Cough medicine: How should you take it?

Cough medicine is one of the most common medicines in human use. However, how cough medicine works, how should it be used are issues that have not really been paid attention to.

Cough can be considered the problem that causes people to go to the doctor the most among the symptoms of disease in humans, and it is estimated that in the United States, billions of dollars have been used to buy cough medicines prescription drugs such as cough suppressants (suppressants) and expectorants (expectorants). Concerns about cough as well as cough treatment are clear, but the fact is that we have never had a good enough evidence about the effectiveness of cough suppressants and expectorants, they We buy them because we believe they will work. So should use cough suppressant and expectorant, if used, how?

In clinical practice, coughing presents many surprising problems:
It is estimated that cough causes more than 30 million visits to the doctor each year Cough can be considered the most common medical symptom When it occurs cough almost everyone wants to use medicine to get rid of cough as quickly as possible. However, over-the-counter cough medicines do not have strong enough evidence to prove efficacy:
A review of previous studies found no evidence over-the-counter medicines effective against cough. This conclusion includes both cough suppressants such as dextromethorphan (which suppresses the cough reflex) and expectorants such as guaifenesin (which thins sputum, facilitating expulsion from the airways). A review of studies on cough medicines over the past few decades found no evidence that they work for coughs in viral infections. It's important to understand that the studies above don't claim cough medicine doesn't work, they just conclude that there's no evidence for cough medicine. This means that in the future, further studies may still be able to prove the effects of cough medicine.

Based on the fact that there is a lack of strong enough evidence for the effectiveness of cold and cough medicines, and that there is a very small risk of serious side effects, in 2008 the Food and Drug Administration (Food and Drug Administration) The United States recommends that infants and young children should not use these drugs. Pharmaceutical manufacturers have agreed and specified instructions on drug labels as well as in instructions for use. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics has gone further, advising parents that there is no reason to give cough and cold medicines to children under 6 years of age. However, in reality, parents of children do not always follow the recommendations of organizations, and according to a national survey, more than 60% of parents polled said they still give children under 2 years old. age of using these drugs.

When coughing attacks appear, especially in the case of children with cough, we will find ways to quickly get rid of the cough. We believe that over-the-counter cough medicines will help control the condition, and the level of cough will gradually subside after a few days of taking the medicine, leading us to be convinced that the cough medicine really works, without ignore the fact that the body's immune system is working, and the symptoms will gradually subside with or without cough medicine. Cough medicine, to date, has not had strong enough evidence to demonstrate efficacy.

Although experts agree that over-the-counter cough medicine should not be given to young children, it is very safe for most older children and adults. The risk of unwanted effects is very small. People with pre-existing medical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure, should consult their doctor before using, even over-the-counter, to ensure maximum safety.
If the cough persists for more than 5-7 days, or the cough is accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever or rash, see a doctor.
Cough and cold medicine should not be overdosed. In fact, overdose is very easy to happen, mostly accidentally, when users use many types of different manufacturers without realizing that they have the same active ingredient, or overdose can also be dangerous. It can happen when a person intentionally increases the dose after taking the first dose without feeling effective. Overdose is not only ineffective, but also increases the risk of serious consequences.

Experts say that while it may not have much of an effect, for most older children and adults it's not harmful. Many doctors will even suggest over-the-counter cough medicine. Besides using medicine, there are many traditional methods that also have certain effects in relieving cough. One of them is warm honey tea, but should not be used for children under 1 year old because honey is not safe for this age.

The last thing to consider before deciding to use an over-the-counter cough medicine is the nature of the cough. Coughing is a beneficial natural reflex of the body to expel excess mucus and other irritants from the body, so reducing cough is not necessarily a good thing to do.
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Articles refer to the source: webmd.com

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