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VICK'S PEDIATRIC FORMULA 44E
Ingredients:
per 15 ml (3 teaspoons):
Dextromethorphan 10mg (Cough suppressant)
Guaifenesin 100mg (Expectorant)
WHEN TO USE
Frequent cough, chest congestion, no runny nose or nasal congestion. I use this type of
combination for dry coughs especially at night if the cough prevents my child from
going to sleep or staying asleep. The combination of DM and the expectorant will usually help your child
get some much-needed rest for a few hours. Daytime coughs usually don't bother a child and I only use a
cough medication during the day if the cough is interfering with baby's eating, napping and playing. If
your child's cough sounds very moist like he's coughing on secretions and there is a lot of mucous in the
nose, then I would use a "multi-symptom" combination of decongestant, antihistamine and
cough suppressant.
DESCRIPTION
This medication is a cough suppressant and expectorant combination. The
Dextromethorphan (DM for short) is the cough suppressant part of this medication. It acts by
blocking the cough reflex center in the brain. It will offer temporary relief (a few hours) to that nagging
cough caused by a "tickle" in the throat. The Guaifenesin is the expectorant; it will help thin
out the mucous in the sinuses and throat. There is a common misconception that this combination is not a
good idea, i.e. with the cough suppressed, the thinned mucous will just run down into the lungs and cause
pneumonia. What really happens is that the thinned mucous is more easily cleared out of the sinuses and
airways by the microscopic hairs (called cilia) that line the passages. Of course, "hosing the nose" with
saline spray and "steaming" the sinuses are also effective at keeping mucous thin (see natural cold treatments).
SAFETY/SIDE EFFECTS
It is safe to use in children six months and older for upper respiratory illness (such as colds
and sinus infections). If your child has a lower respiratory tract illness (like pneumonia, bronchiolitis or
asthma) you should ask your physician before using cold or cough remedies. Side effects of
nausea, dizziness, and drowsiness infrequently occur with DM-containing cough syrups. The expectorant
portion usually does not cause side effects.
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needs.