Bronchitis medications, such as anti-inflammatories, bronchodilators or cough suppressants, help reduce bronchitis symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or wheezing. This is because these medications act by reducing inflammation of the bronchi, facilitating the elimination of phlegm or helping to open the bronchi and facilitate breathing.
Bronchitis is the inflammation of the main airways of the lungs, the bronchi, which are responsible for transporting oxygen to and from the lungs, causing them to become irritated and inflamed and causing symptoms such as a dry cough or phlegm, wheezing or shortness of breath. of air. Know how to identify the symptoms of bronchitis.
In most cases, bronchitis is treated at home, with rest and drinking a good amount of fluids, without the need for medication. However, if bronchitis does not go away with these measures, or if it is chronic bronchitis, the symptoms of which can last more than 3 months, treatment with medication may be necessary, which should always be prescribed by a doctor.
What to take for bronchitis
The most commonly used remedies to treat bronchitis are:
1. Painkillers
Analgesics, such as paracetamol or dipyrone, for example, are used to relieve symptoms of fever, general malaise or body pain.
These medications can be used for acute or chronic bronchitis, always with medical advice.
2. Anti-inflammatories
Anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen, are indicated to reduce inflammation of the bronchi and relieve symptoms of headache or body pain caused by acute bronchitis.
It is important to note that people who suffer from asthma should not take ibuprofen or any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as aspirin, naproxen, nimesulide, for example, as they can worsen asthma symptoms.
3. Mucolytics
Mucolytics, such as acetylcysteine or bromhexine, may be recommended by the doctor to help relieve coughing, as they act by making the phlegm more liquid, facilitating its elimination.
These medications can be used in cases of acute bronchitis or chronic bronchitis, but they should be used with caution in children under 6 years of age, and only with medical supervision.
Furthermore, it is recommended to drink plenty of water to make the medicine more effective and to thin and eliminate mucus more easily.
4. Waiting
Expectorants, such as guaifenesin or ambroxol, help make phlegm less thick, which makes it easier to eliminate. In addition, they can also have antitussive action, that is, they help relieve coughs.
These medications may be recommended by your doctor for the treatment of bronchitis, especially chronic bronchitis.
5. Antitussives
Antitussives, such as dextromethorphan or clobutinol, help reduce dry cough by acting directly on the brain in the region that controls the cough reflex, relieving this symptom.
Another antitussive that may be recommended by your doctor is codeine, which is an opioid medication, which also acts on the brain to reduce coughing.
These medications should always be prescribed by a doctor and can be used for acute or chronic bronchitis with dry cough, without phlegm, and are not indicated when there is a suspicion of a respiratory bacterial infection.
6. Antibiotics
Antibiotics, such as amoxicillin or erythromycin, for example, are indicated for chronic bronchitis, when there is a risk of bacterial infection and the person developing pneumonia, which can happen if it is a premature baby, an elderly person, people with a history of bronchial disease, heart, lung, kidney or liver, with a weakened immune system or people with cystic fibrosis.
For acute bronchitis, treatment with antibiotics is not recommended, as this type of bronchitis is usually caused by viruses, and antibiotics have no action against viruses. However, in some cases it may be recommended, especially for people with malnutrition, severe anemia, heart disease or the elderly.
Furthermore, in cases of acute bronchitis, antibiotics may be prescribed by the doctor if the person has symptoms such as fever above 38.5ºC, shortness of breath and phlegm with pus.
7. Bronchodilators
Bronchodilators, such as salbutamol, formoterol or ipratropium bromide, help to open the bronchi and facilitate breathing and may be recommended by the doctor for cases of chronic bronchitis, as continuous treatment or during bronchitis attacks.
In some cases, they can be used for acute bronchitis, especially when the person has wheezing when breathing or airway obstruction, for example.
These medications are used, in most cases, through pumps and act by relaxing the muscle in the walls of the small airways, opening these passages and allowing relief from chest tightness and coughing, making breathing easier.
In addition, bronchodilators can also be used by nebulization, especially in the elderly or people with reduced respiratory capacity. See the main types and how to use bronchodilators.
8. Corticosteroids
In some cases, the doctor may prescribe corticosteroids to be taken orally, such as prednisone, or inhaled inhalers, such as fluticasone or budesonide, for example, to reduce inflammation and irritation in the lungs.
Corticosteroid inhalers often also have an associated bronchodilator, such as salmeterol or formoterol, for example, which are long-acting bronchodilators and are generally used as continuous treatment.
Home remedy options
Home remedies for bronchitis, such as ginger tea or eucalyptus tea, contain substances with anti-inflammatory or expectorant action, which help to relieve inflammation in the bronchi or increase the elimination of phlegm, making them good options for home remedies to aid treatment. indicated by the doctor. See other home remedy options for bronchitis and how to prepare them.
