Cough drops are used against diseases of the respiratory tract, whereby the therapy is distinguished between expectorant cough drops and classic cough suppressants. Pharmaceutical cough drops usually require a prescription and a pharmacy, while natural- and homeopathic-based cough drops are also available without a doctor’s prescription.
What are cough drops?
Expectorant cough drops exert the effect of diluting viscous secretions in the respiratory tract, making them easier to cough up. Cough drops are liquid medicines for oral administration. The respective active ingredients are usually dissolved in alcohol and preserved, although alcohol-free cough drops are also available, particularly for treating children. Cough medicines can generally have different modes of action, depending on the individual disease and symptoms. The actual cough is a natural protective mechanism of the organism, which serves to clear the airways. The cleansing function of the cough occurs when the lungs, bronchi or throat are diseased. If the cough is accompanied by the expulsion of thick mucus from the respiratory tract, it is called a mucous cough. This is regularly preceded by an infection, while a dry cough is also known as an irritable cough, and inflammation of the mucous membranes or allergies are frequent causes. The respective cough drops therefore develop in each case an expectorant or soothing and soothing effect.
Medical application, effect and use
Cough drops with an expectorant mode of action are taken at regular intervals according to prescribed dosage. The duration of therapy depends on the severity of the disease and is at least one week, although for colds and flu-like infections, treatment is recommended until about three days after the signs of the disease have subsided. All expectorant cough drops have the effect of diluting the viscous secretion in the respiratory tract so that it can be coughed up more easily. In addition, some products have an antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory effect that prevents new infections. Cough drops against a dry cough and irritable cough hardly differ from the expectorant variants in their form of administration, treatment duration and dosage. The chemically produced cough drops against irritable cough use antitussives to dampen and suppress the stimulus to cough. Those derived from nature often add a soothing, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory mode of action. The use of cough suppressants is considered controversial. On the one hand, the diseased organism comes to rest and recuperate through the muffled cough; on the other hand, this limits the body’s natural cleansing and protective function. When a large amount of secretion accumulates, cough-suppressing cough drops can have a counterproductive effect on the success of treatment, since the expectoration of the bacterially loaded mucus is prevented.
Herbal, natural, and pharmaceutical cough drops.
In pharmaceutically manufactured products, the active ingredients contained in expectorant cough drops include ambroxol hydrochloride, acetylcysteine, and bromhexine. In addition, many homeopathic cough drops use effective extracts of plants such as ivy, thyme, primrose, anise, eucalyptus, bitter fennel and sage. In addition to liquefying the secretions for better expectoration, some active ingredients activate the cilia to remove the mucus. Bromhexine also stimulates the bronchial glands to produce more fluid and reduce inflammation. Pharmaceutically produced cough drops for irritable cough and dry cough often contain the active ingredients dextromethorphan hydrobromide monohydrate, hydrocodone, noscapine resinate and codeine. The majority of chemically produced cough suppressants use antitussives that additionally relieve pain. As a subtype of morphines, antitussives have a decisive influence on respiratory reflexes, pain sensation and the psyche, which is why they are not suitable for treating children, pregnant women and the previously ill. But here, too, homeopathy offers alternatives with effective natural and plant extracts from sundew, ivy, fennel and honey, which are said to have more of a calming effect on the coughing sensation.Treatment with cough suppressant cough drops is recommended especially in the evening hours, so that the organism can regenerate during sleep.
Risks and side effects
In general, expectorant cough drops carry the risk of significantly more coughing. Especially in the evening and night hours, this can be perceived as annoying. Conversely, with cough suppressants, there is a risk that the course of the disease may be prolonged and altered due to cough suppression. Known side effects of pharmaceutically manufactured cough drops include headache, gastrointestinal distress, mucosal inflammation, fever, and dizziness. In addition, pharmaceutically manufactured cough drops should generally not be combined with antibiotics, painkillers or psychotropic drugs without medical advice. Also, allergic persons, pregnant women, nursing mothers, liver and kidney patients, and especially children should always take cough drops only after prior consultation with a physician.
