To combat dry cough, various medications are used, including Mucaltin. This drug belongs to the group of cough suppressants of herbal origin and is equally suitable for adults and children. High efficiency combined with low cost make Mucaltin for dry cough very popular among users. It is completely safe and does not cause significant side effects.
Composition of Mucaltin, release forms
The main composition of mucaltin contains 3 components:
- sodium bicarbonate;
- marshmallow root extract;
- tartaric acid.
Excipients include calcium stearate, vitamin C. They are present in some formulations. Mucaltin for cough can be prescribed in one of 3 dosage forms:
- Mucaltin tablets. Round, gray tablets with inclusions, with a characteristic sour taste and specific odor. The drug can be purchased in cellular packaging or bottles of 10, 20, 30, 50 and 100 tablets.
- Chewable tablets Mucaltin Forte. The composition of these tablets includes vitamin C, which has a positive effect on the functioning of the immune system, as a result - if you have an acute respiratory viral infection or other viral infection, recovery occurs much faster. They have a pleasant taste that children like, do not require resorption - they are designed specifically for chewing.
- Althea syrup is a liquid form of the drug Mucaltin. Thick, viscous substance of brown color, pleasant to the taste. It is this form of medicine that is recommended for use in pediatrics, especially for the treatment of children from the second year of life.
Composition and indications for use
In addition to the main natural component (marshmallow root extract), the tablets contain:
- aspartame;
- sodium carbonate and bicarbonate;
- wine acid;
- calcium stearate;
- polysaccharides from marshmallow root.
Tablets of 0.05 g (50 mg) are sold in pharmacies without a prescription, their cost is about 9 - 50 rubles per plate.
According to the instructions for use, it is recommended to take Mucaltin in the case of several bronchopulmonary diseases accompanied by the accumulation of viscous secretions in the bronchi:
- Acute, chronic and obstructive bronchitis.
- Tracheobronchitis and tracheitis.
- Laryngitis and pharyngitis.
- Emphysema, pneumonia.
- Bronchial asthma.
- Tuberculosis with manifestations of bronchitis.
- Other diseases of the respiratory tract with obstructed secretion.
pharmachologic effect
The medication has a mild antitussive and expectorant effect, softens dry, hysterical cough, and reduces the number of cough attacks. Medicine tablets also have a positive effect on the secretion of mucus, make sputum liquid, not viscous, and promote its better discharge. The enveloping properties of the product soothe the walls of the larynx and bronchi irritated by cough attacks.
The instructions for use also indicate that the use of mucaltin can reduce the inflammatory process and have a slight calming effect on the bronchial epithelium.
How to give to children at 2 years old
Having learned about which cough to take Mucaltin for, you definitely need to understand the peculiarities of its use. It is important to remember that there is a certain dosage for different ages that must be strictly adhered to. Exceeding the recommended amount of medication is strictly prohibited - this can lead to the accumulation of active components in the body, which will sharply reduce the effectiveness of treatment.
How to give the composition to children at 2 years old and can the medicine be used at that age? The drug is available in two forms - tablets and syrup. It is better to give syrup to children who are already two years old - this will greatly facilitate treatment and allow you to quickly achieve positive results, because the liquid composition is quickly absorbed into the blood and begins to act immediately.
The dosage for a child is only 5 ml of the composition. You should not give it in its pure form - be sure to dilute the medicine with boiled and cooled water. For one dose, only 15 ml of liquid is enough. It is better to give the baby the product before meals - this will allow the active ingredients to act immediately.
For what cough is Mucaltin prescribed?
The medicine, due to its properties, is widely used for the treatment of both dry, obsessive cough and as a complex treatment for the wet form with difficult to separate sputum. When prescribing mucaltin for a cough, the doctor is primarily guided by the location of the source of inflammation - after all, the use of this remedy will be advisable only for inflammatory processes in the lower respiratory tract - the bronchi and lungs. On the contrary, when diagnosing inflammatory processes in the upper parts of the respiratory system - the pharynx, larynx, etc., mucaltin is not taken, since the drug will not have the expected effect.
