Cough medicines for adults and children: a list of titles, testimonials

Many liquid medications taken internally with cough are cough medicines - solutions of various ingredients, including pharmacological substances, extracts, alcohol tinctures of medicinal plants, etc.

[1], [2], [3], [4]

When are cough medicines shown?

The main indications for the use of liquid drugs of this pharmacological group: symptomatic cough therapy in ARI and ARVI; laryngitis, tracheitis and laryngotracheitis; bronchitis, tracheobronchitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma and obstructive respiratory diseases of an allergic and inflammatory nature.

Ready-made and chemist's medicines for cough: form of release and composition

Without going into pharmaceutical nuances, most consumers believe that cough medicines include such liquid drug release forms as dilute alcohol extracts from various plant parts (elixirs) and extracts of plants with a high sugar content (syrups). Therefore - yes pharmacists will forgive us - this review will also consider some of these medicines.

As a rule, the solution of medicinal substances in purified water - liquid medicine for cough - contains ethanol. Ethyl alcohol in cough syrups is a multifunctional auxiliary component: a solvent (a dispersion medium), a stabilizer for the homogeneity of other ingredients, and along with benzoic and tartaric acids, a preservative necessary to maintain microbiological purity of solutions.

The composition of the medicine from cough with extracts of medicinal plants includes sugar syrup, which makes it more pleasant to taste. At the same time, a potassium-free cough syrup can contain its substitute (sorbitol or fructose), and for a thicker consistency and increased adsorption, hydroxyethyl cellulose ether is added to the solution. Such funds are most suitable for diabetics.

Issued and  dry cough medicine, for example: a combination of Viks Active Symptomax; powdered cough syrup for children Bronchomyshka (consisting of sugar powder, soda, dry extracts of the althea root, leaves of plantain and raspberry, anise oil and ascorbic acid); children's medicine Arida (with a dry extract of althea and licorice roots, sodium bicarbonate, anise oil and ammonium chloride). How to dilute the cough medicine for children, and in what dosage it is used, is indicated in the instructions attached to them.

In the form of powder, cough mixture for adults is also produced - dry cough mixture with thermopsis (dry extract of the herb Thermopsis lanceolata) and the same components as the previous agent. Alkaloids of thermopsis, on the one hand, increase the production of mucus in the bronchi, and on the other hand, acting on the respiratory center of the brain, contribute to its expectoration. It should also be noted that the ammonia solution stimulates the respiratory center at the reflex level, and the anethole ether anethole is a rather strong antiseptic.

Medicine from cough in bags (sachets): granulated Chinese medicine from Baishitsinje cough  , which includes about a dozen herbal components used in traditional oriental medicine; Thai medicine from Takabb Anti-cough cough.

But a medicine with an antibiotic from a cough is not released, possibly due to the characteristics of antimicrobial therapy for cough. For more details,  see Antibiotics for Coughing

Pharmacy cough medicines, which are prepared individually at the pharmacy, according to the prescription prescribed by the doctor (that is, extemporaneously), are now undeservedly forgotten. And when, for example, anise potion is prescribed, for example, it can be prepared in the pharmacy - on the basis of the decoction of the althea root with the addition of ammonia-anise drops - a time-tested expectorant reflex action that can be used for children from the age of two. More information can be found in the material -  Drops from a cough

List of tinctures of cough syrups

In order to choose the most effective cough medicines, first of all, the nature of the cough should be taken into account.

The list of cough mixture names should be divided into: bronchodilator medicine - from dry (unproductive) cough and, accordingly, a cough mixture moist (wet or productive).

Mixtures from dry cough and  cough with asthma :

• a cure for cough Sinekod (a syrup having other trade names - Omnitus, Panathus, Sinkodin), can be used with laryngitis and whooping cough in children;
• Clenbuterol (syrup);
• Erespal (Eladon, Inspiron, Sirep);
• Rengalin.

By the way, Sinecod and Clenbuterol are often used as a cough mixture for smokers. For more details see -  Smoker's Cough

The potions of cough and codeine are represented by Cofex.

In turn, the medicine from a wet cough is used to better remove the bronchial mucosa secreted by inflammation of the respiratory tract (which consists of their mucins or glycoproteins). Thus, for the  treatment of cough with sputum, there  are need for an examant - expectorant cough medicines, depending on the pharmacodynamics conditionally divided into mucolytic and mucokinetic. The former make the viscous sputum more liquid, and then it is easier to clear the throat; the second contribute to the optimization of mucolitic clearance - cleaning the respiratory tract from mucus by supporting the functions of the ciliary (ciliary) epithelium of the respiratory system.

