When a child is sick, parents try to alleviate his condition as soon as possible with various medicines, preferring herbal preparations. In order to quickly eliminate the symptoms of coughing, which are dangerous not only because of their consequences, but also which interfere with sleep and sleep, for many years Mukaltin tablets have been used for children. Instructions for use of the drug contain all the basic information about its composition, indications and side effects, but depending on the manufacturer, finding information about age restrictions can be difficult. So from what age is it allowed to give medicine to children, how to do it correctly and with what diagnoses it is better to refrain from pills? We will tell further in the article.
Product release form
The obvious drawback of the medication is that there is no Mukaltin syrup for children. In this case, the tablet form instruction often defines age restrictions with a limit of 12 years. It is interesting, but the drug is produced by many domestic pharmaceutical companies with the same composition, and some of them limit the age of patients to three years, and some do not indicate this information in the annotation at all. The only form of the drug - tablets - by pediatricians is often recommended for treating babies as early as 1 year old. The appearance of the pills is familiar to many from childhood. Small tablets with a characteristic gray-brown color with numerous impregnations. The tablet itself is very soft, and it is not difficult to quickly separate the medicine at risk.
The packaging of the drug depends on the manufacturer. Instructions for use "Mukaltina" (it is often used for children) is enclosed in the package or applied directly to it. The medication can be produced in paper-free packs of 10 tablets, in blisters with the same amount of the drug or in plastic jars of 30 or 50 pieces. Blisters, in turn, can be packaged in cardboard boxes of 1-3 pieces.
The composition of the medication
The active substance of the drug is marshmallow root extract. According to the instructions "Mukaltin" for children is therefore considered the most safe and natural. The remaining components of the composition are necessary only to give the tablet shape and density. Among them:
- calcium stearate;
- tartaric acid ;
- povidone;
- sodium bicarbonate.
The main substance in each tablet contains 50 mg.
Pharmacology
Marshmallow extract as part of the medication has an enveloping and expectorant effect on the respiratory system of organs. All this is due to the presence of pectins, polysaccharides, fatty acids, mineral salts, plant mucus, betaine and other substances. By stimulating the respiratory organs to expel sputum, the drug additionally softens the mucous membrane in the bronchi by enhancing the secretion of their glands.
According to the instructions, "Mukaltin" for children should be used only as part of complex therapy, since it is not able to cope with serious inflammation on its own, but only facilitates the healing process by diluting the mucus and improving its discharge. The drug itself does not eliminate the cause of the cough.
Recommendations for use
Some drug manufacturers are allowed to take "Mukaltin" for children at 3 years of age with instructions. Indications for the use of the drug are various pathologies of the respiratory tract, necessarily accompanied by the formation of viscous, difficult to separate sputum. With an unproductive cough, the drug is in some cases prescribed to younger patients, but only by experienced pediatricians. So, tablets are used in therapy:
- laryngitis;
- bronchitis;
- tracheobronchitis;
- tracheitis;
- pneumonia;
- bronchiectasis.
Age restrictions
A clear answer, from what age can you take pills, simply does not exist.
Each manufacturer indicates different information in his annotation, but, according to experts, you can assign Mukaltin to children from one year old. The instruction on this issue does not have information, but many already understand that giving babies a tablet form of the drug is difficult and if treatment is necessary at an early age, it is better to replace it with another medicine in the form of a syrup.
Bans to use
An unambiguous contraindication is personal intolerance to any of the components of the medication. In addition, it is forbidden to take pills for diseases of the upper organs of the digestive system and the presence of dry cough. In the latter case, according to the instructions, “Mukaltin” for children will not have the proper therapeutic effect, since it should thin the sputum already in the lungs.
If the baby has wet rales, severe coughing in the morning or an active expectoration of mucus, then treatment with the drug will bear fruit soon.
Possible reactions
Since the composition of the medication is very small, the list of side effects is small. Due to the plant-based natural component, tablets can cause allergic reactions in the form of redness on the skin, itching, or hives. In rare cases, the drug causes nausea or vomiting, and in very rare cases, dyspeptic symptoms.
As a rule, such reactions rarely occur, the drug is well tolerated by most patients.
