KNOW MORE ABOUT COUGH MEDICINES & THE RIGHT DOSAGE

A cough can be annoying, but you will be surprised to know that in most cases it serves a vital protective function by removing particles from your airway. However, excessive cough can irritate and potentially damage your airways. Hence, treating your cough in a timely manner has the potential to break the vicious cycle of cough-reinforcing cough. The type of cough you are experiencing, either dry or wet cough, may help in determining the treatment.

Let us take a closer look at the basic categories of active ingredients used in cough medicines:

SUPPRESSANTS:

Dry cough that does not produce mucus (also known as non-productive cough) are best treated with this class of medications. Suppressants may help you sleep better by reducing the frequency of your hacking coughs that keeps you awake at night. Common cough suppressants include camphor, eucalyptus oil, menthol, and dextromethorphan.

The most often used suppressor is dextromethorphan. Below are the doses of dextromethorphan in the cough medicine

7 Children 6 to 12 years of age - 7 mg every 4 hours or 15 mg every 6 to 8 hours, as needed

Adults and Children ≥12 years: 30 mg every 6 to 8 hours as needed

EXPECTORANTS:

This family of drugs may aid in the treatment of a mucus-producing wet cough. Expectorants aid in the thinning of mucus, making it easier for you to cough out. The following are some expectorants used in cough medicines:

GUAIFENESIN:

It is a common expectorant that makes your mucus less sticky. It is an active ingredient in many cough medicines. Here is the dosage of guaifenesin in cough medicine:

Children 4 to 6 years of age—50 to 100 mg every 4 hours

Children 6 to 12 years of age—100 to 200 mg every 4 hours

Adults—200 to 400 mg every 4 hours

ACETYLCYSTEINE:

It thins and loosens mucus in your airways, allowing you to discharge mucus from you lungs and breathe more easily. Daily dosage of acetylcysteine is 200mg 3 times a day.

BROMHEXINE:

It helps to alleviate chest congestion by breaking down mucus. Bromhexine is generally safe, below is the recommended dose for syrup:

Adults and children 12 years and older: 10mL to be taken 3 times daily

Children 6-12 years old: 5mL to be taken 3 times daily

Children 2-5 years old: 2.5 mL to be taken 3 times daily

AMMONIUM CHLORIDE:

Its expectorant effect is due to an irritative effect on the bronchial mucosa, which induces the formation of extra respiratory tract fluid, which is thus easier to cough up. The dosage of ammonium chloride is 0.3 to 0.5 gm.

AMBROXOL:

It thins and breaks up the sputum and is used to alleviate congestion in respiratory disorders. Because of its local numbing action, Ambroxol is also used to reduce discomfort from sore throats. The dosage of ambroxol for cough treatment is 30 mg to 120 mg to be taken in 2 to 3 divided doses.

ANTIHISTAMINE

This class of drugs helps relieves the cough caused by allergies. Diphenhydramine is a common antihistaminic used to treat allergic cough. It is usually taken three or four times a day at a dose of 25mg or 50mg.

MULTI-INGREDIENT COUGH SYRUPS

Some cough medicines may contain a combination of multiple ingredients. Decongestants like phenylephrine for a stuffy nose, antihistamines for a runny nose, and pain killers are all possible additions to combination treatment. These formulations may cause a few side effects such as drowsiness and dry mouth.

The present article mentions the common ingredients of cough medicines and their average dosage. Hence, it is suggested to follow your doctor’s advice carefully.

CONSIDERING
OVER-THE-COUNTER
(OTC) MEDICINE?

If you are taking over-the-counter medicine, read the active ingredients and directions on the packaging carefully before using it. Before taking OTC medicine, consult a doctor if you have the following symptoms:

FeverWheezing while coughing or breathing

Breathlessness Long-lasting cough

Although cough medications are considered safe it is always advisable to see your doctor before taking them since he or she may advise you on the right dosage.

The dosage is determined by your age, medical condition, and treatment response. You should not increase the dosage or frequency of your cough medications beyond what your doctor has prescribed.