Expectorant and thinning liquids include:

• Ascoril (Cachnol), Sinethos, Protiazin, an ex-promoter;
• Ambrobene (Ambroxol, Bronhoval, Lazolvan, Flavamed, Khaliksol and other trade names) with ambroxol hydrochloride;
• cough mixture Fluidite with carbocysteine (synonyms - Mukosol, Bronkatar, Fluvik, etc.);
• containing bromhexine Flegamin;
• ammonia-anise cough mixture (with aniseed oil, aqueous ammonia solution and licorice root extract); it is a cough medicine from childhood - Thoracic elixir. Licorice naked (Glycyrrhiza glabra) or licorice contains in its roots a pharmacologically valuable set of flavonoids, coumarins and glycosides; The most pronounced mukokinetics is glycoside glycyrrhizin, and the anti-inflammatory effect is exerted by flavonoid glabridin.

Widely used for the treatment of adults and children and such expectorant medicines for coughing on herbs, such as:

• syrup of an althaea or an alteca - another medicine for coughing from childhood with an extract of the root of Althaea officinalis;
• cough mixture with thyme or thyme - Pertussin and Pectosol;
• Herbion - a syrup of three kinds: with an extract of ivy leaves, plantain leaves of large and root of spring primrose;
• Propane (a syrup containing an extract of ivy leaves);
• multicomponent homeopathic cough syrup Stodal;
• Chinese medicine for cough Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa, in addition to the licorice root, contains the root of ginger, thin-leafed and Pinellia rind, water extract from Trichosanthes cucumerina seeds, leaves of Tussilago farfara and porphyria of coconut (Wolfiporia extensa) , as well as menthol and honey.

Some doubts are caused by the elixir of Bronchicum, because in one version of this remedy (manufactured by A. Nattermann & Cie. GmbH, Germany) it contains extracts of thyme grass and primrose roots, and in the second version (supposedly produced by Klosterfrau Vertriebsgesellschaft) the composition contains plants used only in homeopathy (in particular, Grindelia robusta and the bark of the tree Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco).

Cough medicine for children

Practical every cough medicine for children has some age restrictions. So, if a child younger than six years of any potions of cough with codeine is prohibited. According to the instructions, Ascoril is also not prescribed to children under six years of age (although the guaifenesin, which is part of this remedy, is banned for children under two years, and bromhexine for up to three years). Syrup Sinekod and Rengalin medicine are contraindicated in children of the first three years of life, and Pectosol is contraindicated for children up to a year.

Mixture Flegamin with bromhexine is acceptable for use in the treatment of cough in children under the age of two. Also it is possible to carry out inhalations with a medicine from cough Bromhexine (for one procedure no more than five drops). For more details see -  Inhalation with bronchitis

Only after two years, children can give 2% syrup Flute, Herbion and Stodal syrups, as well as children's dry cough syrup.

Allowed pediatricians cough medicine for infants up to 1 year: Alteika, Pertussin, Ambrobene (Ambroxol, Lazolvan) and Prospan. In the instructions for syrup Erespal and Clenbuterol (which are used only with a dry cough) it is indicated that the dose to infants should be determined by body weight. More useful information about cough treatment in infants -  Cough in an infant

[5], [6]

Pharmacodynamics

The mechanism of action of the drug Ascoril recommended for chronic bronchitis is provided by its constituent bromhexine (benzylamine, liquefying bronchus mucus by breaking its glycoproteins) and guaifenesin, which not only makes the sputum more liquid (in the same way as bromhexine), but also irritates the ciliary ciliary epithelium, stimulating the bronchial mucociliary system. A selective β2-adrenostimulator salbutamol promotes the expansion of the lumen of the bronchi in their inflammation.

Mucolytic effect Flegamina - the result of the action of bromhexine, enhanced by menthol and eucalyptus oil, which cause reflex expectoration of sputum.

Ambroxol in the preparation Ambrobene (Lazolvan) acts similarly to bromhexine, since it is a product of its biotransformation. There is a normalizing effect of ambroxol on the production of bronchial secretions with an increase in the proportion of hydrophilic mucins (which make sputum less dense) and the functioning of the mucociliary system of the bronchi as a whole.

Cough medicine Fluidite contains carbocisteine (RS-carboxymethyl), which also destroys the structure of glycoproteins secreted by the bronchi, which makes it less viscous. Also increases the functional activity of the ciliated epithelium lining the bronchi.

Alteika with an extract of the root of Althaea officinalis, rich in hydrophilic mucous polysaccharides and flavonoids, on the one hand, increases the volume of sputum when coughing, and on the other, dilutes it. At the same time, bronchial motor activity increases reflexively, and sputum is excreted more easily.

