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Expectorant of Mucolytic?
I've had asthma since I was little, and as far as I've gathered, expectorant is for non-asthmatic cough sufferers while mucolytics are for asthmatics. Is this true? What's confusing me though is why "guaifenesin", a component in one asthma pill I used to take, is used as an "expectorant", and the only OTC drug available for the purpose of easing the removal of phlegm here in the U.S. In Europe as well as in other parts of the world, "carbocisteine" is available OTC. Personally, I've found carbocisteine to work better than guaifenesin.
One side effect of Mucolytics is bronchospasm and is therefore contraindicated for asthma patients. Guaifenesin, aka Robitussin, is an expectorant, and should be safe for asthma patients as long as is it is taken as directed. I am a nursing student and this is what I have learned on the subject so far. I stumbled on this question while I was researching the subject.
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