Quite possibly the worst symptom that accompanies a bronchitis infection is the nagging cough. It can be either a dry, hacking cough or a productive wet cough. It’s not uncommon for many people to start worrying when they find themselves coughing up thick green or yellow phlegm.
A bronchial infection often follows the common cold—that is to say, just when you think you’re finally getting over your cold, all of a sudden you feel like you’re knocked off your feet once more when bronchitis sets in. There’s two types of bronchitis infection:
Acute bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is the most typical form of bronchial infection. It’s also commonly referred to as a chest cold. When the bronchial tubes, that carry oxygen to your lungs, become irritated and inflamed, this condition is the result. The tubes then swell and increase production of mucus, making you cough. It also causes chest congestion and difficulty breathing. If you’re a smoker or inhale second-hand smoke on a regular basis, this condition can worsen. Generally speaking, acute bronchitis infections usually resolve within three weeks.
Chronic bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis is defined as a persistent cough that lasts for two to three months each year for a minimum of two years. The most common cause of chronic bronchitis is without a doubt smoking, and it’s actually classified as part of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This is a long-term, ongoing condition that will keep coming back. It will never completely go away, unfortunately.
Persistent cough with mucus
Both types of bronchitis cause a nagging, persistent cough. Some people end up with a dry painful cough that leaves them with a sore throat. Others end up with an increased mucus production that leaves them constantly coughing up phlegm throughout the day. No matter which type of cough you have with your bronchitis, it’s extremely unpleasant to deal with.
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Mucinex DM Max Strength Expectorant & Cough Suppressant
Pros
- Great for controlling an irritating and painful dry cough
- Quiets wet coughs due to excess mucus
- Makes your cough more productive
- Loosens mucus and breaks it up make it easier to expel
- Long lasting relief—effective for up to 12 hours
- Maximum strength formula is highly effective
- Immediate and extended release thanks to bi-layer tablets
Cons
Some people prefer all-natural products as opposed to over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals
Active ingredients and directions
Mucinex DM is effective thanks to the active ingredients that it contains. It contains 60 mg of dextromethorphan HBr and 1200 mg of guaifenesin. These two ingredients are extremely common in cough and cold medications and act as a cough suppressant and expectorant respectively. They are packaged in bi-layer tablets that provide extended release when taken, making them extremely effective with Mucinex DM.
It’s recommended that you do not chew, break, or crush the tablets. Each tablet should be taken with a full glass of water to further assist with loosening mucus. Mucinex DM is OK to be taken without a meal. For adults and children over 12 years of age, one tablet can be taken every 12 hours, as long as you do not exceed 2 tablets within 24 hours. Children under 12 should not use this medication.
Mucinex is regularly referred to as the No. 1 recommended source of OTC expectorants by doctors, pharmacists, and consumers. Mucinex DM is no exception. It has the incredible ability to fight both dry and wet coughs effectively for up to 12 hours, thanks to the bi-layer tablets and their extended release action. The first layer is quickly absorbed by your body for immediate relief, while the second layer is slowly dissolved to provide long-lasting effects. This means that no matter what type of cough you are dealing with, you can turn to Mucinex DM for relief. The tablets work immediately to start breaking up mucus and relieve your chest congestion symptoms.
Mucinex comes in six different varieties, each effective for different bronchitis symptoms:
- Mucinex – For chest congestion
- Maximum Strength Mucinex – For chest congestion
- Mucinex DM – For chest congestion and dry cough
- Maximum Strength Mucinex DM – For chest congestion and dry cough
- Mucinex D – For chest congestion and nasal congestion
- Maximum Strength Mucinex D – For chest congestion and nasal congestion
As you can see, no matter which symptoms of bronchitis you are suffering from, Mucinex has an option for you, in both regular and maximum-strength formats.
Conclusion
We realize that there are people out there who won’t consider using a product like Mucinex DM as they prefer resorting to more holistic and all-natural remedies. We completely understand this perspective, and that is why we also have several all-natural product recommendations that provide effective relief from bronchitis symptoms. However, for anyone who doesn’t mind using OTC medications, there are not too many better options out there for bronchitis than Mucinex DM (or any of the other Mucinex varieties listed above).
It’s true that many different bronchitis medications feature the same ingredients as found in Mucinex DM. Dextromethorphan HBr and Guaifenesin are found in just about every cough and cold formula. The main benefit that Mucinex has is the bi-layer extended-release tablets providing you with 12 hours of relief. Other common medications begin to lose effectiveness after only a couple of hours. With Mucinex DM, you can take one tablet and experience near all-day relief. For this reason, and the fact that they have several options available to meet your specific needs when it comes to bronchial symptoms, Mucinex receives a huge recommendation from us.
