Cough medicine
Cough Medicine
Cough medicine (pronunciation: /kɒf ˈmɛdɪsɪn/) is a medicinal drug used in the treatment of coughing and related conditions.
Etymology
The term "cough" originates from the Middle English word "cofen", and "medicine" comes from the Latin word "medicina", meaning "the healing art".
Types of Cough Medicine
There are primarily two types of cough medicines, Expectorants and Cough Suppressants.
- Expectorants are medicines that promote the secretion of sputum by the air passages, used to treat coughs with sticky mucus.
- Cough Suppressants, also known as antitussives, work by numbing the stretch receptors in the muscles of the lungs, preventing the reflex urge to cough.
Related Terms
- Antitussive - A type of cough medicine that suppresses coughing.
- Expectorant - A medicine that promotes the secretion of sputum by the air passages.
- Decongestant - A type of medicine that relieves nasal congestion.
- Mucolytic - A type of medicine that thins and loosens mucus in the airways.
Usage and Side Effects
Cough medicines are typically used to treat the symptoms of a cough. However, they do not treat the underlying cause of the cough. Some cough medicines can cause side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cough medicine
- Wikipedia's article - Cough medicine
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