Antitussives
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Antitussives are drugs that suppress a debilitating, dry and irritating cough.
According to the place of intervention, we divide them into two types:
- central - reduce the irritability of the cough center
- peripheral - suppresses stimuli from the tracheobronchial system.
Classification[edit | edit source]
Antitussive codeine type[edit | edit source]
They are characterized by a central mechanism of action. They are more effective than peripheral, but they also have more side effects (possibility of addiction, constipation).
Representatives:
- codeine − methyl morphine derivative effective, analgesic, combined with sedatives and expectorants
- ethylmorphine* − stronger analgesic and antitussive effect, higher possibility of addiction,
- pholcodine* − stronger than codeine, without analgesic effect, less side effects, therefore also suitable for children,
- dextromethorphan − no analgesic effect, well tolerated, no habit.
Antitussive non-codeine type[edit | edit source]
They are weaker antitussives. They can have a central or peripheral effect. They have no analgesic or euphoric effects. They do not dampen the respiratory center and do not lead to addiction.
Representatives:
- butamirate − effective, small side effects (anorexia, GIT),
- dropropizine − comparable to codeine, does not damp the breath center,
- pentoxyverine*
- prenoxdiazine*
- clobutinol*
* = the drug is not currently registered on the Czech market
References[edit | edit source]
- LINCOVÁ, Dagmar. Základní a aplikovaná farmakologie. 1. edition. GALÉN, 2002. 601 pp. ISBN 80-7262-168-8.
