Expectorants and Mucolytics STUDY GUIDE NOTES
[nursing]
Learn about the uses and nursing care plan considerations needed for patients
taking expectorants and mucolytics in this nursing pharmacology guide.
Expectorants are drugs that liquefy the lower respiratory tract secretions. They are used for
the symptomatic relief of respiratory conditions characterized by a dry, nonproductive cough.
Mucolytics work to break down mucus to aid high-risk respiratory patients in coughing up
thick, tenacious secretions.
Expectorants and Mucolytics: Generic and Brand Names
Here is a table of commonly encountered expectorant and mucolytics, their generic names,
and brand names:
• Expectorants
• guaifenesin (Mucinex)
• Mucolytic
• acetylcysteine (Mucomyst)
• dornase alfa (Pulmozyme)
Disease Spotlight: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a permanent, chronic obstruction of the
airways, often related to cigarette smoking.
• COPD is caused by two related disorders- emphysema and chronic bronchitis– both of
which result in airflow obstruction on expiration, as well as overinflation of
the lungs and poor gas exchange.
• Emphysema is characterized by loss of the elastic tissue of the lungs, destruction of
alveolar walls, and resultant alveolar hyperinflation with a tendency to collapse with
expiration.
, • Chronic bronchitis is a permanent inflammation of the airways with mucus
secretion, edema, and post inflammatory defenses.
Expectorants
What are Expectorants?
Expectorants increase productive cough to clear the airways.
• They liquefy lower respiratory tract secretions, reducing the viscosity of these
secretions and making it easier to cough them up.
• Expectorants are available in many OTC preparations, making them widely available to
the patient without advice from a health care provider.
Therapeutic actions
The desired actions of expectorants include:
• Enhances the output of respiratory tract fluids by reducing the adhesiveness and
surface tension of these fluids, allowing easier movement of the less viscous
secretions.
Indications of Expectorants and Mucolytics
Expectorants are indicated for the following:
• Symptomatic relief of respiratory conditions characterized by a dry, nonproductive
cough.
Pharmacokinetics
Guaifenesin is rapidly absorbed, with an onset of 30 minutes and a duration of 4 to 6 hours.
Route Onset Peak Duration
Oral 30 min Unknown 4-6h
Half-life (T1/2) Metabolism Excretion
Unknown Unknown Unknown
Contraindications and Cautions
[nursing]
Learn about the uses and nursing care plan considerations needed for patients
taking expectorants and mucolytics in this nursing pharmacology guide.
Expectorants are drugs that liquefy the lower respiratory tract secretions. They are used for
the symptomatic relief of respiratory conditions characterized by a dry, nonproductive cough.
Mucolytics work to break down mucus to aid high-risk respiratory patients in coughing up
thick, tenacious secretions.
Expectorants and Mucolytics: Generic and Brand Names
Here is a table of commonly encountered expectorant and mucolytics, their generic names,
and brand names:
• Expectorants
• guaifenesin (Mucinex)
• Mucolytic
• acetylcysteine (Mucomyst)
• dornase alfa (Pulmozyme)
Disease Spotlight: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a permanent, chronic obstruction of the
airways, often related to cigarette smoking.
• COPD is caused by two related disorders- emphysema and chronic bronchitis– both of
which result in airflow obstruction on expiration, as well as overinflation of
the lungs and poor gas exchange.
• Emphysema is characterized by loss of the elastic tissue of the lungs, destruction of
alveolar walls, and resultant alveolar hyperinflation with a tendency to collapse with
expiration.
, • Chronic bronchitis is a permanent inflammation of the airways with mucus
secretion, edema, and post inflammatory defenses.
Expectorants
What are Expectorants?
Expectorants increase productive cough to clear the airways.
• They liquefy lower respiratory tract secretions, reducing the viscosity of these
secretions and making it easier to cough them up.
• Expectorants are available in many OTC preparations, making them widely available to
the patient without advice from a health care provider.
Therapeutic actions
The desired actions of expectorants include:
• Enhances the output of respiratory tract fluids by reducing the adhesiveness and
surface tension of these fluids, allowing easier movement of the less viscous
secretions.
Indications of Expectorants and Mucolytics
Expectorants are indicated for the following:
• Symptomatic relief of respiratory conditions characterized by a dry, nonproductive
cough.
Pharmacokinetics
Guaifenesin is rapidly absorbed, with an onset of 30 minutes and a duration of 4 to 6 hours.
Route Onset Peak Duration
Oral 30 min Unknown 4-6h
Half-life (T1/2) Metabolism Excretion
Unknown Unknown Unknown
Contraindications and Cautions
