Expectorans

An expectorans or expectorans (from Latin ex "out" and pectus "chest"; plural: expectorantia , expectorant or expectorant ), German cough remover , is a medicine that is supposed to promote the expulsion of bronchial secretions by increasing the secretion production or the Viscosity reduced.

Expectorants have shown no specific effect in larger and more recent studies. They are prescribed less and less in Germany. The DEGAM guideline "Cough" advises against the use of acute coughs. In chronic bronchitis , mucolytic drugs can be used "on an experimental basis" to reduce the number of severe episodes.

According to the assumed mechanisms of action , one differentiates:

• Secretolytics are supposed to promote the formation of (thin) bronchial mucus. Examples of secretolytics are bromhexine and its metabolite ambroxol , ammonium chloride and potassium iodide , but also combinations of herbal active ingredients such as ivy + thyme and primrose + thyme.
• Mucolytics are supposed to reduce the viscosity of the mucus. The mucolytics include acetylcysteine , carbocysteine , guaifenesin or mesna and herbal products such as fennel and anise oil or the mixed oil myrtol .
• Secretomotor agents are intended to increase the removal of the bronchial mucus.

In connection with the use of expectorants, the adequate supply of water is probably the most effective element. The various tea preparations ( linden blossom tea ), milk with honey, and warm beer are also to be seen under this aspect.

The syrup Pei Pa Koa is used as a herbal medicine in traditional Chinese medicine against pharyngitis , cough and hoarseness and contains the fruits of the Japanese loquat.

literature

• H. Lüllmann, K. Mohr, M. Wehling: Pharmacology and Toxicology. Georg Thieme, Stuttgart 2003, ISBN 3-13-368515-5 .

See also

• Acute bronchitis
• COPD

Individual evidence

1. ↑ SM Smith, K. Schroeder, T. Fahey: Over-the-counter (OTC) medications for acute cough in children and adults in community settings. In: The Cochrane database of systematic reviews. Number 11, November 2014, p. CD001831, doi : 10.1002 / 14651858.CD001831.pub5 , PMID 25420096 (Review).
2. ↑ P. Poole, J. Chong, CJ Cates: Mucolytic agents versus placebo for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In: The Cochrane database of systematic reviews. Number 7, July 2015, S. CD001287, doi : 10.1002 / 14651858.CD001287.pub5 , PMID 26222376 (Review).
3. ↑ Ulrich Schwabe, Dieter Paffrath: Drug Ordinance Report 2016 . Springer-Verlag, October 7, 2016, ISBN 978-3-662-50351-5 , p. 382.
4. ↑ DEGAM guideline No. 11: Cough. ( Memento of the original from June 11, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. As of February 2014. Pages 25 and 54.  
5. ↑ See the overview of drugs and active ingredients for coughs from Stiftung Warentest .
6. ↑ Ekkehard Haen: expectorants, antitussives, bronchospasmolytics. Munich 1989 (PDF; 1.8 MB).

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