Expectorants are medications that help clear mucus from the respiratory tract during coughing. They may reduce the viscosity of bronchial secretions or facilitate their movement and expulsion through coughing.
These medications are used for coughs accompanied by thick mucus that is difficult to expel. Expectorants differ in their composition and mechanisms of action, so the choice of medication depends on the type of cough, the person’s age, and the underlying cause of the symptoms. They help make mucus easier to cough up but do not treat the underlying cause of the illness.