What are the Functions of Ammonium Chloride in Cough Medicine?

Ammonium chloride in cough medicine is a common expectorant, which is also a strong electrolyte with colorless crystals or white granular powder. It can ionize ammonium ions and chloride ions when dissolved in water. Ammonia and hydrogen chloride to produce ammonium chloride will have white smoke. It can absorb moisture and lump in humid and rainy weather with small hygroscopicity. 

However, the powdered form is easy to dissolve, especially for qualified products, whose moisture absorption point is generally about 76%. When the relative humidity in the air is greater than the moisture absorption point, ammonium chloride easily occurs the phenomenon of moisture absorption and agglomerates. Ammonium chloride is mainly used in medicine, agriculture, and alkali industry. Meanwhile, it is mainly used when phlegm is not easy to cough out, urinary tract infections need to acidify urine, dry cough, and other conditions of auxiliary treatment in medicine.

The functions of ammonium chloride in cough medicine

Ammonium chloride is often used to treat symptoms such as phlegm and excessive coughing. The patients take it by dissolving it in water. We will introduce the specific effects below. 

1. Cough suppressant. Ammonium chloride can stimulate the respiratory center, causing local excitation for respiratory mucosa, thus producing a cough suppressant effect, which is not obvious.

2. Expectorant effect. The gastric mucosa can be stimulated, reflexively causing the secretion of bronchial mucus to increase exponentially after taking ammonium chloride. After such a process, the phlegm is easier to cough up after being diluted. Therefore, ammonium chloride is often used in the early stage of respiratory tract infections when the phlegm is sticky and not easy to cough up.

It can also relieve smooth muscle spasms to make the bronchial dilatation, then it is conducive to the discharge of sputum. To a certain extent, it can also relieve the patient's cough, and other uncomfortable symptoms.

3. Ammonium chloride can increase the excretion of sodium and water by increasing the concentration of chloride ions in the renal tubules, so it shows a diuretic effect. At the same time, it can also acidify the urine and body fluids. It has been applied in combination with mercury to treat cardiorenal edema and alkalosis in the past.

4. Ammonium chloride can regulate the acid-base balance and keep the electrolytes in balance in the body. If the acid-base balance of the body is disrupted and acidosis occurs, the recommendation from the doctor should be followed.

5. Ammonium chloride has a certain inhibitory effect on Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, and pneumococcus. Therefore, it can be used to cure respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, septicemia, and other diseases caused by sensitive bacteria.

Matters needing attention when taking ammonium chloride in cough medicine

It should be noted that although ammonium chloride in cough medicine can relieve cough and resolve phlegm, side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain may happen for patients with weak gastrointestinal function. So they should avoid taking it. In addition, patients should avoid taking ammonium chloride together with cardiac glycosides, to avoid causing arrhythmia, palpitations, and other adverse reactions. In serious cases, it may also lead to the emergence of shock. The patient who appears any uncomfortable symptoms is recommended to seek medical treatment in time.

Patients with metabolic acidosis and sickle cell anemia are prohibited from taking this medicine. If you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding, do not use it on your own and inform your doctor and choose the best treatment plan. Children should use this medicine as the doctors’ suggestion and under adult supervision.

In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to dietary health, try to eat light food, and avoid the intake of spicy stimulating food and cold food when taking the drug. Otherwise, it will affect the efficacy of the drug.

Conclusion

This brings us to conclude the article on the topic of “What are the functions of ammonium chloride in cough medicine”. This substance has a diuretic effect, the regulation of acid-base balance, and a certain inhibitory effect besides an expectorant effect, a cough suppressant. So it plays a very important role in curing common diseases. Some notices should be paid attention to because it may cause some adverse effects such as arrhythmia, and palpitations. So it is quite necessary to ask a doctor for advice before taking this drug or with other medicines together.