To summarize: the desired effect will be obtained when the patient has an inflammatory process in the lower parts of the respiratory tract, which is accompanied by an unproductive dry cough, or its wet form with difficult sputum separation.
Read about how to treat cough and fever of 38 in adults in this article.
Tablets for dry cough Mucaltin - description of the drug and composition
Regular cough tablets or Mucaltin - which is better? Mucaltin is an expectorant drug, a secretolytic used to relieve cough in diseases of the lower respiratory tract.
Mucaltin is produced in the form of convex gray-brown tablets with inclusions. The tablets are placed in contour cell or cell-free packages of 10, 20 or 30 pieces, as well as in polymer jars of 20, 30, 50 or 100 pieces each.
Price from 50 rub.
The active component of the drug is marshmallow extract. Each Mucaltin tablet weighs 300 mg, of which 50 mg is the mass of the active substance, 250 mg is the mass of excipients. These include:
- Sodium bicarbonate;
- Calcium stearate;
- Food grade tartaric acid.
The tablets have a specific odor and slightly sour taste.
The drug has a pronounced expectorant effect. Thanks to the active components, the drug performs the following functions:
- Stimulates the functioning of the bronchial glands, resulting in additional production of mucous secretions. Their consistency becomes more liquid, and the sticky and viscous sputum thins out.
- Increases the activity of the ciliated epithelium, resulting in accelerated release of liquefied pathological mucus formations from the bronchi and respiratory canals during coughing.
- Possessing moderate anti-inflammatory properties, it coats the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. Thanks to the protective film that is formed, there is no irritation of the mucous membrane, damaged tissues are restored, and inflammation goes away.
Cheap Mucaltin tablets have a complex effect on the patient. Many people wonder: what kind of cough does Mucaltin cure - dry or wet?
Mucaltin has an expectorant effect. For a dry cough, the medicine will increase the volume of bronchial secretion production; for a wet cough, it will speed up the discharge of mucus. Sputum under the influence of Mucaltin will become less viscous, which will contribute to its accelerated elimination.
Mucaltin has an effect on the respiratory tract itself, enveloping and softening it. The drug also has an anti-inflammatory effect, which prevents excessive irritation of the mucous membranes of the patient’s respiratory organs. Under the influence of Mucaltin, the inflammatory process will gradually become less pronounced, and damaged mucosal tissues will begin to gradually recover.
Polysaccharides from the marshmallow herb reflexively stimulate the activity of the ciliated epithelium, accelerating the process of mucus discharge and its removal to the surface of the respiratory tract. When treating cough, this medicine allows you to achieve the following effects:
- Expectorant;
- Enveloping;
- Anti-inflammatory;
- Softening.
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The enveloping property of Mucaltin is explained by the fact that the marshmallow root contains plant mucus, which envelops the membranes, creating a thin protective layer that prevents irritation. This protective layer remains for a long time, during which the inflammatory process gradually decreases, which contributes to a speedy recovery of the patient.
Protective plant mucus has an enveloping and softening effect on the gastric mucosa, so when treating cough there is no disruption of the digestive system.
How to take mucaltin for a child
As noted above, the best and most convenient form of release for children is considered to be syrup (Marshmallow). You should drink the liquid form of cough medicine according to the following scheme:
- For children from 1 year to 12 years old, dilute 5 ml of syrup in 2 tablespoons of warm boiled water.
- For children over 12 years of age and adults, dose 20 ml, first diluting it in 100 ml of liquid.
Treatment with Althea root is carried out for 1-2 weeks, depending on the intensity of the inflammatory process.
Possible complications caused by the drug
Due to its plant origin, the drug has few contraindications. Mucaltin is not prescribed to adults and children if they are hypersensitive to its components.
