Notes when using cough medicine

When having a cough, many people often look for cough medicine, cough syrup in the hope of reducing the symptoms of sore throat and stopping the cough. However, not all cough cases use the same type of cough medicine. The following article provides information about cough medicine and notes when using the medicine.

Coughing causes discomfort and a sore throat. (illustrative photo)

Common types of cough

Coughing is a reaction of the body, not a disease. This is a physiological mechanism to expel phlegm and mucus from the respiratory system, but it can also be a symptom of some underlying diseases. Coughing causes inconvenience in daily life, so it needs to be treated completely. There are two most common types of cough: dry cough and phlegmy cough.

There are two common types of cough: dry cough and cough with phlegm. Parents need to be careful when choosing and using cough medicine. (illustrative photo)

dry cough

A dry cough usually causes an itchy throat and no phlegm, this type of cough can cause hoarseness or loss of voice.

Dry coughs are often caused by inhaling food particles or irritating dust and fumes such as cigarette smoke, coal smoke, or chemical odors. This can be due to a new viral infection, flu, or cold, or it can be a symptom of other conditions such as asthma, gastroesophageal reflux, or heart failure. Patients with dry coughs often feel healthy and do not have a feeling of chest heaviness or difficulty breathing.

Cough with phlegm

This type of cough is characterized by chest tightness and coughing often brings up mucus and phlegm. The patient feels suffocated and has difficulty breathing, often making the person exhausted.

Symptoms often increase with walking and talking. Coughing up phlegm can be a residual symptom after sore throat, rhinitis, and sinusitis… The cause of cough often depends on the time of symptom onset.

Cough medicine

dry cough

Depending on the specific type of cough, there is a suitable cough medicine. Usually, cough medicine will be in the form of syrup, pills, lozenges with many different ingredients such as: antibacterial, pain reliever, anti-inflammatory or anesthetic.

Commonly used cough suppressants include codeine, eucalyptine, dextromethorphan, pholcodine, calyptin, chericof, neo-codion, etc. Among the above drugs, the cough suppressant dextromethorphan is well indicated in cases of dry, chronic cough because it is non-addictive, has no analgesic effect, and has very little sedative effect.

Cough with phlegm

Cough medicine with phlegm is often used such as mucomyst, mucusan, rinathiol promethafine, terpicod, terpin hydrate... Normally, each treatment should only be used for 3-5 days, not for long-term use.

Coughing with phlegm is often associated with chronic respiratory diseases. The use of expectorants, mucolytics, bronchodilators combined with corticosteroids and antibiotics is quite useful. However, expectorants and mucolytics help increase the volume of respiratory secretions so that they can be easily expelled, avoiding discomfort in the throat.

Coughing a lot will make the body tired, affecting the respiratory system, so you should take your child to see a doctor soon for examination and effective treatment. (illustrative photo)

If used incorrectly, cough medicine can block the airways, cause pulmonary effusion (flooding) and damage the mucus layer that protects the stomach lining. Caution should be exercised in people with a history of gastric or duodenal ulcers. Do not use this medicine in people with respiratory failure, asthma, children and breastfeeding women.

Patients need to strictly follow the doctor's prescription, dosage and treatment time. Avoid self-medication or stopping medication as this will make the condition worse. Patients should see a doctor immediately if they have a persistent cough of unknown cause for advice and treatment.

Source: https://benhvienthucuc.vn/thuoc-tri-ho/