News: OTC Cough & Cold Brands in India

OTC Cough & Cold Brands in India

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are medicines that may be sold directly to a consumer without a prescription from a health care professional, as compared to prescription drugs, which may only be sold to consumers possessing a valid prescription. In many countries, OTC drugs are selected by a regulatory agency to ensure that they are ingredients that are safe and effective when used without a physician's care. OTC drugs are usually regulated by active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), not final products. By regulating APIs instead of specific drug formulations, governments allow manufacturers freedom to formulate ingredients, or combinations of ingredients, into proprietary mixtures.

The term over-the-counter may be somewhat counter-intuitive, since, in many countries, these drugs are often located on the shelves of stores like any other packaged product. In contrast, prescription drugs are almost always literally passed over a counter from the pharmacist to the customer. Some drugs may be legally classified as over-the-counter (i.e. no prescription is required),but may only be dispensed by a pharmacy employee after an assessment of the patient's needs and/or the provision of patient education.

In many countries, a number of OTC drugs are available in establishments without a pharmacy, such as general stores, supermarkets, gas stations, etc. Regulations detailing the establishments where drugs may be sold, who is authorized to dispense them, and whether a prescription is required vary considerably from country to country.

Cough: A cough is a sudden and often repetitively occurring reflex which helps to clear the large breathing passages from secretions, irritants, foreign particles and microbes. The cough reflex consists of three phases: an inhalation, a forced exhalation against a closed glottis, and a violent release of air from the lungs following opening of the glottis, usually accompanied by a distinctive sound. Coughing can happen voluntarily as well as involuntarily.

Frequent coughing usually indicates the presence of a disease. Many viruses and bacteria benefit evolutionarily by causing the host to cough, which helps to spread the disease to new hosts. Most of the time, coughing is caused by a respiratory tract infection but can be triggered by choking, smoking, air pollution [1] asthma,gastroesophageal reflux disease, post-nasal drip, chronic bronchitis, heart failureand medications such as ACE inhibitors.
Treatment should target the cause by for example smoking cessation or discontinuing ACE inhibitors. Some people may be worried about serious illnesses, and reassurance may suffice. Cough suppressants such as codeine ordextromethorphan are frequently prescribed, but have been demonstrated to have little effect. Other treatment options may target airway inflammation or may promote mucus expectoration. As it is a natural protective reflex, suppressing the cough reflex might have deleterious effects, especially if the cough is productive
Cold:
The common cold (viral upper respiratory tract infection (VURI), acute viral rhinopharyngitis, acute coryza, or cold) is a contagious, viral infectious disease of the upperrespiratory system, caused primarily by rhinoviruses and coronaviruses. Common symptoms include a sore throat, runny nose, and fever. There is no cure; however, symptoms usually resolve spontaneously in 7 to 10 days, with some symptoms possibly lasting for up to three weeks.
The common cold is the most frequent infectious disease in humans with on average two to four infections a year in individual adults and up to 6 - 12 in individual children. Collectively, colds, influenza, and other infections with similar symptoms are included in the diagnosis ofinfluenza-like illness. They may also be termed upper respiratory tract infections (URTI). Influenza involves the lungs while the common cold does not.
Few of the over the counter cough and cold medicine/drug in India:
Corex
Vicks vaprorub
Benadryl
Afrin
Coldirin
Chericof cough syrup
Chericof softgel
Olesan gel
Brontex®
Cheracol® Syrup
Diabetic Tussin® EX
Dyflex®-G
Dy-G®
Dyphylline GG®
Dyphylline GG® Elixir
Elixophyllin®-GG
Ganidin® NR
Gani-Tuss® NR
Guaifenesin AC® Liquid
Guiatuss AC® Syrup
Guiatuss® Syrup
Halotussin® AC
Humibid® Pediatric
Hytuss®
Hytuss-2X®
Lufyllin®-GG
Lufyllin®-GG Elixir
Mucinex®
Mytussin® AC Cough Syrup
Naldecon® Senior EX
Organidin® NR
Phanasin® Diabetic Choice®
Quibron®
Robitussin A-C® Syrup
Robitussin®
Tussi-Organidin® NR
Tussi-Organidin®-S NR
X-Pect®
Four major cold medication ingredients: Cough and cold medications come either as one of the following types of medicines, or a combination of two, three or all four ingredients:

Nasal decongestant – This will clear nasal passages making it easier to breath through the nose. It also has a mild drying effect so it will also help relieve runny nose a bit. I like to use decongestants during the day because they won't make your child drowsy. This is important if your child is going to school. Side effects may include excitability, which might interfere with sleep.
Anti-histamine – This helps relieve a very itchy, runny nose. It decreases mucous production in the nose. The most likely side effect is drowsiness, which is fine at night, but could interfere with daytime activities.
Cough suppressant – this helps with a persistent annoying cough. It acts by suppressing the cough reflex in the throat and lungs so that the mucous or irritation there won't trigger coughing. There are no likely side effects.
Expectorant – this helps when your child has thick chest congestion, which he is unable to cough up. It loosens thick mucous, making it easier to cough up. There are no likely side effects.

Growth on track for OTC brands
Sales of over the counter healthcare products grew by more than 7% in current value terms in 2005, with Indonesia and China witnessing faster growth in the Asia Pacific region. Overall market growth was driven by analgesics and cough, cold and allergy remedies, with niche categories such as eye care and wound treatments also demonstrating good performances. Dietary supplements, like mineral supplements and the smaller ginseng and gingko biloba, continued to see good growth, as increasingly busy and stressed Indian consumers turned to supplements to maintain their health.

Cough Suppressant