Complications may arise if Mucaltin is taken simultaneously with antitussive medications (not to be confused with “cough medications”). It is prohibited to take medications that suppress cough and contain codeine and ethylmorphine (Oxeladin, Glaucine, Prenoxdiazine and others) in parallel with Mucaltin.
The side effects of Mucaltin tablets are mild and boil down to the possible occurrence of allergic reactions in the form of itching and urticaria, as well as dyspeptic symptoms in the form of nausea, vomiting and discomfort in the stomach. Children are more susceptible to rare, but still possible, allergic effects of the drug.
For peptic ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract, the drug can cause various complications, pain and even bleeding. Mucaltin contains marshmallow, which is sometimes used to treat ulcers, but it also contains soda, which has an irritating effect on the gastric mucosa, which can increase inflammation.
Mucaltin does not affect a person’s concentration or reaction speed. The drug can be safely taken by drivers, as well as people working with various dangerous mechanisms.
How to take Mucaltin during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, Mucaltin, like any other medicine, should be taken only as prescribed by a doctor. Often the drug is not prescribed in the first and last trimesters, since the herb medicinal marshmallow has the property of increasing muscle tone, which can negatively affect the development of the fetus.
However, in the second trimester the drug is widely prescribed due to the small number of contraindications and side effects. The dosage regimen for pregnant women is as follows: take 1-2 tablets 3 times a day for 7-10 days.
Drug interactions
Mucaltin is a natural mucolytic that enhances the separation of bronchial secretions. It can relieve a cough, but not cure it, so this medicine must be combined with the main drugs and techniques intended to treat the disease.
Mucaltin should not be used in the first days of a cold; at this time there is no viscous secretion in the bronchi. A dry cough will only get worse, but will not bring relief.
This medicine is not used at the same time as medicines containing codeine.
The combination of Mucaltin and drugs that suppress cough leads to complications in coughing and stagnation of secretions in the bronchi and lungs.
Contraindications
The list of contraindications for the drug is quite narrow, which makes the drug one of the most widely used for the treatment of adults and in pediatric practice.
Contraindications for use are:
- diabetes;
- stomach or duodenal ulcer;
- thrombosis;
- thrombophlebitis;
- phenylketonuria;
- individual intolerance to marshmallow root;
- children up to 12 months;
- 1st and 3rd trimester of pregnancy;
- threat of miscarriage at any stage of pregnancy.
Features of administration for children over 3 years old, which is better to use – syrup or tablets
What kind of cough to take Mucaltin for, how to give it to children correctly, how important it is to follow the dosage - parents may have many questions that should be answered in advance. Doctors recommend giving children syrup - it tastes more pleasant and children are happy to take the composition, which quickly relieves colds.
What is the norm for children over 3 years old and can the drug be given without first diluting it in water? Doctors warn that the composition should be taken only after mixing with boiled water, especially when treating children.
The norm for a child who is already 3 years old remains virtually unchanged - it is allowed to give the baby only 5 ml of the drug. You can dilute it in less water - only 10-12 ml. The number of uses of the composition is only three times a day. Even with an intense cough, it is forbidden to exceed this dose rate.
Mucaltin analogues
Since the product is inexpensive and has a small number of side effects and contraindications, analogues are required only in cases of individual intolerance to marshmallow root. Effective analogues include:
- Pertussin syrup.
- Syrup Doctor Mom.
- Gerbion syrup.
- Pectusin tablets.
We recommend reading: How to use Gerbion for dry cough?
Mukaltin or Pertussin - what to choose?
Unlike the exclusively plant-based Mucaltin, Pertussin consists of plant and synthetic components. The main composition includes thyme herb extract and potassium bromide. The drug is prescribed for inflammatory processes not only in the lower parts of the respiratory system, but also for inflammation of the upper respiratory tract - pharyngitis, laryngitis, etc. It is also used as part of complex therapy for serious diseases such as tuberculosis, asthma, and chronic pulmonary obstruction. Pertussin has a wide list of contraindications, including liver and kidney diseases, fructose intolerance, pregnancy at any stage and children under 3 years of age. Prescribed with caution to patients with diabetes mellitus. Just like Mucaltin, it is not prescribed simultaneously with antitussive drugs.
