LSB384 Lecture 10: Summary - Agents for Cough & Rhinitis
Expectorant, Mucolytics, Cough & Oxygen
Expectorant: remove sputum
Mucolytic: thin mucus
Used in treatment of bronchitis associated with smoking / COPD, used in treatment of
cystic fibrosis (thick & viscous secretions in ducted organs, where it leads to increased
respiratory infection & irreversible lung damage)
Drug Name
Mechanism of
Action
Action in Body
Clinical Use
Adverse Effects
Water
Expectorant
By steam or
nebuliser
Aids in removal
of sputum from
bronchial
passages
Ipratropium
bromide
Expectorant
By inhalation
Thinning
secretions &
thereby
keeping
airways &
organ ducts
patent
Combats
opportunistic
infections
Acetylcysteine
Breaks
disulphide
bonds that
pack the
mucin
molecule
Thins viscous
mucus
Nebuliser &
intratracheal
tube
Cough: physiological mechanism to clear respiratory passages of foreign material &
excessive secretions
Chronic or unproductive cough = annoying, tiring
Menthol
Anti-Tussives
Menthol
vapour
reduces
sensitivity of
peripheral
stretch / cough
receptors
Agent used to
relieve or
prevent a
cough
Cough
associated with
bronchial
asthma
(salbutamol →
bronchodilatio
n)
Codeine
Centrally
acting
Analgesic; Anti-
tussive
Dextromethorpha
n
D-isomer of
codeine
analogue
methorphan
Anti-tussive
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Document Summary
Used in treatment of bronchitis associated with smoking / copd, used in treatment of cystic fibrosis (thick & viscous secretions in ducted organs, where it leads to increased respiratory infection & irreversible lung damage) Breaks disulphide bonds that pack the mucin molecule. Thinning secretions & thereby keeping airways & organ ducts patent. Aids in removal of sputum from bronchial passages. Cough: physiological mechanism to clear respiratory passages of foreign material & excessive secretions. Anti-tussives menthol vapour reduces sensitivity of peripheral stretch / cough receptors. Agent used to relieve or prevent a cough. Cough associated with bronchial asthma (salbutamol bronchodilatio. D-isomer = not analgesic, not addictive, does not stimulate u- receptors to any great extent. Ischaemic hypoxia (lack of supply by blood vessels) Rhinitis: acute or chronic inflammation of nasal mucosa, itching, sneezing. Cause: viral infections, allergic reactions (seasonal or chronic/perennial) Histamine is a major mediator of rhinitis (unlike asthma)
