[Helloise]

I have asthma. So a common cold can quickly go to my chest and fill my lungs with fluid or constrict the bronchial tubes. I take my asthma pretty seriously as my mother died in an asthma attack. She was weakened, frail and ill but the death certificate said her bronchial tubes closed and that was it.

So as post WLS finding a cough syrup that is both sugar and alcohol free has been a challenge. But through some research here is something I am using now and it is working very well for me. It is sugar free and has a trace of alcohol in it but I don't feel tipsy just relief.

Here is a cut and paste about it: Cheratussin AC Chemical Information

codeine phosphate

guaifenesin - A glyceryl guaiacolate with expectorant effects. Guaifenesin increases respiratory tract mucus secretions, acts as an irritant to gastric vagal receptors and recruits efferent parasympathetic reflexes that cause glandular exocytosis. This agent reduces the viscosity of mucus secretion by reducing adhesiveness and surface tension as well as increasing hydration of mucus. Guaifenesin promotes the efficiency of the mucociliary mechanism important in removing accumulated secretions from the upper and lower airway.

So basically it makes you cough all the gook up so that it doesn't fester into pneumonia or bronchitis or whatever and then calms the cough reflex. I am taking 2 tsp per six hours and it has made me feel much better. It sucks to be sick but to not have enough lung capacity to breathe makes it difficult to heal.

It has codeine in it as you can see so it is by prescription only. The over the counter cough stuff, which I tried, made me feel worse. But this stuff does the job. Hope this information helps for those of you getting the crud and it settles in your chest and you worry about asthma attacks as do I.

[liz123]

gosh - I hope you get feeling better soon ...it stinks to have trouble catching your breath ... scary too

thanks for the info about the med ... it may well help someone else a lot !

take care

[DEB60922]

My doc always gives me phenergan with codiene for mine

[mks]

Excellent information. Thank you.