The cold season inevitably entails colds, and where they are, cough. During coughing, phlegm is produced, and it must be expectorated, otherwise pulmonary edema may occur. To effectively get rid of sputum, there are all kinds of expectorants. Our article will demonstrate the ranking of the best expectorants for 2022.
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When choosing remedies, three factors must be taken into account: the type of cough, the presence or absence of sputum, and the disease that caused it. If the cough is dry and there is nothing to expectorate, then antitussive drugs are prescribed.If the cough is prolonged and a small amount of mucus is secreted, then the doctor advises one of the mucolytic agents. But when there is really a lot of sputum, expectorant medicines come to the rescue.
Doctors divide expectorants into two categories: secretory and thinning. The first medicines are aimed at enhancing the cough reflex, due to which the resulting mucus comes out naturally. Such drugs, unequivocally, will not eliminate the cough, since their action is aimed at the opposite result, which means that you will become more coughing. Medicines in this category include licorice, thermopsis, and various essential oils.
But the liquefying category of drugs makes bronchial mucus more liquid and it is more freely removed from the human body. Most often, such drugs are prescribed for a wet cough, when there is difficult to separate sputum.
When it is not possible to go to a pharmacy or you cannot take pharmacy drugs (for example, during pregnancy or breastfeeding), home-made products come to the exit. For example, such a drink as warmed milk with the addition of honey and a piece of butter is very popular. Some patients turn up their noses at such a “delicacy”, while others, on the contrary, drink for a sweet soul.
If milk with butter is not to your liking, then you can buy black radish, grind it, squeeze out the juice and mix with 2-3 tablespoons of honey. It is recommended to eat 1 tablespoon per day for adults. You can not suffer with chopping, but cut a lid off the radish, add honey inside and wait for the vegetable to release juice, which, mixing with a sweet substance, turns into the right medicine.
Even at home, you can do inhalation. Probably everyone remembers how they breathed in childhood over a saucepan with boiled potatoes. The method, although outdated, still does not lose its relevance. You can do oil inhalations using healing essential extracts, but you must remember that you can’t use the method often, otherwise the smallest particles of oils will accumulate inside the lungs. This leads to pneumonia.
You can prepare an expectorant syrup yourself, as long as you have the necessary products. Combinations such as honey and horseradish or onion and honey are suitable. Many people have adapted themselves to prepare decoctions for expectoration. For this, elecampane, oats and thermopsis are most often used.
Gerbion is considered an excellent remedy with an immunostimulating effect. It was created on a natural basis and can be used by babies from 2 years old. Thanks to the pleasant and sweet aftertaste, children open their mouths without objection to receive a spoonful of delicious medicine. There are two types of Herbion, the first with plantain, is prescribed in the treatment of dry coughs, and the second with primrose, is recommended for wet coughs. As a rule, full recovery occurs after a week of treatment. Please note that you can not use the drug with medicines that have the opposite effect. All components of the syrup are enriched with active substances with antibacterial properties. The composition contains vitamin C, which helps to strengthen the immune system and reduce intoxication of the body.
You can buy from 270 rubles and more, depending on the markup of the pharmacy.
An excellent herbal remedy allowed for children from birth is Gedelix. Its purpose is to treat dry and wet coughs by thinning and expelling mucus. In addition, the drug relieves bronchial spasm, which is why doctors prescribe it in the early stages of bronchitis. The consistency is completely of plant origin, its functionality includes expectorant, mucolytic and antispasmodic properties. Usually Gedelix is advised to drink after meals. Toddlers are advised to dilute in a small amount of water. Judging by the numerous reviews, there are no allergies in patients, the only thing that not everyone likes the taste, but this is not the main thing in health. The composition includes ivy leaf extract, eucalyptus oil, star anise oil and peppermint. There is no sugar in the composition, so it can be taken by people with diabetes. However, there are contraindications, and the drug is not recommended for lactating and pregnant women, as there is little clinical data.
Cost: from 385 rubles.
One of the most popular expectorant drugs is Ascoril. It is produced in the form of syrup and tablets. Tablets are prescribed for children from 6 years old, and the doctor selects the liquid dosage according to age. The list of the main treating substances in the composition is the same, that of the syrup, that of the tablets. The difference is in the concentration of active ingredients.Ascoril is usually prescribed for coughing with poorly separated mucus. Bromhexine, which is part of the composition, accelerates the process of sputum separation, due to which there is an expectorant effect. Guaifenesin reduces the viscosity of sputum, it also facilitates the removal of sputum from the body. The taste of the syrup is pleasant, so the kids drink it without disgust. Unfortunately, Ascoril has a significant list of contraindications, which include heart defects, diabetes, glaucoma, digestive tract ulcers and other diseases. Pregnant women shouldn't take it either.
Cost: ascoril syrup 100 ml - from 270 rubles, tablets - from 330 rubles.
