Lincas for coughs for children and adults

It is no secret that cough and bronchitis can be treated with synthetic pharmaceutical drugs with expectorant, mucolytic or cough suppressant action, and medicinal plants. In the first case, the effect is obvious, but there is a negative impact on the body. In the second case, the treatment is safer, but you will have to tinker, looking for suitable recipes, buying the necessary herbs, infusing or brewing them. How to combine the benefits and ease of use of the drug? And is it necessary to rack your brains if everything has already been done in pharmacy herbal medicines, one of which is "Linkas" for coughs with bronchitis, pharyngitis, tracheitis and other colds.

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Indications Cough lincasa

The multi-component natural preparation with a rather sonorous and memorable name "Linkas" has not yet gained the same widespread popularity as the well-known " Gedelix ", " Mukaltin ", "Plantain Syrup", "Bronchicum", "Doctor Mom" and others. But it is likely that in the near future it will correct the situation, because the preparation shows excellent results in the treatment of cough of various etiologies and nature. The only exception is allergic cough, the treatment of which with herbs is very questionable, because even medicinal plants can act as allergens, only aggravating the situation.

Doctors prescribe a herbal medicine with a specific effect for diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract of an inflammatory, bacterial or viral nature. These are mainly laryngitis, pharyngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, which are usually accompanied by a cough. But the drug "Linkas" can also help get rid of a painful cough during ARVI and flu, and alleviate the condition of patients with pneumonia.

There is information about its use in connection with smoker's cough, because it helps to remove mucus accumulated in the bronchi and reduces the frequency of coughing attacks.

Therapy with "Linkas" for bronchial asthma is possible only in the absence of an allergic reaction to any of the components of the drug, and there are at least seven of them in different forms of the drug. In addition, there are more effective drugs with bronchodilator and antispasmodic effects for the treatment of asthma.

On the Internet, you can find mutually exclusive information about what kind of cough "Linkas" should be used for. Some sources say that it is a remedy for dry cough, others say that the drug facilitates the discharge of sputum during wet cough, and doctors prescribe "Linkas" for both wet and dry cough. So who is right?

And everyone is right, because the rich herbal composition provides the drug with properties that will be useful for any type of cough. It reduces the intensity of the symptom and at the same time promotes easier expectoration.

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Release form

"Linkas" is not only a multi-component drug, but also suggests various ways of its use. In addition to the usual cough syrup, the drug is also available in the form of lozenges with different flavors, ointment and powder. So anyone who wants to get well soon can buy a form of the drug that meets their needs and capabilities.

The most popular form of "Linkas" used for a painful cough is considered to be syrup, which is a semi-liquid composition boiled with sugar, which has a brownish tint and a rich herbal taste. "Linkas" in syrup form can be found in 4 types:

• "Linkas" syrup for children and adult patients in a 90 ml bottle, which contains 10 medicinal plants and herbs:

• dry extracts of adhatoda and hyssop leaves,
• dried licorice and galangal roots,
• violet and marshmallow flowers,
• dried fruits of broadleaf cordia and jujube (unami, Chinese date),
• leaves and flowers of the highland inhabitant Onosma bracteatum,
• roots and fruits of the tropical spice pippali pepper

Plus auxiliary substances, including sugar and essential oils of mint and cloves.

• "Linkas" is a sugar-free syrup. The bottle volume, as in the previous case, is 90 ml. It contains all the same components, but instead of sucrose, a sugar substitute is used - saccharinate, which makes it possible to treat people with high blood glucose levels with syrup, for example, patients with diabetes.
• "Linkas" sweet syrup for children 90 ml. This is a drug with an adjusted dose and composition of the main and additional substances, with the help of which it is possible to treat the smallest patients.
• "Linkas" BSS (Espectorant Plus) with sugar, 120 ml, with a modified composition:
  • adhatoda leaves,
  • licorice roots,
  • fruits of star anise, cordia, marshmallow, yellow-fruited nightshade and long pepper,
  • basil leaves and flowers.

All plants are included in the syrup in the form of a thick extract, not dry, as in the previous versions.

The second most popular form of the drug is lozenges, which many people call tablets or lozenges because of their round coin shape. Linkas tablets are a myth based on a mistake in the perception of the form. The drug is not available in tablets.

