Description of Cough and Cold Preparations – PST04211 Basic Pharmacology
NTA Level 4 • Semester 2 • PST04211 Description of Cough and Cold Preparations Basic Pharmacology • Source Session/Topic 36 Full source-text version: all educational wording from the extracted learning source is retained; only presenter/tutor metadata and web-layout noise are removed, while formatting is improved for readability. Session 36: Description of Cough and Cold Preparations Total Session Time: 120 minutes Prerequisites • None Learning Tasks By the end of this session students are expected to be able to: • Define and list the symptoms of common cold and cough • List indications of Cough and Cold Preparations • Describe dose, dosage and course of Cough and Cold Preparations • List Contraindications, side effects, adverse effects, interactions and precautions of Cough and Cold Preparations Resources Needed: • Flip charts, marker pens, and masking tape • Black/white board and chalk/whiteboard markers • Overhead projector (OHP) and computer. SESSION OVERVIEW Activity/ Step Time Content Method 1 05 minutes Presentation Introduction, Learning Objectives Presentation Definition and Symptoms of Common Cold 2 10 minutes Brainstorming and Cough Presentation 3 20 minutes Indications of Cough and Cold Preparations Buzzing Dose, Dosage and Course of Cough and Cold 4 20 minutes Presentation Preparations Presentation Side Effects, Adverse Effects, 5 55 minutes Small Group Contraindications, Interactions and Discussion Precautions of Cough and Cold Preparations. 6 05 minutes Presentation Key Points 7 05 minutes Presentation Evaluation PST 04211 Basic Pharmacology NTA Level 4 Semester 2 Facilitator Guide 226 SESSION CONTENTS STEP 1: Presentation of Session Title and Learning Objectives (05 minutes) READ or ASK students to read the learning objectives and clarify ASK students if they have any questions before continuing. STEP 2: Definition and Symptoms of Common Cold and Cough (10 minutes) Activity: Brainstorming (5 minutes) Ask students to brainstorm on the following questions: • What causes common cold? • What are the symptoms of common cold? ALLOW few students to respond WRITE their responses on the flip chart/ board CLARIFY and SUMMARISE by using the content below • Common cold, also known simply as a cold, is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that primarily affects the nose • The common cold is a self-limiting condition and must be distinguished from respiratory infections • The episodes of the common cold are mostly due to viruses • The symptoms attribute to the common cold include: o Cough o Runny nose o Blocked nose o Sore throat o Fever o Malaise o Headache and o Loss of appetite • Cough is the expulsion of air from the lungs with a sudden sharp sound. PST 04211 Basic Pharmacology NTA Level 4 Semester 2 Facilitator Guide 227 STEP 3: Indications of Cough and Cold Preparations (20 minutes) Activity: Buzzing (5 minutes) ASK students to pair up and buzz on the following question for 2 minutes • What are the indications for cough and cold preparations? ALLOW few pairs to respond and let other pairs to add on points not mentioned WRITE their response on the flip chart/board CLARIFY and SUMMARIZE by using the content below Cough and cold preparations are indicated for: Preparations which contains Codeine, dextromethorphan (and some other opioids), antihistamines and soothing remedies like cough syrups are used for cough relief • Expectorants like guaphensin and mucolytic agents like carbocisteine are used to clean the thick sputum by reducing the viscosity • Sympathomimetic preparations like pseudoephedrine, antihistamines like brompheniramine, saline nose drops and hot fluids are used for nose congestion • Soothing remedies like syrups and lozenges and topical anaesthetic agents like benzocaine are used for sore throat relieves STEP 4: Dose, Dosage and Course of Cough and Cold Preparations (20 minutes) • The dose of cough and cold preparations depends on the type of the agent used in a preparation • It is important for a health worker to give right information to patients about the dose, dosage and course of the preparations • Read the leaflet inserted in a preparation in order to identify the ingredients used, their doses and dosages • Most of ingredients in cough and cold preparations are used in 8 hourly, 6 hourly or 4 hourly bases • Example 60mg of pseudoephedrine is used 3-4 times daily for adults and 30mg 3-4 daily for children above five years • The preparations should be used up to two weeks and if there is no improvement see your doctor for further check-up PST 04211 Basic Pharmacology NTA Level 4 Semester 2 Facilitator Guide 228 STEP 5: Side Effects, Contraindications, Interactions and Precautions of Cough and Cold Preparations (55 minutes) Activity: Small Group Discussion ( 30 minutes) DIVIDE students into small manageable groups ASK students to discuss on the following question • What are Side/adverse effects, contraindications, interactions and precautions of cough and cold preparations? ALLOW students to discuss for 15 minutes ALLOW few groups to present and the rest to add points not mentioned CLARIFY and SUMMARIZE by using the contents below • Side effects and adverse effects o Codeine and dextromethorphan cause nausea, vomiting, constipation, dizziness and dependence o Antihistamines cause gastrointestinal disturbances plus central nervous system disturbances like nausea o High concentration of alcohol in cough syrups causes sedation by supressing the cough reflex. Also high concentration of sugar may cause osmotic diarrhoea o Expectorants cause gastric mucosa irritation, nausea and vomiting o Mucolytic agents cause bronchospasm, fever and gastrointestinal disturbances o Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine cause constriction of nasal blood vessels hence reducing mucosal swelling o Infants may choke due to aspiration if large volume of normal saline nasal drop is used o Lozenges cause aspiration in children • Contraindications o Most of mucolytic agents are contraindicated to peptic ulceration, and some in pregnancy and breast feeding o Codeine and dextromethorphan should be avoided in patients with acute respiratory depression o In intracranial pressure and head injury • Interactions and Precautions o Most drug combinations in cough and cold preparations have no rational basis as may contain ineffective or effective opposing ingredients such as expectorants with cough suppressants. Such