gestants—especially nasal spray and drops—can lose its effectiveness because
the patient becomes tolerant to the medication. In some cases, the patient may
even experience nasal congestion again. This is referred to as rebound nasal con-
gestion. Therefore, decongestants should not be used longer than five days.
There are three types of decongestants. These are nasal decongestants that
provide quick relief to the patient; systemic decongestants that provide a longer
lasting relief from congestion; and intranasal glucocorticoids that are used to
treat seasonal and perennial rhinitis.Cough Preparations
A cough is a common symptom of a cold brought about by the body’s effort to
remove nasal mucous that might drain into the respiratory tract. Antitussives are
the ingredients used in cough medicine to suppress the cough center in the
medulla. Although the cough reflex is useful to clear the air passages, suppres-
sion of the cough reflex can provide some rest for the patient. There are non-
narcotic and narcotic antitussives.Expectorants
When an individual has a cold or other respiratory infection, it is common to
have rather thick mucous that is difficult to expectorate. Expectorants are med-
ications that loosen the secretions making it easier for the patient to cough up
and expel the mucous. They work by increasing the fluid output of the respira-
tory tract and decrease the adhesiveness and surface tension to promote removal
of viscous mucus.
A list of drugs utilized in the treatment of upper respiratory tract disorders is
provided in the Appendix. Detailed tables show doses, recommendations, expec-
tations, side effects, contraindications, and more; available on the book’s Web
site (see URL in Appendix).(^258) CHAPTER 14 Respiratory Diseases
Antihistamine Used to Treat Allergic Rhinitis
Phenothiazines (anti-histamine action) PO/IM: 12.5–25 mg q4–6h PRN
promethazine HCl (Phenergan) Maximum dose: 150 mg/d
Before meals and bedtime
Pregnancy category: C
Protein bound: Unknown
Half-life: Unknown