In the composition of Pertussin there is an extract of thyme (thyme) and potassium bromide. This spice in cough medicine, like thyme (Thymus serpyllum), is used due to the presence in its essential oil of thymol - monoterpene phenol, which not only increases the activity of the ciliary epithelium of the bronchi, but also relieves spasm. A potassium bromide acts resorptively, increasing the production of bronchial secretions and diluting it.

In addition to the extract of thyme, the expectorant medicine for cough Pectosol contains extracts from the root of elecampane, Icelandic cetrarium, hyssop herbs and medicinal soap. The synergistic effect of triterpene acids, alkaloids, flavon glycosides and phenolic compounds included in these medicinal plants is the pronounced mucolytic, mukotoxic and anti-inflammatory effect of Pectosol.

The pharmacological action of Gerbion syrups is also due to the biological activity of substances contained in extracts of herbs: Plantago major, Primula veris and ivy shea. The extract of ivy leaves (containing saponins and glycosides) is the main active component of the mucolytic agent Prospan.

A pharmacodynamics homeopathic remedy Stodal is due to a dozen ingredients, including plants such as ordinary lobster, sorrel curly

Intermittent white, lobaria pulmonary.

Effects of cough medicine Sinekod (Omnitus), containing as an active substance phenylmercury derivative butamate, is aimed at suppressing the cough center located in the medulla oblongata (without affecting the localized respiratory center).

The antihistamine Erespal contains fenspiride, an antagonist of the histamine H1 receptor, which reduces the swelling of the bronchi and relieves spasms, enlarging their lumens. In addition, Erespal, when coughing is allergic, reduces the production of inflammatory mediators released by mast cells into the blood.

Pharmacodynamics of Clenbuterol is based on the ability of its active substance - clenbuterol monohydrochloride (benzenemethanol derivative) - to selectively stimulate β2-receptors of epinephrine, which leads to relaxation of bronchial muscles and a decrease in the intensity of cough.

Suppression of dry cough with the help of cough medicine Rengalin occurs due to the action of the antibodies it contains on B1 receptors of bradykinin, H1-histamine receptors and opioid receptors of the brain. As a result of the cascade of biochemical processes, the excitability of the cough center decreases and the cough reflex is suppressed.

The structure of Cofex includes codeine phosphate, acting on the opioid receptors of the cough cents, as well as the antihistamine drug chlorpheniramine, blocking the histamine receptors, as mentioned above fenspiride.

Pharmacokinetics

In the instructions of medicines for coughing on herbs their pharmacokinetics are not described.

In drugs with ambroxol - Ambrobe, Lazolvan and others - a high level of absorption, and binding to plasma proteins is almost 80%. Biotransformation of the drug occurs in the liver, and metabolites are excreted in the urine.

After ingestion of the Fluidite medicine, the highest concentration of carbocisteine in the blood is noted on average 2.5 hours later, and in the bronchial mucosa its amount provides therapeutic activity for eight hours. Carbocysteine undergoes cleavage in the digestive tract (with a half-life of just over three hours); the removal of its products is carried out through the kidneys for three days.

The sinecode is absorbed into the stomach and enters the blood, 98% binding to plasma proteins and reaching a maximum concentration of butamir approximately 90 minutes after ingestion. Butamirate is hydrolyzed, the metabolites formed are pharmacologically active. 90% renal excretion, T1 / 2 is six hours.

After taking Erespal, the maximum content of fenspiride in the blood is noted after five to six hours, gradually decreasing. The drug is excreted mainly by the kidneys with a 12-hour half-life of the dose taken.

After ingestion and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, Clenbuterol enters the bloodstream, the average level of bioavailability is 93-94%. Metabolized in the liver, metabolites are excreted by the kidneys with urine.

Cofex is absorbed in the digestive tract and begins to act one and a half to two hours after ingestion. Both codeine and chlorpheniramine are broken down by enzymes of the liver and are excreted through the kidneys. The half-life of codeine is about 12 hours, chlorpheniramine - twice as much.

Dosing and Administration

All medicines for coughing are taken internally. Ascoril is prescribed to adults 10 ml three times a day, a single dose for children 6-12 years - 5 ml.

You can take Flegamine three times a day, for a dosage to a bottle with a medicine is attached a measuring spoon.

Ambrogen adults should take three times a day for 10 ml; children 5-12 years - 5 ml, and under 5 years - 2.5 ml two or three times a day.