But let's get back to the lozenges, which are called "Linkas" ENT, because unlike syrup, they are designed to combat not only a problematic cough, but also other symptoms of colds, such as high temperature and sore throat. The fact is that the lozenges are intended for resorption and can have a therapeutic effect on the mucous membrane of the throat for a longer period of time, while the syrup copes with the problem of phlegm removal much faster and more effectively.

Since the lozenges need to be gradually dissolved in the mouth, and with the usual herbal flavor it is not very pleasant to do so, the manufacturers added various flavors to the composition of the medicine: mint, lemon-honey, orange. The lozenges have a brown tint and include dry plant extracts:

• leaves of adhatoda and hyssop,
• licorice and galangal roots,
• violet flowers,
• roots and fruits of pepper.

Among the auxiliary components we find flavor essences, eucalyptus oil, sugar, etc. Due to the inclusion of sugar, the lozenges are not suitable for diabetics.

There is also such a form of the drug as a powder called "Linkas" ARVI, which contains small granules of a brown shade. From these granules it is necessary to subsequently prepare a medicinal solution for oral administration. Granules are packaged in separate sachets with a dosage of 5.6 g.

"Linkas" ARVI is used for cold coughs, against the background of acute viral infections, because it simultaneously helps eliminate symptoms such as high temperature, headaches, nasal congestion, painful swallowing.

The powder can be unflavored (it has a weak menthol aroma) or have various flavors (anise, cardamom, coffee, chocolate, lemon). The granules are made from a thick aqueous extract of the following plants:

• white willow (dry bark),
• adhatoda and eucalyptus (dry leaves),
• violet (dried leaves and flowers),
• licorice and valerian (dry roots with rhizomes),
• Chinese tea (dried leaves),
• fennel, also known as dill (seeds).

The powder contains sucrose, which should be taken into account by patients with diabetes and those who practice a low-calorie diet.

The drug also comes in the form of a whitish ointment called "Linkas" Balsam. The ointment relieves cold symptoms and cough when applied externally and inhaled. It contains camphor and menthol, eucalyptus, clove and turpentine oils plus two types of paraffin.

All forms of the drug are produced by the Pakistani pharmaceutical company Herbion.

"Linkas" is a drug for any type of cough that exhausts a person without bringing relief. This is an unproductive dry cough, which is usually observed at the beginning of the disease, or its successor, a wet cough, if the expectoration of sputum causes difficulties. With a productive wet cough with easy expectoration, antitussives and expectorants are not needed.

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Pharmacodynamics

It is believed that multi-component drugs are created specifically so that they can simultaneously provide several beneficial effects for a certain disease or symptom. The drug "Linkas" confirms this theory, because it is credited with expectorant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antipyretic, antibacterial and antitussive effects. And all thanks to the medicinal herbs included in its composition.

Adhatoda vasica, due to the content of the alkaloid vasicine, is considered a good antiseptic and expectorant, facilitating the easy removal of mucus from the bronchi.

Naked licorice is famous not only for its positive effect on the stomach, but also for its contribution to the treatment of cough. Its root contains special substances - saponins, which stimulate the work of the ciliated epithelium of the bronchi and increase the production of semi-liquid secretion. This ensures the liquefaction of phlegm and ease of its removal. Licorice is credited with antispasmodic, expectorant, anti-inflammatory and good anti-allergic effects.

Long pepper (pippali) is known as an antitussive, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent, which, like licorice, prevents the appearance of allergy symptoms. This component is included in the composition of drugs for the treatment of bronchial asthma and whooping cough.

Marshmallow is renowned for its anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties, which is why it is used as the main active ingredient in several cough medicines.

The fragrant violet has almost the entire range of actions useful for colds and coughs. It has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, calming, antibacterial, antispasmodic effects, and facilitates expectoration of phlegm.

Hyssop officinalis is a treasure trove of useful medicinal properties. In the fight against cough, it is valued for its mild antitussive effect, due to which the number and intensity of coughing attacks are noticeably reduced, which does not interfere with the removal of phlegm. The plant also has an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.

Ziziphus vulgaris is also included in the composition due to its ability to facilitate expectoration of sputum, fight bacteria, reduce pain symptoms, and have a calming effect on the central nervous system.

Cordia latifolia is rarely used in alternative medicine, and "Linkas" is perhaps the only registered drug that contains this plant. But this does not diminish the properties of the plant (cordia is a fruit tree). It has an expectorant, antiseptic, analgesic, antipyretic effect. In addition, it is a good antispasmodic and additionally a fighter against helminths.

