Are you tired of having a cough and a stuffy chest for days? At times like these, a doctor can give you a medicine that works for both cough and phlegm. Today, we are going to talk about one such commonly used combination medicine. This medicine may be available under various brand names in Sri Lanka.
What kind of medicine is this?
Simply put, this is a combination of two types of medication.
1. Dextromethorphan : This works by controlling your cough. Specifically, it works by affecting the cough center in the brain , reducing the amount of coughing you experience.
2. Guaifenesin : This works by thinning (loosening) the thick mucus in the chest and throat, helping it to be easier to cough up. We call this an expectorant .
But remember this: This medicine only controls your symptoms. That means it reduces your cough and phlegm. It will not cure an underlying infection you have, such as a bacterial or viral infection.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Before your doctor prescribes this medicine, he or she will need to know your complete medical history. Be sure to tell them about any of the following conditions, especially:
| Your situation | Why should you inform? |
|---|---|
| Respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema | Controlling a cough can be dangerous when you have these conditions, so your doctor should decide if this medicine is right for you. |
| Kidney or Liver disease | Since medications are eliminated from the body through these organs, if their function is impaired, the dosage of the medication may need to be adjusted. |
| If you have taken an MAOI medication within the last 14 days | MAOIs are a type of medication used to treat conditions such as depression. Taking these two medications together can cause very serious reactions. |
| If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant | It is mandatory to seek medical advice before taking any medication during pregnancy. |
| If the baby is breastfed | Since the medication can pass to the baby through breast milk, it is important to inform the doctor about it. |
| If you have allergies to other medicines, foods, or preservatives | This is important to confirm if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in this medicine. |
How should I use the medicine?
- Always take this medicine with a full glass of water. This will further help thin the mucus.
- Take the medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor, at the right time. Don't take it too often or too much.
- Some types of this medicine (ER tablets - Extended Release) are designed to be absorbed by the body over time. Therefore , do not crush or chew the tablets. Doing so may cause the medicine to be absorbed into the body at once and increase the side effects .
- If given to children: This medicine may sometimes be prescribed by a doctor for children over 6 years of age. However, you should be very careful when giving it to children. Therefore , never give this medicine to children without the advice of a doctor.
What to do if you take too much medicine? (Overdosage)
If you think you have taken too much medication, don't panic and take action immediately.
Immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital. Or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
What if I miss a dose of medication?
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose.
Other things that may interact with this medicine
This medicine may interact with other things you are taking. Therefore, it is very important to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, and herbal remedies you are taking.
- Never take this medicine with MAOI medications (used for mental illness ).
- Do not take this medicine with Procarbazine , an anticancer drug.
- If you are taking medication for depression or other mental illnesses, tell your doctor.
- Be careful when taking this with other cold, cough, or allergy medications, as they may contain similar ingredients.
Things to consider when taking medication
- If your symptoms do not improve within 5 days , or if they worsen, be sure to see a doctor.
- If you develop symptoms such as a high fever, skin rash , persistent headache , or severe sore throat , tell a doctor immediately.
- To help flush out mucus, drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day.
- You may feel drowsy or dizzy after taking this medicine. Therefore, avoid activities that require alertness, such as driving or operating machinery, until you know how this medicine affects you.
- Especially if you are older, standing up suddenly or getting up from a sitting position can make you dizzy and fall. So do these things slowly.
- Avoid drinking alcohol. Alcohol can alter the effects of medication and increase drowsiness.
What are the possible side effects?
Like all medications, this one can have side effects. Some of them are serious, some are common.
| Classification of side effects | |
|---|---|
| Side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
| |
| Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
|
Take-Home Message
- This medicine only controls symptoms such as cough and phlegm, but does not cure the cause of the disease (infection).
- Before starting the medication, tell your doctor about any other medical conditions you have and all medications you are taking.
- Never give this medicine to children without the advice of a doctor.
- Drink plenty of water while taking the medicine. Avoid driving if you feel drowsy.
- If symptoms do not improve after 5 days, or if new symptoms appear, such as fever or skin rash, see a doctor immediately.
- If you suspect an overdose, call the National Poisons Information Center immediately or go to the nearest hospital emergency room (ETU).
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