How much does the drug Pertussin cost?! The price category for the product is the same as for the inexpensive Mucaltin - a bottle will cost 30-40 rubles per 100 ml. When choosing between these inexpensive medications, it is worth taking into account the diagnosis and the age of the patient. Thus, Pertussin, unlike Mucaltin, is prescribed for inflammatory processes in both the lower and upper respiratory tracts, but is not used in children under 3 years of age. Let us remind you that Mucaltin is used in pediatrics from 12 months of age.
Doctor Mom syrup or Mucaltin?
First of all, it is worth noting that Doctor Mom syrup is much more expensive than Mukaltin. Price in pharmacies - from 210 rubles per 100 ml bottle. Cough tablets will cost 80 - 100 rubles per 100 pieces.
The composition of Doctor Mom is also exclusively herbal, but much more saturated - the syrup contains extracts of 10 medicinal plants. Used in pediatrics from 3 years of age. Prescribed for the treatment of dry and wet coughs caused by inflammation of the upper respiratory system. Not used for the treatment of pregnant women, as appropriate studies have not been conducted. Suitable for long-term use, courses of 2-3 weeks.
You may be interested in the article - Instructions for using mulberry cough syrup.
When choosing a cough remedy - Doctor Mom or Mucaltin - you should focus not only on the price category, but also on the required duration of treatment. Mucaltin is not suitable for long-term treatment, as it simply will not have the desired effect.
Instructions for use
In order for the drug to have the necessary therapeutic effect, you must observe the dosage of the drug and adhere to the rules for taking it.
The correct method of use is to dissolve the tablets until they are completely dissolved, which significantly increases the effect of the medicine on the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract.
If the child cannot swallow the pill, then it can be diluted in juice or warm water with a volume of 50 ml. It is not advisable to swallow Mucaltin tablets whole; they are crushed into powder and washed down with water.
Therapists recommend taking the medicine strictly before eating food - 30 minutes or 1 hour before meals.
Important! During treatment with Mucaltin, increase daily fluid intake by at least twice.
In what cases is it necessary to consult a doctor?
Many have become accustomed to Mukaltin since childhood. This remedy has always been available and quite effective in treating adults and children. But there are certain conditions in which the use of this drug must be agreed with the attending physician:
- Childhood . Officially, the instructions limit the use of the drug to children under 12 years of age. But in practice, pediatricians often prescribe Mucaltin to young children - from 2-3 years old. This limitation is no longer due to the potential threat of the drug, but to the lack of confirmation of the safety of Mucaltin in this age group in specific studies;
- Pregnancy . Pregnant women are advised to consult their doctor first. It is necessary to take medications especially responsibly in the first trimester, when important organs and systems of the fetus are developing and the hematoplacental barrier is not yet functioning;
- Diabetes . The presence of polysaccharides in the drug introduces certain limitations in the treatment of patients with elevated blood glucose levels. Preliminary consultation with a specialist is required;
- Gastrointestinal diseases in the acute stage . Officially, Mucaltin is contraindicated for peptic ulcers of the stomach and duodenum, exacerbation of chronic inflammatory processes of the digestive tract.
If you follow certain rules and start treatment early, Mucaltin can help solve the problem of dry and wet cough. But treatment must be started as early as possible, without waiting for the symptoms of the disease to intensify. And remember the importance of an integrated approach to combating cough and infectious respiratory diseases. Do not refuse the help of a doctor if your cough gets worse, your body temperature rises, wheezing appears and your health worsens. In this case, consultation with a specialist is required.
Reviews
Having studied all the reviews about the use of the drug, we concluded that Mukaltin really heals. It turns a dry cough into a wet one, and then the child himself coughs up the phlegm in the lungs.
