Cough Syrup: Effect, Uses & Risks

Cough syrups are medicines that are administered orally to relieve cough symptoms. It is mostly a syrup or juice-like agent. A distinction must be made between cough syrups that have a cough-suppressing effect and those that have a secretion-relieving effect. The cough suppressant cough syrup is used for non-productive coughing and is intended to suppress it. Secretory cough syrup is resorted to for stuck mucus.

Cough syrup for cough, cold and bronchitis.

Due to the versatility of cough syrup, it is used in almost all diseases of the respiratory tract. Cough syrup is to support in cases of a disease, the human lung. These are there to absorb and pass 10,000 to 15,000 liters of air daily. If foreign substances have penetrated the lungs, the natural reflex of coughing comes into play. In this process, the foreign substances are ejected from the lungs at great speed, along with a great deal of air. In the case of a respiratory disease, the lungs try to rid themselves of the accumulated mucus in this way. However, regular coughing is very nerve-racking, disturbs sleep and is not always productive either. For these reasons, it may be useful to take cough syrup. The cough syrup can have different effects depending on the different ingredients. Since diseases of the respiratory tract are often caused by bacteria, a germ-inhibiting effect is very beneficial. To prevent constant coughing, a cough syrup with antispasmodic ingredients should be chosen. Since a cough is often accompanied by inflammation of the respiratory tract, an anti-inflammatory cough syrup can also be used to treat the inflammation. If the patient suffers from thick mucus that is difficult or impossible to cough up, a mucus-liquefying cough syrup that promotes coughing up is recommended. Due to the versatility of cough syrup, it is used for almost all diseases of the respiratory tract. Regardless of whether it is, for example, pseudocroup, whooping cough, acute bronchitis, a flu-like infection or a simple cold, cough syrup can relieve the symptoms.

Herbal, natural and pharmaceutical cough syrup.

There are different types in cough syrup. It can be divided into natural, herbal, homeopathic and chemical-pharmaceutical based cough syrup. Natural-based cough syrup takes advantage of the natural cough-irritant properties of various substances, such as fennel honey or decoction of sugared onions. Herbal cough syrup draws on the beneficial properties of various plants. For example, marshmallow, coltsfoot, ribwort, mallow and Iceland moss have a cough-irritant effect. In contrast, thyme, ivy and licorice can be used to loosen the secretion. Homeopathic remedies, on the other hand, try to stimulate the body to help itself. Therefore, homeopathic cough syrup should be taken only until the cough is resolved. Depending on the type of cough, Bryonia, Pulsatilla, Belladonna and the like can be used here. Chemical-pharmaceutical cough syrup attempts to harness the power of artificially produced substances. For example, most over-the-counter cough syrups use dextromethorphan, or DXM. DXM has a strong cough suppressant effect.

Risks and side effects

There are no risks or side effects with a natural or herbal cough syrup. With homeopathic cough syrup, intolerances may occasionally occur. Existing hyperthyroidism may also be aggravated. The remedy should be discontinued in this case. Cough syrup produced by chemical means may have various side effects, such as fatigue, dizziness, itching, nausea or vomiting. Even the over-the-counter cough syrups can cause cardiac arrhythmias and hallucinations in high doses. Attention should therefore be paid to the dosage instructions for over-the-counter cough syrup as well.