Escodryl Syrup

Escodryl Syrup belongs to a class of medications called ‘expectorants’ used to treat cough. Coughing (dry or productive) is the body’s way of clearing irritants (like allergens, mucus, or smoke) from airways and preventing infection. There are two types of coughs, namely: Dry cough and chesty cough. A dry cough is tickly and doesn't produce any vicious or thick mucus, while a chesty cough (wet cough) means mucous or sputum is produced to help clear your airways. 

Escodryl Syrup is a combination of four drugs, namely: Ammonium chloride (expectorants), Diphenhydramine (antihistamine), Sodium citrate (mucolytic), and menthol (cooling agent). Ammonium chloride belongs to the class of expectorants that works by increasing the volume of fluid in the airways, reduce the stickiness of mucus, and helps to remove it from airways. Diphenhydramine belongs to the class of antihistamines (anti-allergic drugs) that works by blocking the action of histamine, a substance responsible for causing allergic reactions. Sodium citrate is a mucolytic agent (cough/sputum thinner) that works by thinning and loosening phlegm (mucus) in the lungs, windpipe, and nose. Thereby, it helps to cough out easily. Menthol is a cooling agent that produces a cooling sensation and provides relief from minor throat irritation.

Take Escodryl Syrup as prescribed by your doctor. You are advised to take Escodryl Syrup for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you based on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, nervousness, stomach pain, diarrhea, or constipation. Most of these side effects of Escodryl Syrup do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.

If you are allergic to Escodryl Syrup or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Escodryl Syrup is not recommended for children below 2 years of age unless advised by a doctor. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is advised to inform your doctor before using Escodryl Syrup. Escodryl Syrup should be used with caution in elderly patients due to the increased risk of side effects. Drive only if you are alert as Escodryl Syrup may cause dizziness. You are recommended to avoid alcohol consumption with Escodryl Syrup as it may increase drowsiness or dizziness.

Escodryl Syrup contains Ammonium chloride, Diphenhydramine, Sodium citrate, and menthol used to treat cough. Ammonium chloride is an expectorant that increases the volume of fluid in the airways, reduces the stickiness of mucus, and helps to remove it from the airways. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine (anti-allergic drug) that blocks the action of histamine, a substance responsible for causing allergic reactions.  It helps to provide relief from symptoms of allergy such as sneezing, running nose, watery eyes, itching, swelling, and congestion or stiffness. Sodium citrate is a mucolytic agent (cough/sputum thinner) that works by thinning and loosening phlegm (mucus) in the lungs, windpipe, and nose. Thereby, it helps to cough out easily. Menthol is a cooling agent that produces a cooling sensation and provides relief from minor throat irritation.

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Nervousness
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation

If you are allergic to Escodryl Syrup or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Escodryl Syrup is not recommended for children below 2 years of age unless advised by a doctor. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is advised to inform your doctor before using Escodryl Syrup. Escodryl Syrup should be used with caution in elderly patients due to the increased risk of side effects. Avoid using Escodryl Syrup if you have taken medicines such as linezolid, phenelzine, selegiline, rasagiline, isocarboxazid, tranylcypromine, and methylene blue injection in the past 14 days. If you have asthma, inform your doctor before taking Escodryl Syrup. Drive only if you are alert as Escodryl Syrup may cause dizziness. You are recommended to avoid alcohol consumption with Escodryl Syrup as it may increase drowsiness or dizziness. Drink plenty of fluids while taking Escodryl Syrup to loosen mucus.

Drug-Drug Interaction: Escodryl Syrup may interact with a blood thinner (warfarin), antibiotic (chloramphenicol), medicines containing propantheline or metoclopramide, anticonvulsants (pregabalin).

Drug-Food Interaction: Escodryl Syrup may interact with alcohol. Therefore, avoid the consumption of alcohol with Escodryl Syrup as it may increase the risk of adverse effects such as drowsiness or dizziness.

Drug-Disease Interaction: If you have asthma, glaucoma, bladder problems (urinary retention), prostate problems, liver or kidney disease, inform your doctor before taking Escodryl Syrup.

• WARFARIN
• CHLORAMPHENICOL
• PREGABALIN
• PROPANTHELINE
• METOCLOPRAMIDE

• Avoid dairy products such as milk as they may increase mucus production. Also, avoid processed or refined foods to have relief from cough. Instead, replace baked foods, fried foods, white bread, white pasta, French fries, sugary desserts and chips with green leafy vegetables.
• Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dry throat while you have a cough and loosen mucus.
• Avoid citrus fruits as they may worsen the cough. Eat fruits rich in water content such as pears, watermelon, peaches and pineapples.

If the symptoms persist or worsen after using Escodryl Syrup for 1 week, please consult a doctor.

Cough: Coughing is the body’s way of clearing irritants (like allergens, mucus, or smoke) from airways and preventing infection. Coughs may be dry or productive. A productive cough (wet cough) brings up sputum (phlegm, mucus, and other matter) from the lungs. Cough is commonly caused as a response to allergy or viral infection but coughing up mucus is possibly an indication of infection in the respiratory tract. If you are coughing thick, solid white mucus, it indicates you may have a bacterial infection in the airways. If the mucus is clear or light-colored, it indicates you may have allergies or a minor infection in the respiratory tract and yellow or green mucus indicates a respiratory infection.