Galangal (Alpinia galanga) can be described as a plant with a good bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect, which also helps to clear mucus from the bronchi more easily.

White willow bark is an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antipyretic and analgesic agent. Valerian has a sedative effect and prevents attacks of night cough if the drug is taken in the evening. And fennel is known as an excellent expectorant and sedative.

Star anise is the first plant on the basis of which cough drops were created more than a century ago. The plant helps to liquefy and easily expectorate phlegm, helps to restore the voice after an illness.

Nightshade has an anti-inflammatory effect and facilitates the discharge of phlegm. And basil, a natural antibiotic, reduces fever and makes breathing easier when coughing.

As we can see, the preparation contains all those plants and herbs that have a beneficial effect on colds accompanied by cough, fever, and sore throat.

Now, as for the ointment form, its components are also designed to relieve cough due to their medicinal properties:

Menthol is a local irritant that, when rubbed into the skin of the chest, can relieve pain and have an anti-inflammatory effect, and is considered an antiseptic. Inhaling its vapors has a mucolytic and expectorant effect.

Eucalyptus oil also has analgesic, antihistamine and antiseptic effects when applied topically. Inhaling the ether helps to liquefy and easily remove phlegm, facilitates breathing and prevents hypoxia. Eucalyptus has bactericidal and antiviral effects.

Camphor in ointment is used as a pain reliever. It is a good antiseptic, effectively relieving irritation from the outside and inflammation from the inside of the body. Irritating nerve endings, when used locally in the chest area, it stimulates the respiratory center, improves cellular nutrition of tissues.

Turpentine oil has properties similar to camphor. If the ointment is used for inhalation, turpentine vapors stimulate the cough reflex, simultaneously providing an expectorant and mucolytic effect.

Clove oil is considered a good antiseptic, it has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, it relieves sore throats and muscle pain caused by colds, acute respiratory viral infections, and bronchitis.

The pharmacodynamics of the drug can be written about for a long time and in great detail. But in short, it can be said that Linkas tends to reduce the intensity and increase the productivity of cough. This means that it will be useful for dry and difficult wet cough. The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects of the drug help to alleviate the patient's condition and stimulate a speedy recovery, which prevents the development of complications.

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Pharmacokinetics

There is no need to judge the pharmacokinetics of the drug. Firstly, herbal preparations are considered to be medicines with minimal harm to the body, so the pharmacokinetic properties of herbs are not particularly studied, unlike synthetic active substances. Secondly, Linkas is a multi-component drug, which again makes it impossible to study the pharmacokinetics of its individual components.

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Dosing and administration

This issue also needs to be considered in terms of individual forms of the drug "Linkas" for cough and other cold symptoms.

Syrup is a medicine that can be taken regardless of meal time. There is no need to dilute the syrup with water or drinks, it already has a pretty pleasant taste.

Children from six months to 8 years are recommended to take the medicine three times a day. A single dose for children under three years of age is 2.5 ml, which takes up half a teaspoon. For children 3-8 years old, the dose is doubled, now it is 5 ml (one teaspoon).

Starting from the age of 8, the drug is recommended to be taken 4 times a day, unless the doctor prescribes otherwise. Children are given the same dose of 5 ml, patients over 18 years old - 10 ml.

You will have to take the syrup for approximately 5-7 days. Further increase in the course of treatment with Linkas syrup is possible only with the permission of a doctor.

Treatment with lozenges also does not require an interval between meals and the treatment procedure. The "lozenges" should be slowly sucked in the mouth until they are completely dissolved.

The interval between taking lozenges is usually 2 to 3 hours. It is not recommended to take more than 8 lozenges per day. The course of treatment is usually 3-5 days, but it can be extended to 7 days.

The powder "Linkas" is taken at the same interval as the lozenges, after dissolving the granules from one sachet in 1 glass of warm water. The medicine should be taken slowly. The standard course of treatment is usually carried out for a week, although it can be increased on the recommendation of a doctor.

The ointment "Linkas" can be used for rubbing and inhalation. In the first case, the place of application of the ointment is chosen based on the existing symptoms of a cold. If it is a cough, the product is applied to the chest, neck, back, rubbed into the skin and covered with a warm cloth to provide a warming effect and improve expectoration of sputum.

