Cough lozenges: instructions, how to make with your own hands, recipes

Cough drops help reduce the intensity of attacks, thereby easing the general condition of the patient. The medicine helps reduce the inflammatory process and eliminate the feeling of irritation in the throat.

Indications cough drops

Cough drops are recommended for colds and acute respiratory viral infections. They are used in combination with other means of combating colds. They can eliminate a mild cough, but are generally considered only an auxiliary medicine, since they eliminate only the symptom, and not the cause of the disease itself.

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Release form

With a slight sore throat with a dry cough, lozenges such as Travisil, Doctor MOM, Strepsils, Doctor Theiss Eucalyptus, and also Sage cope well. These drugs are considered the most effective in the fight against coughing fits.

Doctor MOM

Doctor MOM is a combination medicine of plant origin. It has an expectorant and anti-inflammatory effect on the body. There are lozenges with different flavors - raspberry, lemon, pineapple, orange, lemon, berry and fruit.

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Dr. Theiss

Dr. Theiss soothes a throat irritated by inflammation. These lozenges contain extracts of various medicinal plants, as well as essential oils. Due to this, the lozenges help normalize the functioning of the upper respiratory tract and relieve the feeling of irritation in the throat.

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Sage lollipops

Sage lozenges are a plant-based antiseptic. Thanks to the sage extract, the lozenges help relieve pain, irritation, and sore throat.

Gamma lollipops

Gamma lozenges are of plant origin and have an anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effect. They also have an analgesic, antimicrobial and expectorant effect. They relieve inflammation in the throat and help to facilitate the breathing process, relieve swelling of the nasal mucosa.

Travisil

Travisil is a herbal remedy with complex effects. The drug has an antiemetic and expectorant effect. Due to its softening effect, it helps reduce irritation of the oral mucosa.

Carmolis

Carmolis lozenges are made from essential oils of 10 different medicinal herbs. Among them are Chinese cinnamon, citronella, thyme, mint, sage, anise, lemon, nutmeg, lavender, and cloves. Additional components include menthol, vitamin C, sugar substitute, glucose syrup, and honey. All these ingredients help to alleviate symptoms of irritation and coughing fits.

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Strepsils

Strepsils are lozenges that contain essential oils and peppermint, as well as antibacterial substances. Thanks to the essential oils, irritation of the inflamed mucous membrane is reduced, since they cause an involuntary increase in salivation.

Hols

Halls lozenges are effective only in cases where bronchial spasms occur due to disorders that have arisen in the nasopharynx. It should be noted that these lozenges are not a real medicine, but only provide a symptomatic effect. Halls lozenges have a therapeutic effect only in the following disorders:

• The cough did not arise as a result of illness, but due to mechanical damage to the mucous membrane as a result of a foreign object getting in, or due to a broken voice;
• Coughing attacks are a sign of pathological phenomena in the nasopharynx (in this case, simultaneous treatment of this disease is carried out).

Bobs lollipops

Bob's lozenges are quite an effective cough remedy, and at the same time are not very expensive. There are 4 variations of lozenges, depending on the flavor filler:

• Lemon and honey;
• Raspberry tea;
• Mint and eucalyptus;
• The taste of wild berries.

Other components of the medicine include glucose syrup, essential oils, sugar and menthol. All these ingredients effectively eliminate coughing fits, soothing the irritated throat and reducing inflammation.

Broncho Veda

Broncho Veda is a herbal lozenge with orange, lemon and ginger flavors. The drug is complex and helps to cope with sore throat and coughing fits. It has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, laxative and mucolytic effects.

The lozenges are recommended for use in the following cases:

• Inflammation of the mucous membrane and pain in the throat;
• Irritation and dryness of the mucous membranes;
• Cough of various origins (smoker's cough is one of the causes);
• In case of heavy loads on the vocal cords – so that the voice recovers faster.

Grammidin

Grammidin with an analgesic effect - lozenges used to treat inflammation of the throat and mouth, as well as infectious diseases. The medicine contains lidocaine (a local anesthetic), gramicidin C (an antimicrobial agent), eucalyptus and menthol (a softening effect), as well as sweeteners that give the lozenges a pleasant taste.

Linkas

Linkas is a herbal lozenge with expectorant and anti-inflammatory effects. Another function of this medicine is its antipyretic effect.

Verbena

Verbena lozenges are often used to treat upper respiratory tract diseases (such as sore throat, flu, bronchitis (acute and chronic)) and oral cavity diseases (stomatitis, gingivitis, etc.). Due to the anti-inflammatory properties of eucalyptus, they also speed up the healing process of wounds.

