Dry cough is a problem that can occur in anyone regardless of age and that can persist for a long period of time if it is not treated with the right medications. In general, the common cause of this type of cough is an allergic reaction, however, more serious diseases such as tuberculosis cannot be ruled out .
This annoying cough tends to wake you up in the hours of rest at night, therefore it is important to take the necessary medications to effectively solve this uncomfortable symptom that, certainly, is not usually serious in most cases since the body is capable of reacting to clear the airways of irritating substances that lodge in the throat and lungs. In the following FastlyHealarticle we bring you practical and effective dry cough medications .
Dry cough: causes and symptoms
The dry cough is an annoying and uncomfortable symptom very common among the population from infancy to adulthood. This type of cough is also known as a non-productive cough . This is a type of cough in which there is no expectoration or release of any mucus or secretion, on the other hand, what does exist is irritation of the respiratory tract that progressively aggravates the cough so it is important to treat it in time.
The dry cough differs from the productive cough since the latter expels phlegm or mucus during the cough so, unlike the dry cough, it is better not to suppress it. The main causes of a dry cough include:
- Inflammatory disorders of the airways.
- Allergic reactions to irritants such as dust, pet hair, flower pollen.
- Disease Gastroesophageal reflux .
- Irritation of the respiratory tract caused by the flu.
- Environmental factors such as cigarette smoke and air conditioning.
- Adverse reactions to some medications.
In addition to coughing without expectoration of phlegm, other symptoms may occur such as:
- A sound similar to the barking of a dog.
- Itching of the respiratory tract.
- Chest without congestion.
Drugs for dry cough: codeine
One of the drugs used as an antitussive is codeine in effective therapeutic doses to calm the cough without generating dependence, this drug has been questioned due to the dependence that it can generate at high doses, in fact, the National Institute on Drug Abuse describes in about 3% is the percentage of adolescents who abuse this cough medicine, with a prevalence among 8th and 12th grade students 1 .
As an antitussive it has a presentation in syrup 20 mg / 15 ml. It is recommended to use in children from 6 years of age at a dose of 2.5 to 5 mg orally every 4 or 6 hours, in children older than 7 years the dose ranges from 5 to 10 mg orally every 4 or 6 hours , in infants the maximum recommended dose of 30 mg to 60 mg per day. On the other hand, in adults the recommended dose is 10 to 20 mg orally every 4 or 6 hours, the maximum recommended dose and 120 mg a day.
The codeine used with caution in case of:
- Pregnancy.
- Asthma attack
- Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Likewise, the main adverse effects after codeine administration include:
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Drowsiness.
- Anxiety.
- Constipation.
- Dependency can be associated with overmanagement.
Some of the available trade names for codeine are codeisan, histaverin, and tosein.
Drugs for dry cough: dextromethorphan
Another useful medicine as a treatment for dry cough is dextromethorphan , it acts centrally but does not generate sedative or addictive effects like codeine. The available presentation of 15 mg / 5ml.
It is recommended to administer this medicine in children older than 2 years, the recommended dose to give between 2 and 5 years is 2.5 and 5 mg orally every 4 hours with a maximum dose of 30 mg, on the other hand for children between 6 and 11 years the recommended dose is 5 to 10 milligrams orally every 4 hours a maximum dose of 60 mg a day finally in adolescents and adults the recommended dose is 10 to 20 mg every 4 hours with a maximum dose of 120 mg per day day.
The side effects that can occur after the administration of dextromethorphan are:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness.
- Nausea and vomiting
- Stomach ache.
Available trade names are:
- Bisolvon antitusive.
- Dextrometorfano farmalider.
- Aquitos.
- Romilar.
Drugs for dry cough: chlorphenamine
On the other hand we have chlorphenamine, a useful antiallergic drug for dry cough , it is found in different presentations, such as syrups and tablets. The ideal dose in adults is tablets of 4 mg maximum 24 mg per day. In pediatric patients it is recommended to visit the doctor to indicate the dose according to weight.
Common side effects of using chlorphenamine are:
- Headache.
- Dizziness.
- Drowsiness.
- Dry mouth
Natural remedies for dry cough
For dry cough, the use of natural therapy is also useful.
- Honey : it is considered one of the most effective medicines to calm the cough, the ideal is to take 3 tablespoons of honey a day, it can be used in children older than one year.
- Steam : another effective remedy for a dry cough is the use of vaporization can be used by placing boiling water and inhaling the steam from a safe distance. It is advisable to place a towel on the head so that the steam does not escape, this should be done for 5 to 10 minutes 2 times a day.
- Vaporub : Vaporub therapy against cough has been useful for decades, preventing congestion and reducing the discomfort caused by this symptom.
There are many useful ways to improve a dry cough both pharmacologically and with natural remedies. However, if this symptom persists for more than 5 days you should go to the doctor to be able to clarify the cause and thus be able to comply with the necessary treatment.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Medicines for dry cough , we recommend that you enter our Lung and respiratory tract category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.