Dangerous ingredients in cough syrups should be considered not only by pediatricians, but also by parents who want to help their child with over-the-counter medications. What ingredients in cough syrups can be dangerous for a child?

Dangerous ingredients in cough syrupscan harm your child if he or she is too small to take the cough syrup or if he or she suffers from a medical condition that is a contraindication to taking cough medicine.

Therefore, when giving your child over-the-counter cough syrup, it is worth taking a closer look at its composition.

Contents:

  1. Dangerous ingredients in cough syrups
  2. For whom are ingredients in cough syrups dangerous?
  3. What do dangerous substances in cough syrups cause?
  4. Safe ingredients in cough syrups

Dangerous ingredients in cough syrups

A cough is very often the first symptom of a developing infection. We divide it into dry cough and wet cough.

A cough is an unconditional reaction of the body. It comes to it as a result of irritation of the so-called cough points located in the trachea, larynx, nose, throat, bronchi, or as a direct impulse from lung tissue, bronchi or other organs.

Suppressing a tiring cough is never a good idea - it is designed to cleanse the body of residual secretions. Of course, there are exceptions when inhibiting the cough reflex has a medical justification.

Parents usually have no problem distinguishing whether the cough is wet or dry, but when choosing preparations on your own, it is easy to buy cough syrup with dangerous ingredients. To do this, carefully read the composition (leaflet) of the drug.

You should be especially vigilant when choosing an antitussive preparation for your child. There are many substances that are unsuitable for a young body. The dangerous ingredients in baby cough syrups include:

  • butamirat,
  • dextromethorphan,
  • codeine

These substances, with prolonged use, may cause addiction, among other things.

For whom are ingredients in cough syrups dangerous?

The recommendations are clear - drugs with butamirate are contraindicated in children under 2 years of ageof life and those suffering from asthma, preparations with dextromethorphan are not recommended for children under 3 years of age.

In the case of codeine, the age limits are higher - it should not be used in children under the age of 12 due to the possibility of serious complications and addiction.

The European Medicines Agency emphasizes that codeine is converted into morphine, making children more vulnerable to its side effects.

What do dangerous substances in cough syrups cause?

Now let's tackle the dangerous substances in cough syrups. What are the? What do they cause? How do they work?

Let's start with codeine , more specifically codeine phosphate, which is a derivative of morphine and belongs to opioids. Codeine adversely affects the functioning of the nervous system, especially if its dose is too high. Children should not consume it until at least 12 years of age.

How does codeine work? Codeine phosphate influences the cough center in the brain. It is there that, under the influence of enzymes, codeine transforms into morphine, classified as a drug.

Codeine in a higher dose causes:

  • euphoria
  • mood disorders
  • sleepiness
  • breathing disorders
  • palpitations
  • excessive sweating
  • miosis

Speaking of adults, the optimal dose is 45 mg a day. Overdosing can cause brain disorders, anxiety attacks and aggression.

Codeine is especially not recommended for people suffering from asthma! It reduces the frequency of breathing. Remember not to give codeine syrups to children.

Dextromethorphanis another substance found in cough syrups. It is often used to treat bronchitis and pharyngitis.

It is a substance that suppresses the cough reflex, it can also cause intoxication - in adults at a dose of 220 mg a day. Then, there may be disturbances in breathing, perceiving stimuli and excessive euphoria.

Another substance found in cough syrups that you need to watch out for isbutamirate . It affects the respiratory center in the medulla.

Taking it may result in the occurrence of:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • dizziness

In case of overdose, we can expect imbalances and lower blood pressure.

This substance should be avoided not only by children under 3 years of age, but also by pregnant and lactating women.

Safe ingredients in syrups oncough

When treating cough, we do not cure the cause of the disease, because cough, as we mentioned, is only a symptom of it.

In the event of the first symptoms of infection, the child should be supported with nebulization, an appropriate diet, probiotics and homemade cough syrups, which in the case of coughing will moisturize and facilitate the regeneration of the damaged mucosa.

If a child is tired of a dry and unproductive cough, you can also use plant preparations that moisturize the mucosa - e.g. those containing Icelandic lichen (antitussive and anti-inflammatory), antibacterial (containing pine extract) and preparations supporting expectorant and diastolic effects (containing elderberry, thyme and coltsfoot).

Black elderberry in the form of juice will not only ease the cough, but also help the body fight infection, because it is a real vitamin bomb.

You can also use pine syrup, which has an expectorant and bactericidal effect. It is recommended for problems with the upper respiratory tract and pharyngitis.

Drosera (sundew) used in cough syrups for dry, paroxysmal and irritating cough with a tendency to provoke vomiting is also effective. Drosera syrup is used in the treatment of respiratory tract infections, and thanks to the content of ingredients of natural origin, it soothes cough and facilitates breathing.

Read also:

  • Homemade cough syrups - recipes
  • Seven proven cough recipes

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