Health Tips / Chesty Cough
Non-prescription treatments
Chesty or productive coughs with loose secretions are treated with expectorants which cause the person to "expectorate" or cough-up the phlegm. Guaifenesin is the most commonly used expectorant and is found in products such as ROBITUSSIN CHESTY COUGH, BENYLIN NON-DROWSY FOR CHESTY COUGHS, VENOS EXPECTORANT. These products do not cause drowsiness.
In cases, where there is much nasal congestion or a runny nose, an expectorant combined with a decongestant may be used. The decongestant will treat and prevent any nasal congestion or a runny nose. Products available include ROBITUSSIN PLUS and CASACOL. While they do not cause drowsiness, those with high blood pressure and glaucoma should generally avoid these products.
Where the secretions are compacted in the chest a mucolytic, such as carbocysteine is used to break up the mucous. EXPUTEX, BENYLIN CLEAR and VISCOLEX are a number of different formulations of carbocysteine. In most cases a higher dose is given at the start and when the mucous begins to clear a lower dose is taken. If you are pregnant, have a history of, or are suffering from peptic ulceration, consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking carbocysteine.
Further information on medicines including dosages is available at www.medicines.ie
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