If the drug is used correctly, the effect is visible the very next day. Some mothers say that Mukaltin does not work and should not be taken. This could happen due to improper use of pills, incorrect dosage, etc. Cough is a consequence of some disease. And first you need to determine what the child is sick with, eliminate this illness, and only then treat the cough itself. Without finding out the cause of the cough, it is not recommended to use Mucaltin for children.
The effectiveness of taking Mucaltin largely depends on accurate use according to the instructions. Individual dosage of the drug is one of the main rules.
Never give the drug to children yourself. Especially if treatment is carried out with several medications. Combining medications can lead to serious consequences.
In any case, it is better to try to prevent the development of the disease in the child, so as not to have to deal with its consequences later. It is necessary to strengthen the baby’s immunity with vitamins and microelements and conduct hardening. And then diseases will be avoided.
Mechanism of action of the product
To understand what kind of cough to take Mucaltin for, pay attention to the effects of using this drug and the mechanism of action of the main component - medicinal marshmallow extract. It stimulates the bronchial glands, which increase secretion, and also thins sticky mucus. Marshmallow also enhances the activity of the ciliated epithelium, which ensures rapid removal of accumulated mucus from the respiratory tract.
Judging by the mechanism of action of the drug, you can also drink Mucaltin for a wet cough . The medicine will quickly eliminate the signs of the disease. Although most often experts prescribe the drug for a dry cough, mainly of a barking nature, when the sputum is not separated at all. If treatment is started early, the drug will help remove it from the bronchi.
Contraindications and possible side effects
Thanks to the natural composition of the drug, Mucaltin can be used for coughs with almost no restrictions. From what age can it be given to children? From birth, if necessary.
There is an opinion of some experts who do not recommend taking the medicine to a nursing mother, a pregnant woman or giving it to infants. However, this opinion is purely subjective, which has not been proven by any scientific facts.
Among the most common contraindications that are noted in the instructions for use of the drug, you can find the following positions, which categorically do not recommend taking the medicine or using it very carefully after consulting a doctor:
- children under 1 year of age - use only after medical prescription;
- idiosyncrasy to any component of the drug;
- kidney pathologies and liver failure;
- increased blood clotting with thrombophlebitis and thrombosis is a conditional contraindication when the use of the drug will be justified only after assessing all the risks and possible side effects, in particular on the condition of the venous vessels;
- pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract of the erosive-ulcerative type;
- endocrine pathologies (diabetes mellitus).
The use of Mucaltin to improve coughing may cause some discomfort in people with gastrointestinal pathologies.
In these cases, how to take Mucaltin for adults is decided by the attending physician, taking into account all possible risks. In such situations, it is better for children to stop taking the drug altogether.
It is important to consider the compatibility of Mucaltin with other drugs. Do not take with medications that contain codeine. And under no circumstances drink alcohol during treatment.
Some side effects are possible, which are determined by the individual characteristics of the body of each particular patient.
It can be:
- the appearance of a rash similar to urticaria, which causes some discomfort: tingling, redness, an increase in the rash when taking the next dose of the drug;
- allergic itching, which in most cases accompanies urticaria;
- nausea as a sign of irritation of the pancreas by some of the components of the drug;
- Vomiting may occur as a reflex removal of the provoking agent.
These manifestations will occur regardless of the dosage of the drug and disappear after stopping use. There are no special measures to eliminate symptoms. You can take activated carbon or another enterosorbent. You just need to take into account that all other drugs that are taken to treat the underlying pathology will be neutralized by the sorbent composition.
The expiration date of the drug is always indicated on the packaging. You need to pay attention to these indicators so as not to harm the body.
How to achieve a greater effect - drink or dissolve for a child?
Quite often, parents, having carefully studied the instructions for the drug, think about how to properly give the drug - drink or dissolve it to the child? Of course, treatment will be more effective if the baby keeps the pills in the mouth until they are completely absorbed. This ensures that, simultaneously with a decrease in the intensity of coughing attacks, irritation in the throat, which causes considerable discomfort in the baby, will disappear.
