Dictionary Definition
expectorant n : a medicine promoting
expectoration [syn: expectorator]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Pronunciation
Extensive Definition
A mucolytic agent is any agent which dissolves
thick mucus usually used
to help relieve respiratory difficulties. (hydrolyzing
glycosaminoglycans: tending to break down/lower the viscosity of
mucin-containing body secretions/components). The viscosity of
mucous secretions in the lungs is dependent upon the
concentrations of mucoprotein, the presence of disulfide bonds
between these macromolecules and DNA.
Mucolytics: N-acetylcysteine:
an aerosolized mucolytic agent often used as adjunctive therapy for
pulmonary complications of cystic
fibrosis (CF) in combination with vigorous chest physiotherapy.
N-acetylcysteine acts to split the sulfide
bonds in the macromolecules thereby decreasing viscosity,
allowing for removal by normal chest physiology. The action of
N-acetylcysteine is pH dependent. Mucolytic action is significant
at ranges of pH 7-9.(1)
Natural Mucolytics:
Expectorants should not be confused with a
mucolytic. Expectorants increase mucous production. Also, Codeine (sold as
Robitussin in
the US) is not a mucolytic.
External links
expectorant in Catalan:
Mucolític