Falimint

Falimint has a pain-relieving and analgesic effect. It is an antitussive medicine - it softens irritation and relieves dry unproductive cough. During the process of resorption, the lozenge has a cooling effect on the larynx and oral cavity. At the same time, the lozenges do not dry out the mucous membranes, and do not cause a feeling of numbness in the mouth.

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Chinese lollipops

Chinese lozenges "Golden Pastille" are excellent for cough relief and are a popular traditional Chinese medicine. The lozenges contain medicinal herbs that have been used in Tibetan medicine for many years.

The medicine effectively eliminates inflammation in the mouth and upper respiratory tract, and also relieves intoxication. By eliminating irritation of the mucous membrane and restoring the affected areas, the lozenges also improve local immunity. It is effective in the treatment of upper respiratory tract diseases of viral etiology and colds. It removes pain, softens cough, adds freshness to breath. Chinese lozenges can also be taken as a preventive measure in case of hypothermia or during acute respiratory viral infection epidemics.

Cough drops with zinc

Cough drops with zinc, as well as echinacea and vitamin C - an effective remedy for fighting colds. These lozenges do not contain dyes and chemical additives. They also do not contain lactose, soy, milk and gluten. Stevia and fructose act as sweeteners. Therefore, this medicine can be taken even by diabetics and small children.

Cough drops with zinc and lemon

One of the best cold remedies is lozenges containing zinc and lemon. Lozenges containing zinc reduce the duration of a cold by 40%. According to some studies, such lozenges also reduce the duration of coughing fits by 3 days. Cough lozenges with zinc and lemon are considered the most effective.

Sugar Free Cough Drops

Sugar-free cough drops act as a local anesthetic for the throat and mouth. They should be sucked gradually. These lozenges are recommended for diabetics.

Licorice candies

Licorice lozenges are used for colds with cough as a mild mucolytic. The lactitol used as an ingredient is a lactose sweetener. This substance is used to create products that have a low calorie content. Such lozenges do not cause caries and are also suitable for diabetics, since lactitol does not increase the level of insulin and glucose in the blood.

Star lollipops

"Zvezdochka" lozenges are a food supplement containing menthol and glycyrrhizic acid. The lozenges have an antispasmodic and antioxidant effect. They are used to treat sore throats and coughing fits.

Lazolvan lozenges

Lazolvan is an expectorant medicine used to treat inflammation of the upper and lower respiratory tract, which is accompanied by the release of sputum. These lozenges are usually used for diseases accompanied by attacks of wet cough.

Peppermint Candies

Peppermint lozenges are an anesthetic that has a mucolytic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect, and at the same time reduces swelling of the nasal mucosa. The lozenges reduce pain and a feeling of irritation in the throat, and also help improve the process of breathing and expectoration.

Antibiotic cough drops

Antibiotic lozenges are good for coughing up a sore throat, but you need to understand that they are only an auxiliary treatment. You won’t be able to cure a sore throat (of any type) with lozenges alone, and they won’t protect you from developing complications of the disease either. But if you use them as part of a comprehensive therapy, they can be effective – they will alleviate the symptoms of the disease and speed up recovery.

Cough drops for children

Cough drops for children are a very convenient medicine that effectively reduces coughing and facilitates the process of expectoration. Coughing attacks become less frequent soon after taking the lozenge – just a few minutes are enough. The effect of the medicine lasts for 2-3 hours. They are usually allowed to be used from 5-6 years old, not younger, but there are also lozenges that can be given to children from 3 years old. This contraindication is due to the fact that most of these drugs contain menthol, which is harmful to small children.

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Dry cough drops

Dry cough drops contain dextromethorphan (this substance is considered the most effective in combating this type of cough). Thanks to this component, the sensitivity of the cough center decreases, which allows you to quickly alleviate the symptoms of a cold.

Homemade Cough Drop Recipes

In addition to pharmacy lozenges, there are also folk methods - homemade cough drops.

• Herbal medicine recipe:

Honey (1 cup) and a mixture of dried medicinal herbs (1 tbsp). Heat the honey in a saucepan and add the herbal mixture, then cook over low heat. Then turn off, cover with a lid and wrap in a cloth for 10 minutes. Then strain the tincture and pour it back into the saucepan to heat it again. Next, check the hardness of the lozenges, and they can be removed from the heat. Next, pour the mixture (a teaspoon at a time) onto parchment paper and wait until it hardens. Before hardening, sprinkle the resulting lozenges with powdered sugar so that they do not stick together.

• Honey and Lemon Lollipops:

Honey (150 g), butter (1 tsp), essential oil (sage, eucalyptus and lemon (10 drops maximum)). Boil the honey over low heat, then cook for about 20 minutes, then add 1 tsp. butter. Next, let the mixture cool, stirring it - about 10-15 minutes - and then add essential oils and another 1 tsp. butter. Pour the mixture into molds or place on parchment, pre-sprinkling it with powder or starch.

