Symptomatic treatment of pneumonia
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Antitussives
Antitussives are prescribed to patients with acute pneumonia in the first days of the disease, when the cough is painful, dry, prevents sleep at night. An extremely severe cough is dangerous for the possibility of developing spontaneous pneumothorax.
Antitussives are divided into narcotic and non-narcotic drugs.
Narcotic antitussives (cause addiction and can depress the respiratory center):
- codeine phosphate - is prescribed by 0.1 g 2-3 times a day;
- methylformin (codeine) - is given according to O.015 g 2-3 times a day;
- cotterpine - combined tablets containing 0.015 g of codeine, 0.25 g of sodium bicarbonate and 0.25 g of terpinhydrate;
- tablets from cough - contain 0.02 g of codeine, 0.2 g of sodium bicarbonate, 0.2 g of licorice root and 0.01 g of herbs of thermopsis;
- ethylmorphine (dionine) - is given in tablets to 0.01 g 2-3 times a day.
Non-narcotic antitussives (do not cause addiction and do not depress the respiratory center, in connection with which these drugs are preferred in comparison with narcotic antitussives):
- glaucine hydrochloride - obtained from the yellow machete plant, is given in tablets at 0.05 g 2-3 times a day;
- ledin - derived from Ledum, inhibits the cough center, has a bronchodilator effect, is prescribed in tablets to 0.05 g 3 times a day;
- bitiodine - suppresses the cough receptors of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and the cough center of the medulla oblongata, is prescribed in tablets to 0.01 g three times a day;
- libexin - for antitussive activity is equal to codeine, suppresses the cough center of the medulla oblongata, is prescribed 0.1 g 3-4 times a day;
- tusuprex - suppresses the cough center, is prescribed in tablets to 0.01-0.02 g 3 times a day.
Antipyretic and analgesic agents, anti-inflammatory drugs
Anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to reduce inflammatory edema, improve microcirculation. These same agents cause antipyretic effect. Their use is shown primarily at a very high body temperature (39-40 ° C). Assign acetylsalicylic acid to 0.5 g 2-3 times a day, paracetamol 0.5 g 2-3 times a day.
At the expressed pleural pains it is possible to recommend methindol-retard on 0.075 g 1-2 times a day, voltaren on 0.025 g 2-3 times a day and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. However, it should be noted that many anti-inflammatory drugs have a significant effect on the immune system, significantly inhibit phagocytosis. Therefore, in the acute period, the use of these funds should not be long. With pain in the chest, you can also use analgin.
Cardiovascular drugs
Camphoric oil is traditionally used for acute pneumonia. Camphor has a tonic effect on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, increases the contractile function of the myocardium. Standing out through the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, camphor causes an expectorant effect, it also has a bactericidal effect. It is also described the property of camphor to significantly improve alveolar ventilation. Camphor is used primarily in severe pneumonia. It is recommended that subcutaneous injection of camphor oil 2-4 ml 3-4 times a day. When treating camphor, the formation of infiltrates (oleoms) is possible.
Sulphocamphocaine is a compound of sulfo-camphoric acid and novocaine. It is applied as a 1% solution intramuscularly, subcutaneously, intravenously 2-3 times a day. Has all the positive properties of camphor, but does not cause oleum formation, is quickly absorbed with subcutaneous and intramuscular injection, can be administered intravenously.
Cordiamin - 25% solution of nicotinic acid diethylamide, stimulates the respiratory and vasomotor centers, is applied 2-4 ml subcutaneously, intramuscularly and intravenously 3 times a day with severe arterial hypotension in patients with acute pneumonia, especially during the crisis (with croupous pneumonia).
These cardiovascular drugs contribute to the normalization of hemodynamics in a small circle of blood circulation.
In the case of a significant reduction in contractility of the left ventricle (most often it happens with the development of diffuse myocarditis, complicating the course of croupous pneumonia), cardiac glycosides are possible, but it should be remembered that hypersensitivity to them inflamed myocardium and prescribe them intravenously capillary in small doses for example, 0.3 ml of a 0.05% solution of strophanthin).
[