Description

Children often cough when they have a cold because of mucus trickling down the back of the throat. Although it’s upsetting to hear your child cough, coughing helps clear away phlegm from the chest or mucus from the back of the throat. Children can cough several times a day or have coughing episodes lasting up to a couple of weeks if they have viral infections. However, coughing that lasts more than two to three weeks should prompt a visit to your paediatrician. The majority of children have brief repeated periods of coughing due to viral upper respiratory tract infections, such as the common cold.

A wet cough, also known as a productive cough, is any cough that produces mucus (phlegm). It may feel like you have something stuck in your chest or the back of your throat. Some potential causes include respiratory infections, chronic lung conditions, a heart condition. Some of the treatments can help improve cough efficiency. Others decrease mucus in the back of the throat, thereby reducing the need to cough. Expectorants and mucolytics are medications that thin the mucus and make it less sticky. This makes it easier for people to cough it up. These medications work best for people who have a wet cough but are having difficulty getting the phlegm up.

Cofboj Plus Syrup is a combination of Ambroxol, Terbutaline, Guaiphenesin and Menthol is used for effective treatment of productive cough. This product is intended to be used for relief of cough associated with bronchitis, bronchial asthma, emphysema. In General, Cofboj Plus clears the thick sputum or mucus in the airways that enables one to breathe without difficulty.

Mode of action 

Ambroxol hydrochloride involves stimulation of surfactant synthesis. Surfactant plays an important role in upper and lower airway functions. Firstly, surfactant reduces surface tension in the alveoli, preventing their collapse. It is also known that surfactant decreases mucus viscosity through depolymerization of acidic polysaccharide fibers in the bronchial secretion and stimulation of neutral polysaccharide production by glandular cells. Ambroxol has effective mucokinetic and secretagogue properties, thus promoting mucus clearance, facilitating expectoration and easing productive cough.

Guaiphenesin is categorized as an expectorant that acts by enhancing the output of phlegm (sputum) and bronchial secretions via decreasing the adhesiveness and surface tension of such material. Furthermore, Guaiphenesin elicits an increased flow of less viscous gastric secretions that subsequently promote ciliary action – all actions that ultimately change dry, unproductive coughing to coughs that are more productive and less frequent. Essentially, by decreasing the viscosity and adhesiveness of such secretions, Guaiphenesin enhances the efficacy of mucociliary activity in removing accumulated secretions from the upper and lower airway. 

Terbutaline is a selective beta2-adrenergic stimulant which has bronchodilation action that increases mucociliary clearance; suppression of oedema and anti-allergic effects.

Menthol acts as a soothing effect that produces cool sensation and relieves minor throat irritation.

Directions for use 

• Children above 6 years 2.5 ml (1/2 teaspoonful) 4 times daily.
• Children between 2-6 years 1.25 ml (1/4 teaspoonful) 4 times daily
• Adults 5 ml (1 teaspoonful) 4 times daily or as directed by the Physician 

Indications 

Cough associated with bronchitis, bronchial asthma, emphysema 

Side effects 

Ambroxol has following side effects such as Gastrointestinal disorders, Uncommon vomiting, diarrhea, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, dry mouth not known dry throat.

Guaiphenesin side effects are very rare however administration of Guaiphenesin have been reported to cause discomfort, nausea and vomiting, particularly in very high doses.

If you get any of the following side effects, stop taking this medicine and see your doctor.

Storage and safety information 

• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
• Pregnancy: Not established study for this combination hence this combination should be administered with caution in pregnancy.
• Lactation: Since many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious side effects in nursing infants.