Thermopsol for coughs

The medicinal plant Thermopsis lanceolata has long been noticed by traditional healers and began to be used to treat respiratory diseases accompanied by unproductive cough. An infusion of the herb with soda helped to quickly convert it into a productive cough and remove most of the sputum from the respiratory tract. It is not difficult to make an infusion, but it is even easier to swallow a ready-made tablet consisting of dry Thermopsis herb powder and sodium bicarbonate, that is, ordinary baking soda. Thermopsis cough tablets are completely natural, but this is not a synonym for "harmless". The herb is poisonous, one of its popular names is arsenic or drunken herb, suggesting what effects its excessive use can cause. The toxic properties of the herb allow it to be used in the fight against helminthiasis - in parallel with the cough, you can get rid of worms.

The question that interests users most is: what kind of cough are Thermopsis tablets for, dry or wet? The herb powder has a local irritant effect on the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs, providing more active peristaltic movements of the small bronchi and flickering of the epithelial cilia, and soda, as the second active ingredient included in each tablet, liquefies sputum, due to which it begins to quickly come out. This action is valuable precisely for a dry barking cough, when thick and viscous sputum collects in large quantities in the upper respiratory tract, and they lose the ability to self-cleanse. Therefore, Thermopsis tablets are used for cough for a short time, until it passes into the productive phase and the bulk of the caked accumulated mucus comes out. In five days of its use, the cough will not go away completely, but it will become easier to breathe, coughing fits will become less frequent and easier, and intensive coughing will begin. In the residual stage, Thermopsol tablets and other expectorants are no longer needed. The body will cope on its own; constant humidification of the air in the room and frequent drinking can help it at this stage.

Indications Thermopsol for coughs

The medicine is prescribed to patients with inflammatory diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract (tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia) with difficult separation of tracheobronchial secretion in order to liquefy it and increase the effectiveness of cough. Usually as part of complex therapy.

Release form

Thermopsis tablets contain two components – powder of Thermopsis lanceolatae herba (6.7 mg), which stimulates expectoration, and soda (250 mg), which has a secretolytic effect. Potato starch and talc are used as binding components. [ 1 ]

Pharmacodynamics

The powder of the dry herb, due to its content of isocholin alkaloids, stimulates the bronchial glands and smooth muscles of the respiratory tract, providing a powerful expectorant effect. Moderately activates the secretory function of the gastric glands, which is associated with an undesirable side effect that develops in people suffering from peptic ulcer disease.

The alkaloid pachycarpine promotes increased respiration, however, when using tablets in the recommended dose, this effect is quite moderate and promotes the evacuation of sputum from the respiratory tract. Pachycarpine activates peristalsis of smooth muscles, which promotes the removal of sputum. But it also tones the muscles of the uterus. It was even widely used earlier to stimulate labor, so pregnant women should not treat cough with the "harmless" herb thermopsis.

The alkaloid anagyrine stimulates the respiratory center, and thermopsin stimulates the vomiting center. In moderate doses, it also accelerates the removal of sputum and quickly alleviates the patient's condition. In high doses, undesirable effects may occur, so you need to carefully study the instructions for the drug.

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) reduces the viscosity of sputum, which promotes its successful elimination.

Pharmacokinetics

The tablet, getting into the stomach, quickly dissolves under the action of gastric juice. Its components are absorbed into the systemic bloodstream through the walls of the small intestine and have a rapid effect, entering the brain with the bloodstream and affecting the respiratory and vomiting centers, as well as stimulating the peristalsis of smooth muscles. Soda has a mucolytic effect. The complex effect contributes to the rapid (the effect of the drug, according to reviews, begins within an hour after taking) release of the respiratory tract from mucus, the elimination of which is carried out by expectoration. The distribution of the components of the drug in the body has not been studied in more detail.

