A) Demulcents
They are the type of drugs which acts on upper respiratory system.They have soothing action and decreases the irritation in the throat.
•Lozenges- These are the Demlucents which are in the form of sweet tablets.example- Strepsils,vicks,etc.
•Linctus- These Demluscents are sweet thick syrup available with different brand names. Sometime codeine,which is cough centre suppresant is added to it and codeine Linctus syrups are used.
•Liquorice- It is a herbal extract taken from part of glycirrhiza glabra.
B) Bronchodilators
When on examination doctor’s notice some wheezing sound then we can understand that this is due the Bronchiospasm so to relieve this spasm we may use bronchodilators like-
•Salmeterol
•Salbutamol
•Terbutaline
All of them are beta 2 agonist i.e they are adrenergic drugs which act on beta 2 receptors of Bronchus and relaxes it.
C) Mucokinetic Drugs
When the mucus of respiratory passage is really thick then it causes problem with cilia of respiratory passage to push them out.Now this mucus will irritate and obstruct the air passage and will cause cough.So in this condition we may give mucokinetic drugs.As the name suggests muco – kinetic i.e they help in the movement of mucus and gives relief in cough.
They are of two types:-
1)Direct Acting Drugs
Like-
•Sodium citrate
•Potassium citrate
•Guaphenisin
•Vasaka- Taken from part of Adhatoda vasica plant
2)Indirect Acting Drugs
Like–
•NH4Cl
• NH4CO3
D)Mucolytic Drugs
These drugs acts by diluting/thining the mucus so that it can be easily pushed out with the cilia.Like-
•Bromohexene- It is otherwise a good drug to choose but it may cause some adverse effects like vomiting,etc
•Ambroxol- Less adverse effects than Bromhexine
•Carbocystine- It have both Mucolytic as well as mucokinetic action.But it is an expensive drug.
E) Antihistaminic Drugs
These drugs also have some Anticholinergic action as well.So when their is a basal discharge and also post nasal drip then it will lead to increased coughing so in this condition we may use these type of drugs.
•Chlorpheniramine maleate ( CPM )
•Tripolidine
F)Cough centre suppresants
These type of drugs may be used before or after surgery when doctor doesn’t want that the patient should cough as it may cause a problem or in other such conditions also.
•Codein
•Pholcodein
•Ethyl morphine
•Noscapine
This is just a brief of Anti Tussive Drugs,to make you understand about the mechanism and types of Anti Tussive Drugs.This is just a notes type post for anti tussive drugs to revise or to get an overview of these drugs.
Contributor- Medico Anant Singh Nanda
Always on Top
Nice
Thank you sir 👍