Is there any over the counter meds th... - Lung Conditions C...
Is there any over the counter meds that help to shift mucus also does drinking alcohol worsen symptoms
Hi in the chest or the nose?
In the chest
Thnks for that hopetorun
I don't think alcohol you make your symptoms worse, but check with medicines you might take. I went for years unsuccessfully trying everything on the market until my gp prescribed carbocisteine capsules, problem solved. They are fantastic and made life much easier. Have a look at the link below and get to your doctor!! I've always had the theory if you can buy something without prescription then it must be very mild!
Hi dantheman, I have just purchased a device called "acapella" and I am in the process of trying it out I will keep you posted. This was discussed on the forum about a year ago. healthunlocked.com/blf/post...
The following site is the manufacturer.
smiths-medical.com/catalog/...
Cheers Dave.
I have been given this device through my pulmonary rehab team and more importantly shown how to use it. Only early days yet but it seems to bring the mucus up if it is loose but doesn't help at other times. So still the problem persists with getting it loose in the first place.
Good luck with it . I hope it works better for you.
PTxx
Alcohol is the answer but I've forgotten the question!!!
Hi,I am trying Carbocisteine 325mg,they certainly helped my husband who spent a fortune on Benalin mucus until our pharmasist put us on to this remedy,you got nothing to lose,and the alcohol didnt affect him, good luck 
xx
I use an 'acapella' too. It works very well for me. A word of warning - when I first got it I used it rather enthusiastically and ended up with severe chest pains. It has a range of pressure numbers on the end (1-5) I would recommend starting on 1 and seeing how it goes before increasing.
Carbocisteine made no difference to me but I know others have found them very helpful.
Instead of the Acapella, I bought a flutter which works for me. Like happyfeet, I used it "enthusiastically" too and ended up with right chest pain too!!! A physiotherapist from the pulmonary team told me that you have to build your muscles up until you become able to sustain the full amount of deep breathing and coughing up. Another therapy which only needs your lung is autogenic preathing (Google this on YouTube ). When I do the autogenic breathing , after my coughing up, I also bend forward and clap the back of my chest on the bottom ribs to help in coughing up. the bottom of the lungs may have thick mucus; clapping may hel with this. I got all this information from my pulmonary nurse who referred me to a physiotherapist of the pulmonary team to show me how to do all this. I recommend you do this before trying anything else.
For drugs, ask your consultant. Carboceistine may be good, but I cannot have it because if affects my stomach. But it does work for loads of others. I had acetylcolyceistine inhaled. It's the same sort as Carbocysteine, but it stinks terrible. That was very effective for me. Same with Mucodyne, it affects my stomach, so I don't use it. Best advice is from your consultant.
Not sure about over the counter meds but red wine although good for heart is bad for chest something to do with the sulphur in the grapes, it does make the breathing worse. But rum and black is said to relieve the tightness in the chest.Guess plain blackcurrant might work as well (smiles) Think this sort of help needs to be a trial and error thing, as what suits one may not suit another. A friend of mine used to swear by do do tablets for his asthma, think they are called breath-ease do do tablets nowdays. Good luck with finding a remedy, I find cold remedies relax the airways too.