If you have a runny or stuffy nose, it makes sense to apply the ointment to the wings of the nose, and nasal breathing will be noticeably easier without the use of vasodilators.

For muscle pain, which often occurs with flu or bronchitis, it is advisable to apply the ointment to the areas where the pain is felt, and not just to the chest or nose area. And again, it would be better to additionally wrap the sore spot.

Inhalations with ointment can be used to treat adult patients. To obtain an inhalation composition, dissolve 1 teaspoon of balm in prepared hot water. Using an inhaler or simply over a steaming pan, deeply inhale the vapors of the medicine for 5-10 minutes. Do not reuse the prepared mixture.

The procedure of inhaling medicinal vapors is recommended to be carried out 3 to 4 times a day for a course of 5-7 days. The same requirements apply to rubbing.

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Application for children

Any type of syrup is allowed to be given to children starting from 6 months of age. Linkas ointment can be used for rubbing children over 2 years old, but inhalations can only be carried out by adults. Pastilles and granular solution are forms of medicine for adults, so it is not advisable to prescribe them to children under 18, although doctors do not see anything wrong with prescribing aromatic "lozenges" to children over 5 years old.

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Use Cough lincasa during pregnancy

Despite the relative safety of the herbs included in the drug "Linkas", its use by pregnant women is also considered undesirable. The reason for caution is the lack of information about the effect of the herbal preparation on the fetus and the course of pregnancy (after all, some components are antispasmodics, and you need to be careful with them during this period). And the inclusion of licorice in the drug contributes to an increase in estrogen levels, which is very dangerous during pregnancy.

If the need for treatment arose during breastfeeding, it is better to transfer the baby to formula milk during this period, find another wet nurse, or look for safer methods of treating cough.

Contraindications

Since there are several forms of the drug "Linkas" used for cough and other symptoms of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract, it is advisable to consider the important points regarding each of the forms. After all, if you do not take into account the contraindications to the drug, the treatment of one disease can result in problems with other organs and systems.

Syrups "Linkas". The only contraindication for all types of syrup is individual intolerance to at least one of the large number of components included in the drug, including substances of non-plant origin.

"Linkas" for adults and children, as well as "Linkas" Plus, containing sugar, are not suitable for the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus and severe obesity, patients with impaired glucose metabolism, and fructose intolerance.

Pastilles "Linkas" ENT. Also not used in case of hypersensitivity to the composition of the drug and diabetes. Relative contraindications are organic heart lesions (for example, myocardial infarction or inflammatory pathologies of the myocardium, pericardium and other layers of the heart), hypertension, 3rd degree obesity. Caution should be exercised by patients with kidney and liver diseases, hypokalemia.

Powder "Linkas" ARVI is not used in case of glucose metabolism disorder, fructose intolerance, hypersensitivity to the components of the drug. Caution is exercised in case of liver or kidney dysfunction, heart and vascular problems, high blood viscosity.

Ointment "Linkas" Balm is not suitable only for people with allergic reactions that occur due to intolerance to individual components of the drug. Not intended for application to mucous membranes.

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Side effects Cough lincasa

Side effects of the drug are usually reduced to allergic reactions in people with hypersensitivity to the components of the drug. External use of the ointment causes mainly local reactions: skin irritation, itching, rash, etc. But the use of oral forms and ointment for inhalation without taking into account the sensitivity of the body, in addition to mild local reactions, can be fraught with more serious ones (Quincke's edema).

In people with metabolic disorders, kidney and heart pathologies, when treated with lozenges, increased blood pressure, hypokalemia, and unusual weakness may occur.

The appearance of any suspicious symptoms is a signal to stop using the drug and consult a doctor for advice on further treatment.

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Overdose

There was no information about overdose due to exceeding the recommended doses of various forms of the drug "Linkas". But as for long-term use of the drug (more than 14 days), this can lead to increased side effects, disruption of the water-electrolyte balance, and, as a result, to the development of myopathy against the background of potassium deficiency ( hypokalemia ).

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Interactions with other drugs

Usually, herbal medicines are great for complex therapy of various diseases, since they very rarely react, leading to decreased effectiveness, increased side effects or increased toxic effects on the body from them or from other drugs. "Linkas" can also be safely combined with other drugs of synthetic or herbal origin, except for drugs that suppress the cough center. Such properties are possessed by codeine-containing drugs, which will slow down the removal of sputum, which will reduce the effectiveness of "Linkas" for cough.