Dosing and administration

The recommended dose for adult patients is one tablet, for older children and adolescents - half a tablet. Swallow whole three times a day with plenty of water and drink plenty of fluids throughout the day to improve expectoration. The duration of treatment should not exceed three to five days. At the beginning of treatment, the cough may intensify, however, if after the specified period there is no improvement, you should inform your doctor.

It should be noted that adult patients with renal failure should reduce the dose to two tablets per day, while children should give preference to an analogue with a safer profile.

• Application for children

According to the instructions, the use of tablets is not allowed until the child reaches 12 years of age, although reliable studies have not been conducted in this group of patients.

Use Thermopsol for coughs during pregnancy

Considering the alkaloid pachycarpine contained in the herb of Thermopsis, which can cause contraction of the smooth muscles of the uterus and its hypertonicity, cough tablets are contraindicated for pregnant women due to the increased risk of miscarriage and premature birth, as well as depression of respiratory function.

It is not advisable for nursing mothers to use the drug due to the ability of alkaloids to penetrate into breast milk and, accordingly, cause adverse reactions in the breastfed infant.

Contraindications

Pregnancy and lactation, sensitization to the ingredients of the tablets, peptic ulcer, blood streaks in sputum, age under 12 years.

Side effects Thermopsol for coughs

In recommended doses, the components of the drug can cause hypersensitivity reactions and, at most, nausea; if the dose is exceeded, vomiting and respiratory depression, urinary retention, and constipation.

Overdose

Muscle weakness, hyperhidrosis, pallor, cyanosis, dizziness, retching, vomiting, intestinal and urinary disorders, ciliary muscle dysfunction, in severe cases – respiratory depression, impaired consciousness and affect, fainting, hallucinatory manifestations, convulsions.

Symptomatic therapy - sorbents, removal of drug residues from the stomach and intestines by lavage and enema, saline laxatives. In severe cases, it is necessary to call an ambulance. In hospital, overdose symptoms are relieved by injections of atropine, the opiate receptor blocker naloxone can be used, and the respiratory center is stimulated using respiratory analeptics.

Interactions with other drugs

It is not recommended to take Thermopsis tablets simultaneously with sorbents, as they will neutralize the expectorant effect.

It is also not prescribed in combination with cough suppressants, such as those containing codeine.

Storage conditions

It is important to follow the storage conditions of the drug as specified by the manufacturer: store at room temperature no higher than 25℃ in places protected from direct sunlight and inaccessible to children and animals.

Shelf life

Do not use the medicine if the expiry date printed on the package has passed. This is usually four years from the date of manufacture of the tablets.

Analogues

Mucolytic drugs have a similar effect. On a natural basis - this is Mucaltin. Its active ingredient is licorice root. It is produced not only in tablets, but also in the form of syrup. It is prescribed to children from one year of age and is suitable for longer-term use.

The mixture Bronchipret (thyme extract and ivy leaf tincture) has a plant basis. It is prescribed from the age of six, the course of treatment is two weeks.

Sinupret tablets (gentian, primrose, sorrel, elder, verbena) are mainly intended to remove secretions from the upper parts - the sinuses, however, the drug also has a general secretolytic effect. Prescribed from the age of six, take one to two weeks.

There are also many chemical drugs, such as those based on acetylcysteine. But opinions about them are mixed, from drugs with unproven effectiveness to killer drugs.

In general, the choice of drug should be discussed with the attending physician. The patient's age, tolerance of certain components, and severity of the disease play an important role.

Reviews of the tablets are very good (96% positive). The speed of action is emphasized: the five days indicated in the instructions are quite enough for serious improvements - the disappearance of wheezing, restoration of the ability to breathe deeply. Some even cope in three days. True, residual effects in the form of coughing remain for some time, but this is natural. In severe forms, adult patients sometimes took up to five tablets a day (on the recommendation of a doctor). Almost no one indicated any disadvantages, one patient felt slightly nauseous after taking on an empty stomach. Some "brave" parents gave their children a whole tablet, or used it to treat children under 12 years old. They say - there were no unpleasant consequences, although such extreme is not justified.