{"id":241,"date":"2019-11-12T17:52:43","date_gmt":"2019-11-12T22:52:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/nursingpharmacology\/chapter\/5-9-expectorants\/"},"modified":"2022-07-13T19:38:24","modified_gmt":"2022-07-13T23:38:24","slug":"5-9-expectorants","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/opentextbc.ca\/nursingpharmacology\/chapter\/5-9-expectorants\/","title":{"raw":"5.9 Expectorants","rendered":"5.9 Expectorants"},"content":{"raw":"

Expectorants<\/h1>\r\nGuaifenesin (Mucinex) is an example of an expectorant.\r\n

Mechanism of Action<\/h2>\r\nExpectorants reduce the viscosity of tenacious secretions by irritating the gastric vagal receptors that stimulate respiratory tract fluid, thus increasing the volume but decreasing the viscosity of respiratory tract secretions.\r\n

Indication for Use<\/h2>\r\nExpectorants are used for a productive cough and for loosening mucus from the respiratory tract.\r\n

Nursing Considerations Across the Lifespan<\/h2>\r\nThe medication is safe for all ages. Guaifenesin is only recommended for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding when the benefit outweighs the risk.\r\n

Adverse\/Side Effects<\/h2>\r\nGuaifenesin may cause a skin rash, headache, nausea, and vomiting.[footnote]Frandsen, G. & Pennington, S. (2018). Abrams\u2019 clinical drug: Rationales for nursing practice <\/em>(11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.[\/footnote]\r\n

Client Teaching & Education<\/h2>\r\nClients should take care to avoid irritants that stimulate their cough.\u00a0 Additionally, the medication can cause drowsiness. Clients should avoid taking them with other CNS depressants or alcohol.[footnote]uCentral from Unbound Medicine. https:\/\/www.unboundmedicine.com\/ucentral<\/a>[\/footnote]\r\n

Guaifenesin Medication Card<\/h1>\r\nNow let's take a closer look at the medication card for guaifenesin.[footnote]This work is a derivative of\u00a0Pharmacology Notes: Nursing Implications for Clinical Practice<\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0Gloria Velarde<\/a>\u00a0licensed under\u00a0CC BY-NC-SA 4.0<\/a>.[\/footnote],[footnote]Frandsen, G. & Pennington, S. (2018).\u00a0Abrams\u2019 clinical drug: Rationales for nursing practice\u00a0<\/em>(11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.[\/footnote],[footnote]This work is a derivative of\u00a0Daily Med<\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0U.S. National Library of Medicine<\/a>\u00a0in the public domain<\/a>. [\/footnote]\r\n
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Medication Card 5.9.1: Guaifenesin<\/h2>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
\r\n\r\nClass: <\/strong>Expectorants\r\n\r\nPrototypes: <\/strong>Guanfenesin (Mucinex)\r\n\r\nMechanism:\u00a0 <\/strong>Expectorants reduce the viscosity of tenacious secretions by irritating the gastric vagal receptors that stimulate respiratory tract fluid, thus increasing the volume but decreasing the viscosity of respiratory tract secretions.\r\n

Therapeutic Effects<\/h3>\r\n