What are the side effects of expectorants?

Dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.

Who should not take an expectorant?

One of the risks of taking an expectorant is that people sometimes use them for persistent or chronic coughs. People should not use expectorants to mask the symptoms of a chronic cough that is due to smoking, asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema.

Is expectorant good for allergies?

If allergies are causing your flare-up, antihistamines can help by limiting or blocking histamine, which your body produces during allergic reactions. Expectorants, such as Mucinex®, thin mucus down, making it easier for your body to get rid of it.

What is the best mucus expectorant?

Expectorants work to loosen congestion and help each cough more effectively clear phlegm and mucus from the lungs….Expectorants.

Are expectorants bad?

They can make you dizzy and sleepy, which is fine if you are staying in bed, but not so good if you are driving. Expectorants that help to bring up phlegm contain ipecacuanha or guaifenesin but they can make you feel sick, drowsy and give you a headache.

Do expectorants increase coughing?

An expectorant is something that helps loosen mucus so you can cough it up. It does this by increasing the water content of the mucus, thinning it out, and making your cough more productive.

When should you take an expectorant?

Expectorants may make it easier to cough up mucus when you have a productive cough. Use an expectorant if you have a cough that produces thick mucus and you are having difficulty coughing up the mucus.

Do antihistamines help with phlegm?

Antihistamines. Antihistamines are commonly used to treat postnasal drip caused by sinusitis and viral infections, but they’re also used in combination with nasal sprays to treat allergies. Antihistamines work by drying out the mucus that causes coughing, sore throats, and other postnasal drip symptoms.

Do antihistamines break up mucus?

Antihistamines make mucus thick and hard to drain. Be careful with decongestants. Tablets containing pseudoephedrine act on blood vessels to shrink membranes and keep nasal passages open. Nasal sprays also work well — and quickly.

Is it better to cough out phlegm?

Coughing and blowing your nose are the best ways to help mucus fight the good fight. “Coughing is good,” Dr. Boucher says. “When you cough up mucus when you are sick, you are essentially clearing the bad guys—viruses or bacteria—from your body.”

What are expectorants and what are the side effects?

Expectorants are ingredients that increase airway secretions. They do this by increasing the water content of the secretions which decreases their stickiness, making them easier to cough up. Expectorants also help to relieve chest congestion that occurs because of a cold, the flu, or allergies.

Which is the most common over the counter expectorant?

These medications are typically used for managing the symptoms of chest congestion. Guaifenesin, the most commonly used expectorant, is the active ingredient in Mucinex and Robitussin. In general, expectorants are available over-the-counter (OTC) in liquid, pill, and tablet forms.

Are there any side effects to expectorant cough syrup?

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Most people using this medication do not have serious side effects. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.

How are expectorants used in the treatment of cough?

Expectorants reduce the thickness of mucus and make secretions in the airways thinner. By loosening up the mucus in these ways, expectorants make it easier for a person to cough up phlegm and clear out their throat. Medicinal expectorants contain an active ingredient that will thin the mucus, making the cough more productive.

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