Usha Rani Kandula, an assistant professor from Arsi University in Ethiopia, authored this document about expectorants. Expectorants are drugs that increase fluid in the respiratory tract and thin secretions to aid in removal through coughing and cilia action. Common expectorants include guaifensin, potassium iodide, and terpin hydrate elixir. Expectorants are indicated for non-productive coughs, bronchitis, laryngitis, influenza, dry coughs, and productive coughs. Nurses assess lung sounds, cough characteristics, secretions and encourage fluid intake and deep breathing exercises when clients take expectorants.

1. EXPECTORANTS
PREPARED BY:
USHA RANI KANDULA,
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR,
DEPARTMENT OF ADULT HEALTH NURSING,
ARSI UNIVERSITY,ASELLA,ETHIOPIA,
SOUTH EAST AFRICA.

2. DEFINITION
 Expectorants are the drugs , which
increase fluid flow in the respiratory
tract and reduce viscosity of
secretions to aid in removal of
secretion by cough reflex and ciliary
action.

3. COMMON DRUGS OF
EXPECTORANT

4. EXPECTORANTS
 Guaifensin : 200-400 mg q 4 h oral
(half for children)
 Pottassium iodide : 300-650 mg
bd/tid after meal
 Terpin hydrate elixir : 85-170 mg
tid/qid.

5. INDICATIONS

6. Indications
 Non-productive cough associated with cold
 Bronchitis
 Laryngitis
 Influenza
 Dry irritating cough
 Productive cough

7. CONTRAINDICATIONS

8. Contraindications
 Hypersensitivity
 High fever
 Rash
 Prolonged headache
 Dizziness
 Nausea, vomiting

9. NURSES RESPONSIBILITIES

10. Nurses responsibilities
 Assess lung sounds
 Frequency and type of cough
 Characteristics of expectorated secretions
 Encourage fluid intake of 1,500-2,000
ml/day to make secretions as thin.
 Encourage client to perform deep
breathing exercises.

11. THANKING YOU