The drug does not have an inhibitory effect on the nervous system and does not slow down the reaction rate, which allows it to be used by people engaged in potentially dangerous work.

But patients with diabetes should first read the instructions for the drug and make sure that the form of "Linkas" they are buying does not contain a critical amount of sugar, which in sweet syrup, for example, is about 70%. The situation is identical with lozenges. The most suitable forms for diabetics are considered to be sugar-free syrup and ointment.

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Storage conditions

There are usually no problems with storing the drug. Suitable storage conditions for all forms are considered to be: air temperature up to 25 degrees and (preferably!) protection from direct sunlight. Almost all forms of the drug have a fairly pleasant taste, which attracts children. To avoid misuse of the drug, it should be stored out of the reach of children.

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Shelf life

The drug has a fairly long shelf life for all its forms. The medicine in syrup, lozenges, granules and ointment can be used for 3 years from the date of manufacture, which allows you to treat cough with them for more than one season.

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Linkas analogues

"Linkas" for cough and cold symptoms can be called a unique drug in its composition, because you will not find the same set of medicinal plants in any other drug, unless it is a home-made medicine. In other words, the drug has no analogues in the composition of active substances.

Another thing is that to combat cough, it is fashionable to use other herbal preparations, such as "Alteika", "Gedelix", "Gerbion", "Plantain Syrup", "Doctor MOM" and others. These preparations also help to relieve dry cough and increase the productivity of wet cough without the negative impact on the body, typical of drugs with chemical components. And yet, even with herbal preparations, you need to be careful, because herbs can also have their own contraindications and restrictions for use. In addition, you should always take into account the nature of the cough and the etiology of the disease, not forgetting that all infectious and inflammatory diseases require complex treatment, and cough pills alone will not do.

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Reviews of the drug

If someone expects to see here a lot of positive reviews, beautiful words and pompous phrases, this will not happen. Scientists have not yet invented a medicine that would be equally effective for all patients. And it is unlikely that such a thing can be invented, because each person's body is unique, and it is very difficult to predict its reaction to various components of drugs.

What can I say, even the metabolism of different people is different, so it is not surprising that one person experiences relief from taking medications almost immediately, while another may suffer for a day or more before feeling the results of the treatment.

The immune system is also not standing aside, and if it is greatly weakened, it will be very difficult to fight inflammation. In this case, you should not expect a quick effect, and in order to fully recover, you will need to take all measures to improve immunity.

But let's return to our drug, reviews of which are very diverse, and not at all because "Linkas" is not effective against cough. It cannot be ineffective, having such a specific composition. It is just that the body of different people reacts to it differently.

For example, some people write that herbal medicine does not help with severe, advanced coughs, so it is better to give preference to synthetic products (Ambroxol, Lazolvan, Broncholitin, ACC, etc.). But if you read reviews of these drugs, the situation repeats itself: some were helped, while others were dissatisfied with their effect.

Many consider the taste of the syrup, lozenges and powder solution to be a positive feature of the drug. After all, it is always more pleasant to be treated with a tasty medicine. True, there are also reviews that say that small children refuse to drink the syrup and spit it out, despite the sweetness. But there are not many such statements. The drug may not be as tasty as sweets and candies from the store, but it is tastier than many other syrups.

Elderly people have a very positive attitude towards the syrup "Linkas". They need to take chemical preparations very carefully with their health. And old people do not want to "poison their body with all sorts of chemicals". And the composition of the drug "Linkas" was liked by many elderly people. They know the value of each component of the medicine and believe in the immeasurable power of nature.

By the way, about the price. The popularity of the syrup and other forms of "Linkas" is enhanced not only by the taste, but also by the price of the drug, which many consider quite affordable. And even for such a quick effect. Most reviews say that the cough, if not completely gone, then noticeably subsided and softened within the first 3-4 days.

Of course, there are those who were not helped by the drug, but these are mainly people with advanced forms of the disease. Those who are used to some other drug and simply advertise it can also speak negatively about the drug: they say, it helped me, so it will help you too.

By the way, people either keep silent about side effects, or they are really that rare. But many write about the quick and safe cure for flu, acute respiratory viral infections, bronchitis. Those who liked the drug recommend it to their relatives and friends, and thus the popularity of herbal medicines "Linkas" for coughs and colds is growing.