• Coconut Oil Infused Lozenges:

Coconut oil, honey (100 g each), ground cinnamon (1 tsp), essential oil (7-8 drops). Beat the oil in a bowl with a mixer, then add honey and cinnamon and mix the ingredients thoroughly. Then fill the molds with the resulting mixture and leave in the refrigerator for 1 hour so that the lollipops harden.

Cough drops with ginger

• Ginger Candy Recipe

Granulated sugar (1 cup), plain water (4 tbsp), ground ginger (1 tsp), lemon juice (0.5-1 tsp), food coloring (if you want to add color to the pastilles). Mix the sugar with water until dissolved, then add the ginger and keep the mixture on low heat until it becomes transparent. After this, you can add the coloring or replace it with natural juice (beetroot for red, carrot for yellow).

Then you need to check the readiness of the mixture - pour cold water into the container and add a drop of syrup. If it hardens, then the mixture can be removed from the heat. The finished syrup must be stirred for 30 seconds. The molds into which the syrup will be poured must first be greased with oil. Leave the poured mixture in the molds until it hardens.

• Honey and Ginger Lozenges

Making Ginger and Honey Pastilles

Honey (250-300 g), ground ginger (1 teaspoon), lemon juice (0.5-1 teaspoon). Mix honey with ginger and cook for 1.5-2 hours, stirring. Cool the finished mixture by pouring it onto a flat surface, and then break it into pieces (or pour into molds that should be greased with oil in advance).

Burnt Sugar Cough Drops

Burnt sugar lollipops – pour sugar (several tablespoons) into a saucepan and cook it over low heat, stirring. The sugar should melt to a viscous mass that has a brown color. After that, pour the mixture into molds (greased with vegetable oil) and leave to harden. Ready lollipops can be given to children with a cold and cough – 3-4 times a day.

Pharmacodynamics

The properties of cough drops are discussed using the example of the drugs Doctor MOM and Lazolvan.

Doctor MOM contains components that determine the therapeutic effect of this drug. Licorice root extract gives it mucolytic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic properties. Ginger root extract adds an antiseptic effect to the lozenges. Emblica medicinal extract gives an antipyretic effect. Thanks to menthol, Doctor MOM lozenges acquire an antispasmodic effect.

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Pharmacokinetics

Ambroxol, contained in Lazolvan, is absorbed quickly and almost completely. It reaches its maximum concentration in plasma after half an hour to 3 hours. About 90% of the substance binds to proteins in the plasma. Ambroxol is quickly distributed between tissues and blood, the active components are dynamically concentrated in the lungs. The half-life of the drug from plasma occurs in 7-12 hours, it does not accumulate in tissues. Most of the ambroxol is metabolized in the liver through conjugation. About 90% of the drug is excreted through the kidneys.

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Dosing and administration

Travisil lozenges should be sucked in the mouth without chewing – until dissolved. The duration of the treatment course, as well as the dosage, is prescribed by the doctor to each patient individually. Children over 12 years old and adults should drink 2-3 lozenges three times a day. Children 3-12 years old consume 1-2 candies three times a day.

Dr. MOM – dissolve 1 lozenge every 2 hours. Maximum 10 lozenges per day. The treatment course lasts 2-3 weeks.

Strepsils – children over 5 years of age and adults: 1 lozenge every 2-3 hours (no more than 8 lozenges may be consumed per day).

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Use cough drops during pregnancy

Cough drops are not suitable for pregnant women in most cases - they are either not very effective or are generally prohibited during gestation. Therefore, during this period, women are allowed to take only 2 drugs that are made from lysozyme - these are Laripront and Lizobact. Such lozenges are used 3-4 times a day, 2 pieces each. These lozenges will be effective even for severe tonsillitis.

Contraindications

Cough drops should not be used if there is an individual hypersensitivity to the components, children under 3 years old, pregnant and lactating women. Sugar-containing drops are contraindicated for diabetics.

Side effects cough drops

Side effects of taking cough drops may, in rare cases, include allergic reactions, such as skin rashes.

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Interactions with other drugs

You should not take cough drops together with other cough suppressants or medications that prevent the formation of sputum, as this interferes with the expectoration of the dissolved substance.

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Storage conditions

Cough drops are usually stored under standard conditions - at room temperature, in a dry place, protected from sunlight.

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Shelf life

The shelf life of cough drops is on average 3-5 years.

Cheap cough drops

Cough drops are quite an effective remedy that helps eliminate this symptom. But it should be remembered that they do not eliminate the infection that is the cause of the cough. Among the cheap drugs, the most famous and effective is "Doctor MOM".