Parents are well aware that it is quite difficult to explain to the baby how to take the drug correctly, and even numerous instructions that it needs to be absorbed end up negatively - the baby swallows the pills. That is why doctors recommend not torturing the child, but to prepare a solution that is easier to use, and the effect of taking it is only slightly different from resolving the drug.
Another reason to prepare a solution is that the tablets have a rather unpleasant taste that the child does not like. It is difficult to get even older children to take the medicine, so it is better to dilute it in water or juice - this will make it easier to take. If the baby is not allergic to bee products, you can add a small amount of honey to the product. Do not forget that honey is considered one of the most aggressive allergens, so when using it you must monitor the health of the baby. If problems appear on the skin (rashes, redness), problems with digestion, be sure to refuse such treatment.
Composition of cough medicine
The drug is available in tablet format with a non-uniform gray tint. The active ingredients of the drug are marshmallow extract, tartaric acid, sodium bicarbonate and calcium stearate.
Properties of medicinal marshmallow:
- Fight inflammation.
- Expectorant action.
- Liquefaction of sputum.
- Clearing the airways.
So for what cough is Mucaltin given to children? The drug treats dry cough . But it copes no less effectively with wet conditions.
The active ingredients do not have a harmful effect on the body, so the medicine can be taken by children.
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And in the next article we will talk about another effective cough remedy - Sinekod, which is also available for children in the form of syrup.
Features of the use of the drug for children 6 years old
At an older age, you can no longer give syrup, but tablets. For children 6 years old, the dose is only one tablet per dose. Be sure to do this before eating - this way the active ingredients will begin to act immediately. It is necessary to explain to the child that the tablet does not need to be swallowed immediately - it must be dissolved in the mouth. After taking the drug, you can give a small amount of water, although this may slightly reduce the effectiveness of the drug.
Children do not always agree to take pills that do not taste very good, so doctors recommend doing something simpler - treating with a solution prepared on the basis of the drug. It's easy to do:
- Bring water to a boil and set aside to cool.
- Add one tablet of the product to the liquid, which has had time to cool slightly.
- Stir until the dragee is completely dissolved.
The child should drink the prepared product at one time. You should not prepare a large amount of medicine - it is better to prepare a solution before each dose, of which there should be at least three. To prepare the composition you will need only 25 ml of water - this is enough to dissolve one tablet.
Side effects
"Mukaltin" is known for its harmlessness and easy tolerability. But, like any other drug, it can cause side effects, namely:
- The appearance of a rash or hives in infants. You should not give large amounts of the drug to children under one year of age. Otherwise, you will provoke the accumulation of sputum in the throat and the gag reflex and vomiting itself.
- In children older than one year, allergic rashes, swelling, and itchy skin develop.
- Nausea and eating disorders are often observed.
- Drowsiness, increased body temperature, weakness.
If one or more symptoms develop simultaneously, you should immediately stop taking Mucaltin and seek help from a specialist.
What is the effectiveness of the drug
Since the active ingredient of the drug is a well-studied extract of marshmallow, it has a strong expectorant effect on the human body and belongs to the group of mucolytics.
activate the secretion of mucus by the glands of the bronchi and enhance the work of the cilia of the ciliated epithelium, due to which not only the secretion of mucus increases, but also its elimination is accelerated.
All this together contributes to:
- transforming a non-productive cough with scant sputum into a productive one;
- relief of attacks;
- rapid cleansing of the bronchi from mucus and pathogenic microorganisms.
The medicine also helps to reduce the severity of the inflammatory process of the mucous membranes of the bronchi and thereby eliminate discomfort and pain when coughing.
This is possible due to the presence in the extract of a mixture of polysaccharides, pectin substances and other organic compounds that have:
- anti-inflammatory;
- softening;
- enveloping properties.
But it is important not to forget that in case of severe infectious diseases it is not capable of independently leading to recovery. In such situations, it should be given to children, but only as part of complex therapy, individually selected by a doctor.