerol.
What are the side effects of expectorants?
Dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.
Which is the best expectorant?
Guaifenesin: Often known by its brand name Mucinex (Mucinex coupons | What is Mucinex?), guaifenesin is the only OTC expectorant available to help relieve symptoms from colds. It works to relieve chest congestion and is often combined with pseudoephedrine to relieve multiple symptoms.
What are the side effects of Mucolytics?
Its adverse effects include headache, nausea, vomiting, gastric discomfort and bleeding, diarrhea, and rash. It has, however, been shown to be an effective mucolytic which is generally well tolerated with few adverse effects [1]. The place of mucolytic drugs in respiratory disease has recently been reviewed [2].
Is ambroxol mucolytic or expectorant?
Ambroxol is a mucolytic which thins and loosens mucus (phlegm), making it easier to cough out. Guaifenesin is an expectorant which decreases the stickiness of mucus (phlegm) and helps in its removal from the airways.
What is the most effective mucolytic?
Drugs used for Expectoration
| Drug name | Rating | Rx/OTC |
|---|---|---|
| View information about acetylcysteine acetylcysteine | 8.8 | Rx/OTC |
| Generic name: acetylcysteine systemic Drug class: antidotes, mucolytics For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information |
Do expectorants make you cough more?
An expectorant is something that helps loosen mucus so you can cough it up. It does this by increasing the water content of the mucus, thinning it out, and making your cough more productive.
How are expectorants and mucolytics different from antitussives?
Expectorants (Mucokinetics) • Mucolytics : – Carbocysteine, mecysteine – Water inhalation via an aerosol – Bromhexine – Ambroxol – Dornase α • Bronchial secretion enhancers : – Direct acting : – Reflexly acting : 7. Nasal decongestants • • • • α adrenergic receptor agonist Mechanism Examples Adverse effects 8.
How are expectorants and mucolytics used in nursing?
Mucolytics work to break down mucus to aid high-risk respiratory patients in coughing up thick, tenacious secretions. Learn about the uses and nursing care plan considerations needed for patients taking expectorants and mucolytics in this nursing pharmacology study guide. What are Expectorants?
What are the different types of mucoactive medications?
Mucoactive medications include expectorants, mucolytics, and mucokinetic drugs. Expectorants are meant to increase the volume of airway water or secretion in order to increase the effectiveness of cough. Although expectorants, such as guaifenesin (eg, Robatussin or Mucinex), are sold over the counter, there is no evidence…
How are expectorants used in the treatment of cough?
Expectorants increase productive cough to clear the airways. They liquefy lower respiratory tract secretions, reducing the viscosity of these secretions and making it easier to cough them up. Expectorants are available in many OTC preparations, making them widely available to the patient without advice from a health care provider.