With the accidental intake of a large amount of the drug, side effects can manifest themselves especially clearly. To eliminate them, take a sorbent, if necessary, an antihistamine or wash the stomach.
Dosage and administration features
The medicine should be taken before meals, withstanding a break of 30-60 minutes before eating. If a child can swallow a pill on his own, then it must be washed down with a small amount of water. According to the Mukaltin instructions, children can be allowed to dissolve, but few people like the bitter taste of the tablets.
In very small patients, the drug is offered in diluted form. To do this, the tablet should be dissolved in water and given to the child a drink. For taste, if there are no contraindications, you can add honey or jam to the water, and use compote or milk instead of water. For 1 tablet, take no more than a third of a glass of liquid.
A preparation is prescribed to be taken 2-3 times a day, and the duration of the course is usually 7 days and can only be extended up to 2 weeks on the recommendation of a doctor.
For babies from 3 years of age, the drug is prescribed in a dosage of 50 mg (1 tablet), as evidenced by the instructions for use. "Mukaltin" children from one year old are given according to their weight and diagnosis. Most often, pediatricians prescribe 0.5 tablets. For patients over 12 years of age, the dosage is adult. Here, depending on weight and diagnosis, a child may be prescribed 1-2 tablets three times a day.
Modern treatment
When the medicine goes directly to the site of infection without additional passage through the entire digestive system, the effect of therapy manifests itself much faster. That is why now many decide to treat cough with inhalation using a nebulizer.
There are still few specialized solutions for such equipment, but even pediatricians are advised to prepare them independently from conventional drugs, be sure to reduce the dosage. So, for inhalation "Mukaltinom" should completely dissolve the tablet in 80 ml of saline. For one procedure, you need to use 3-4 ml of the mixture and breathe the solution 1-2 times a day until all the liquid has evaporated. The course of therapy is 10 days, and the first signs of the effectiveness of the drug will be noticeable after the first procedure.
Interaction with other medicines
The medication goes well with many drugs, because it is used to treat ailments just in combination with them. So, Mukaltin works well with antibiotics, antiviral, expectorant and antipyretic drugs.
You can not combine tablets only with drugs that suppress cough reflux, since this will lead to a strong dilution of sputum and its accumulation in the bronchi. This can lead to serious complications.
Sale and storage
You can buy the drug at any pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription, but you should use it in the treatment of babies only after consulting a pediatrician. The cost of the drug is affordable and depends on the manufacturer and the number of tablets in the package - 7-50 rubles.
Keep the medication in a dry and inaccessible place for children at a temperature of 15-25 degrees. The shelf life depending on the packaging is 2-3 years.
Parent reviews
According to Mukaltin reviews for children, the instructions for use are scanty, which in most cases repels them from buying, because the data even from pediatricians are too different from each other. The minus should include only the tablet form of release, which is inconvenient in the treatment of young children, especially if you take into account the unpleasant taste of the drug.
Despite this, many parents testify to the effectiveness of the medication and recommend it to all their friends. The advantages include affordable price, natural plant composition and quick relief of coughing.
Analogues of the drug
A structural analogue of the drug can be considered a syrup based on the same marshmallow root. This drug is prescribed for babies from 1 year old already according to the instructions for use ("Mukaltin" for children at 3 years old, according to the official annotation, you can start giving). The benefits of syrup include a pleasant taste.
In addition to treating babies from 1 year old, it is also allowed to use expectorant drugs such as Eucabal and Bronchicum TP. If treatment is necessary for babies older than six months, you can buy Linkas, Bronchicum, Bronchipret syrup or dry cough syrup.
For patients over 2 years of age, the list of approved medicines is replenished with Gedelix, Herbion and Prospan syrups. Further, for older children, you can use the Doctor MOM line of preparations, Gelomirtol capsules, and other drugs to facilitate expectoration of sputum.
If you need quick relief, it is best to carry out treatment with inhalation. To do this, you can buy a specialized solution “Ambrobene”, “Bronchipret”, “Lazolvan” or “ACC”.
In any case, only the attending physician has the right to carry out the replacement of the drug with another, even with the same active substance. That is why, if a medicine causes certain reactions, you need to consult a specialist for advice. It is forbidden to self-medicate, especially in the case of young children, since the negative consequences of improper medication can be even more serious than the disease itself.