Mucokinetics

An expectorant or an expectorant ( from the Latin ex, " out " and pectus " chest ", plural: expectorants, expectorants or expectorants ), German cough medicine is a medicine that promotes expectoration of bronchial secretions.

A distinction is made according to the mechanisms of action between:

• Secretolytics: they stimulate secretion of (thin liquid ) bronchial secretions. As secretolytics example, bromhexine and its metabolite ambroxol, ammonium chloride and potassium iodide apply.

• Mucolytics: Reduce the viscosity of the mucus. The mucolytics include acetylcysteine, carbocysteine ​​, guaifenesin or mesna, but also herbal products such as fennel and anise oil or mixed oil Myrtol.

• Sekretomotorika cause of increased transport of bronchial mucus .. They increase the activity of the ciliated epithelium of the bronchial mucosa. The increased movement of the cilia ( cilia ) promotes mucociliary clearance and supports the expectorant effect of secretory and mucolytics. The sekretomotorisch active substances include the same time bronchospasmolytisch effective clenbuterol. Also dembrexine has a sekretomotorisch effective component.

In connection with the application of expectorants sufficient supply of liquid is important. The various teas ( linden tea ), milk with honey or warm beer can be seen under this aspect, as the fruits Japanese Loquat containing syrup ( Pei Pa Koa ), which is used as a herbal medicine of traditional Chinese medicine to treat pharyngitis, cough and hoarseness. Critics therefore argue occasionally, the effect of relevant drugs is based primarily on whether their income to drink plenty of fluids forcing.

Concomitant administration of expectorants and antitussive agents is counterproductive - expectoration of sputum is dependent on an undisturbed cough reflex.