Home Pharmacy (cont.)

Medical Author:

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

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Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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OTC cold medication and other cold preparations are not recommended for children under the age of 2, and are not effective for children younger than 6 years of age according the American Academy of Pediatrics. Symptomatic treatment with humidified air and cough drops may be most effective, although cough drops can be a choking hazard in young children.

OTC cough preparations are not always recommended for adults, and may not work well according to some studies. However, many people are convinced that cough preparations are helpful, so listed below are some of the most widely used preparations. Menthol is the active ingredient in many cough drops. Their effect is temporary and wears off when the cough drop has dissolved.

• Dextromethorphan (Delysm, Pedicare, Robitussin, Scot-Tussin, St. Joseph, Theraflu, Triaminic, Vicks 44, and many others) is an over-the-counter product used to control cough. It is usually found as one of many ingredients in cough syrups and cold medications (those that have the DM in their names such as Robitussin DM or store brands). Dextromethorphan should not be taken by individuals who are taking CNS depressive drugs, opiates, and other psychoactive drugs, or children under 4 years of age.
  
  
• Guaifenesin (Robitussin, Mucinex among many others) is an expectorant (it loosens mucus in the bronchi or large breathing tubes). It may initially cause more coughing to remove the mucus but will then decrease the cough intensity and frequency as the mucus is cleared out. Adequate hydration will augment the effect of guaifenesin.

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