ACC or Acetylcysteine is another popular expectorant among Russians. They are produced in the form of effervescent tablets and have a characteristic faint aroma. Due to the high activity of acetylcysteine, the viscosity of bronchial mucus breaks. The action of the drug allows you to cope with both colds and coughs with more serious diseases. Indications include pneumonia, bronchial asthma and other diseases. Of the contraindications: children under two years of age, lactation and peptic ulcer during an exacerbation. Regarding children, it is impossible for them to thoughtlessly prescribe a drug, a doctor should prescribe it. The form of administration is not only standard when you drink a drink, but also inhalation and intratracheal.Acetylcysteine is very powerful in its effects and has a significant number of side effects, which you can find in the instructions.
You can buy for 250 rubles and more.
Perhaps the most budgetary remedy for expectoration, which is also suitable for smokers, is the famous Pertussin. It is made in the form of tincture, medicine and syrup. The main active medicines are thyme, thyme and potassium bromide. According to numerous positive reviews, it becomes clear that Pertussin is the ideal assistant for sputum discharge. The volume of the separated secret noticeably increases, the sputum liquefies and it becomes much easier to cough up thick and viscous mucus. You need to take the medicine 1 tablespoon three times a day. Children are given half a teaspoon, but be careful, as the treatment and dosage is prescribed by the doctor based on the age of the patient. During pregnancy and lactation, it is forbidden to take it. People with diabetes should take into account that the composition contains sugar.
You can buy at a price of 23 to 90 rubles.
Many pregnant and lactating cough sufferers do not know what to do. But there is a way out. A good expectorant that can be used during pregnancy and lactation is Mukaltin.The only “but”, a doctor should prescribe it, you should not self-medicate. The product is available in the form of lozenges, capsules and tablets. The drug is of plant origin and has excellent expectorant properties. Doctors allow it with a dry cough, even for children from 6 years old. Due to the gentle enveloping of the mucosa with the medicine, a softening and expectorant effect occurs. The dosage depends on the nature of the disease, indications include acute and chronic respiratory diseases and cough with poorly separated sputum.
The cost, like that of Pertussin, is budgetary, from 20 rubles and more.
Another of the budget drugs that are popular with buyers is Bromhexine. It is produced in the form of tablets and syrup. Tablets, of course, are more profitable at a price, but kids are more willing to drink syrup. An expectorant medicine is considered a mucolytic, its active active ingredient begins to function at full power one day after ingestion. During a dry cough, Bromhexine helps the formation of a decent amount of mucus and contributes to its speedy removal. During application, it is noticed that the clots become the least viscous and quickly separate. There are also drops with which useful, healing inhalations are carried out.
The cost depends on the form of the medicine and starts from 25 rubles.
From the first days of life, doctors recommend prospan, which has a mild calming effect. Prospan is a herbal drops that gently affect the body and qualitatively eliminate sputum. In addition, there was an improvement in blood circulation in the lungs and excellent support for immunity. The substance has a light brown color and a light cherry aroma. The composition contains the active substance - dry extract of ivy leaves and auxiliary components. The bottles are available with a dosage of 100 and 200 ml. Indications for use acute and chronic diseases of the respiratory organs and cough with poorly separated sputum. Contraindications include fructose intolerance and sucrose deficiency. In rare cases, an allergy may occur, which may appear on the intolerance of any component. Prospan adequately copes with dry coughing and has shown itself well in the fight against purulent bronchitis.
Price: from 380 rubles.
Bronchipret drops are produced by a German company and are of the highest quality. The product is made from natural ingredients, including thyme extract and ivy leaf tincture. Drops are considered universal and perform several actions at once: secretory, anti-inflammatory and secretolytic. While taking Bronchipret, sputum becomes less viscous and due to this it is easier to separate and normal breathing is restored faster. Often the medicine is prescribed for acute and chronic bronchitis.
The price is from 390 rubles and above.
In order not to start the disease and rather recover, you need to understand that there are three stages in coughing: dry, wet and deep strong. It all starts with a dry cough, when there is no sputum yet. The virus has just settled in the body and begins its insidious work. At this point, it is important to begin to soften the throat and take drugs that envelop it. Be sure to start taking expectorants with a dry cough and then avoid a wet cough. If its stage, called a productive cough, has already begun, then it is necessary to thin the sputum and remove it from the body.
Bronchitis and pneumonia are usually accompanied by a deep, violent cough. Be careful, as they can leak without raising the temperature.
During treatment, it is important to avoid mistakes that occur due to confusion, for example, the patient begins to use mucolytics in the absence of sputum. From such abuse, the bronchi will begin to suffer. Also, improper treatment or its absence leads to the development of complications and the occurrence of pneumonia, so it is very important not to self-medicate, but to consult a doctor who will correctly determine the type of cough and prescribe the necessary medications. It must be remembered that the causes of coughing may be allergic, colds, or may be due to a careless attitude to one's health.
Do not let any symptoms of a cough go by chance, because if you do not deal with the problem, then everything can end in more serious problems.