Medications to treat cough

Mucolytics or expectorants                      

• A mucolytic agent or expectorant is any agent which dissolves thick mucus and is eases respiratory difficulties.
• It does so by dissolving glycosaminoglycans, tending to break down or lower the viscosity of mucin-containing body secretions.
• An expectorant increases bronchial secretions and mucolytics.
• Expectorants reduce the thickness of bronchial secretions thus increasing mucus flow that can be removed more easily through coughing.

Antitussives

Agents that suppress cough act centrally on the medullary cough center.

Indications of antitussives

• Dry or non productive chronic cough
• Allergic, irritating cough
• If the cough interferes sleep or activity

Cough suppressants

Other remedies

• Stop smoking and get active about passive smoking
• Avoid allergens and environmental irritants
• Drink plenty of fluids; fluids make the mucus more watery and easy to cough up
• Drink plenty of fluids while taking expectorants. Fluids will help to break up mucus and clear congestion.
• Breathe warm and moist air, it will vaporize the thick mucus and loosens the secretions
• Steam inhalation will also help to liquefy mucus
• If bacterial infection is suspected, antibiotics are needed to overcome the infection
• If GERD is suspected, acid reflux need to be treated