Possible side effects of expectorants

The expectorant group is a mucolytic drug that reduces the consistency of sputum, mucus to make it easier to cough up, and expels mucus from the respiratory tract more easily. However, because expectorants can cause some adverse reactions, they should be used with special caution, especially in children.

Cough is one of the symptoms caused by diseases in the respiratory tract. Cough includes: cough with phlegm and cough without phlegm (dry cough).
Cough with phlegm is a type of cough with the condition of spitting up mucus or sputum,... A common medicine used to treat cough with phlegm is an expectorant.
The drugs in the expectorant group include: Acetylcysteine, ambroxol, bromhexin, carbocysteine, eprazinon,... Expectorants include single-agent expectorants containing only pure expectorants such as Bisolvon (containing only bromhexin), Acemuc (containing only bromhexin), Acemuc containing only acetylcysteine), Mucosolvan (containing only ambroxol),... and combination cough medicine (in the composition contains expectorants such as Atussin, Solmux Broncho,...).

Mucolytic: The expectorant effect is to thin the sputum by increasing the secretion, increasing the volume and volume of sputum, making the sputum thin and easy to expel through the cough or sputum reflex. Active ingredients such as: guaifenisin, ipecacuanha, ammonium salt, iodized salt, ... with brand name drugs such as Acodin, Terpincod, Passedyl, Terpin... have direct effects on sputum, change the structure of sputum by breaking broken chemical structures in sputum (disulphure bridge, oligo saccharid bridge) but did not increase the volume and volume of sputum, causing sputum to reduce viscosity and consistency, easy to expel when coughing.
In addition to the treatment of cough with phlegm, one of the effects of expectorants is to be used in the treatment of viscous mucus disease, respiratory diseases with viscous sputum such as acute or chronic bronchitis.
As an antidote: The expectorant acetylcysteine ​​is also used as an antidote for paracetamol overdose.
Treatment of respiratory infections: bromhexin, ambroxol are often used to treat respiratory tract infections accompanied by cough with phlegm.

As a drug that reduces mucus, loosens phlegm, but the drug can also cause some adverse reactions, so when using it, it should be used with special caution, especially with children. Some side effects of expectorants can be listed as follows:
Loosening the protective mucus of the stomach: The side effect of expectorants is that they can loosen the protective mucus of the stomach, so it is easy to cause ulcers. stomach, should be avoided in people with stomach ulcers, duodenum.
Initiation of bronchospasm: expectorants should be avoided in asthmatics because they can trigger bronchospasm.
Allergy to drug ingredients: Very rare cases of very serious allergic reactions to the drug. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching, swelling of the face, tongue, or throat.
Some side effects of expectorants: The drug can cause digestive disorders, mild increase in liver enzymes, dizziness, headache.
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