Doctor Andrei Zaitsev: drugs for cough treatment are selected depending on whether sputum comes out or not.
Doctor Zaitsev informed in an interview with aif.ru :
“Medicines for wet coughs are usually ineffective for dry coughs and vice versa.”
The expert pointed out the correct drugs for the treatment of dry and wet coughs.
Stoptussive (antitussives). Medicines in this group are used to alleviate a person’s condition during attacks of dry cough, that is, without sputum production. Such drugs stop the cough reflex itself. They should not be used in case of cough with sputum, this is fraught with the development of dangerous complications.
Mucoactive. Such drugs are prescribed to patients with wet cough, they help the body more effectively free the bronchi and respiratory tract from mucus. Zaitsev added that a wet cough during ARVI usually occurs on the third to fifth day of illness, and during this period you can begin to use mucoactive drugs. The doctor recalled that a cough with sputum discharge can be observed during exacerbation of bronchitis and pneumonia.
The MedikForum.ru portal previously wrote about when is the best time to take medications for ARVI.
Important! Information is provided for reference purposes. Ask a specialist about contraindications and side effects and under no circumstances self-medicate. At the first signs of illness, consult a doctor.
Andrey Zaitsev Health Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation, Professor, Doctor of Medical Sciences