5% Fluidite syrup is prescribed for adults and older adolescents - three times a day for a tablespoon (half an hour before a meal). 2% syrup is for children: over 5 years - a teaspoon three times a day, 2-5 years - a teaspoon twice a day. Duration of application - no more than 10 days.

Alteyka should be taken: adults and adolescents - on a tablespoon up to five times a day, children 7-14 years - according to a dessert spoon, children 2-7 years in a teaspoon, 1-2 years - half a teaspoon three times a day, children up to a year - half a teaspoon twice a day. Just take Perthussin, but only three times a day. A Pectosol is added to a tablespoon of water (about 25 drops) and taken no more than three times a day.

Adults and children over 14 years are recommended to take a tablespoon of Herbion 3-5 times a day (for a week); single dose for children 7-14 years - dessert spoon, the number of receptions - three, and children under seven take syrup on a teaspoon three times a day. The dosage of the drug Stodal is similar.

Dosage of SSPAP for adults - 1-1.5 teaspoons three times a day, children from six years of one teaspoon, and under six - half.

The dose of the syrup Sinekod is measured with a measuring cap: three times a day for 15 ml adults, 10 ml for children after six years, 5 ml for children 3-6 years.

Erespal is dosed at the rate of body weight - 4 mg per kilogram per day, the received amount of the drug is divided into two doses. Calculation of a daily dose of Clenbuterol is 0,01-0,02 mg / kg, and children of the first year of life - 0,0025-0,005 mg / kg (two meals per day).

Adults take a medicine of Rengalin three times a day for 10 ml, children 4-12 years for 5 ml.

If Coffex is prescribed, then it is taken no longer than 10 days - three times a day for 5 ml, and the dose for children 7-12 years is half less.

[11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19]

Use during pregnancy

Use during pregnancy of drugs such as Ascoril, Erespal, Sinekod, Cofex is prohibited.

Sinecode (Omnitus), Clenbuterol, Flegamine, Ambrobe (Lazolvan), Flutitive is contraindicated to apply during the first trimester of pregnancy. Clenbuterol is also not used after the 36th week of gestation.

The drug Rengalin has not been studied with regard to safety for pregnant women.

According to the instructions, there are no contraindications for use during pregnancy, medicines and cough syrups of Alteika, Pertussin, Pectosol, Gerbion, Prospan. Stood, like other homeopathic remedies, it is better not to apply during pregnancy.

It should also be borne in mind that pregnant women are not allowed to use oregano, licorice and spring primrose (primrose), as well as anise oil.

Read also -  Than to treat a cough during pregnancy

Contraindications for use

The main contraindications to the use of these funds from cough:

• potions with althea or thermopsis - gastritis, stomach ulcer;
• Ascoril - cardiovascular diseases, acute stomach and / or duodenal ulcer, thyrotoxicosis, diabetes mellitus, increased intraocular pressure;
• Ambrobe (Lazolvan), Flegamin - peptic ulcer;
• Fluidite - marked renal failure, stomach and / or duodenal ulcer;
• Pectosol, Herbion - inflammatory diseases of the digestive system;
• Stoal - a syndrome of malabsorption, congenital fructosuria.
• It should be borne in mind that expectorant cough medicines are not recommended in cases when the patient is recumbent.
• The sinecode is contraindicated in lung diseases accompanied by bleeding;
• Erespal and Rengalin - with hypersensitivity to these drugs;
• Clenbuterol - with hyperthyroidism, heart rhythm disturbance, myocardial infarction;
• Cofex - in the presence of obstructive diseases of the respiratory tract, bronchial asthma, pneumonia, increased intracranial and / or arterial pressure, cardiac or renal insufficiency, glaucoma, intestinal obstruction, epilepsy, chronic alcoholism.

[7], [8], [9], [10]

Side effects

The use of the drugs included in the review may cause the following side effects:

• Ascoril - dyspepsia, lowering blood pressure, tachycardia, tremor, convulsions, sleep disorders;
• Sinecod (Omnitus) - headaches, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, skin allergic reactions;
• Erespal - nausea, vomiting, intestinal disorders, increased drowsiness, frequent heart contractions, hives;
• Clenbuterol - dry mouth, nausea, headache, tachycardia, arterial hypotension, increased nervousness;
• Coffex - headache, dizziness, hyperhidrosis, fever, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, ataxia, convulsions, increased irritability, decreased appetite, deterioration in sleep quality, etc .;
• Flegamin - nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia;
• Ambrobe (Lazolvan), Fljuditik - rashes on the skin of an allergic nature, dry mucous membranes, nausea and vomiting, headaches, general weakness, etc .;
• Pectosol - bowel disorders, heart rate disorders;
• Propane - diarrhea;
• Stodal - skin allergic reaction.

Overdose

Exceeding the dose of the alteyka can cause nausea and vomiting, and Pectosol, Ambrobe, Fljuditeka and Rengalin - also dyspepsia with pain in the abdomen.

In case of an overdose of Ascoril, its side effects may be aggravated. In addition to nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, signs of an overdose of the Sinekod medicinal product are manifested by lowering blood pressure, dizziness, increased drowsiness; a significant excess of the dose may lead to fainting. In such cases, it is necessary to wash the stomach and support breathing.

Similar measures are also taken with an overdose of Erespal and Clenbuterol, which is expressed in cardiac arrhythmia or increased heart rate.

The most dangerous is the overdose of codeine-containing drugs: from more intense manifestations of their side effects to the inhibition of respiratory function and coma. Urgent measures include the introduction into the vein of a specific antidote, an antagonist of opioid receptors of naloxone.

Interactions with other drugs

First and foremost, do not use bronchodilator medicines at the same time as expectorants, as this will cause sputum accumulation in the bronchi and their obstruction.

Ambrobene (Lazolvan), as well as products with bromhexine are not used with medicines containing sodium bicarbonate. Ambroxol potentiates the action of antibiotics.

Ascoril is incompatible with preparations based on ephedrine, phenamine and methylxanthine, and Fljuditik - with corticosteroids.

Clenbuterol significantly reduces the effectiveness of drugs that reduce blood sugar, and increases the effect of cardiotonic drugs, which contain cardiac glycosides (digoxin, strophanthin, korglikon, etc.).

To avoid serious problems with the intestines, Coffex is not taken with medicines containing piperidine derivatives (Imodium, Lodedium, etc.). In addition, codeine can potentiate with the simultaneous use of alcohol-containing drugs, drugs to lower blood pressure and relieve symptoms of depression and neurasthenia.

Storage conditions

Cough medicines should be stored at room temperature, away from direct sunlight and heaters.

Alteika, Stodal and Pectosol in the vial bottles are best preserved at the bottom of the refrigerator (temperature not lower than + 4-5 ° C).

Shelf life

The shelf life of Alteika, Pertussin, Lazolvan, Ascoril, Erespal, Rengalina is three years; Pectosol, Herbion, Prospan, Clenbuterol, Fljuditeka, Flegamina, Koffeks - two years. Medicine from cough Sinecod (Omnitus) is suitable for use for five years from the date of release.

How to make a cough medicine?

How to make a cough medicine? If there is a dry, that is, a powdered cough syrup with thermopsis in sachets, its contents simply dissolve in water (naturally boiled and cooled to room temperature). And in the same way act with all such cough remedies. By the way, these are inexpensive cough medicines, and in hermetically sealed bags they can be stored for a long time and always be, as they say, at hand. Although the doctors' opinions regarding their effectiveness are not available.

But there are recipes for cough medicine that can be used to prepare a liquid product against a wet cough in the home.

For example, buy in the pharmacy  Breastfeeding from cough : they come in four types - depending on the composition of plant raw materials, including oregano, plantain, mother-and-stepmother, althea root and licorice, elderberry and violet flowers tricolor, etc. In addition, a bottle of ammonia-anise drops and several ampoules of a 4% solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate (in one ampule of 20 ml).

Brew medicinal herbs, as indicated in the instructions (usually take a tablespoon of a dry mixture for 200 ml of water), the broth should be infused and completely cooled down. An expectant anisic mixture will be ready, when for every 50 ml of broth add the amount of ammonia anise drops, corresponding to the age of the suffering cough (if he or her is 20, then 20 drops are added). Such a domestic miracle cough medicine is taken on a tablespoon three to four times a day.

If for some reason the anise is contraindicated, a solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate (the contents of one ampoule per 150 ml of decoction) is added to the cooled herbal broth. Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) enhances the mucolytic effect of medicinal herbs, since it alkalizes the bronchial secret and makes it less dense.

What is the egg cough mixture? Obviously, we mean the usual gogol-mogul (milk with egg yolks and butter). However, it must be borne in mind that this remedy is not from cough, but from pain in the throat and hoarseness.

Instead, in the milk should be added either alkaline mineral water (1: 1) or burnt sugar, for which it is enough to put a tablespoon of sugar on a hot frying pan, pour a teaspoon of water and bring it to brown.

And if you have saffron in the reserve of spices, then this spice in the cough mixture - thanks to a set of biologically active glycosides - will help to cough and relieve spasms of bronchial muscles.