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You read the terms on labels during cold and flu season: expectorant, decongestant, suppressant. Just what do they mean?
_Expectorant: Over-the-counter drugs containing guaifenesin help loosen phlegm so it can be expelled.
_Decongestant: Over-the-counter medicines containing pseudoephedrine also help get rid of phlegm. Decongestants constrict blood vessels to shrink the swelling of mucus membranes and open air passages. They also help stop postnasal drip, which causes coughing or gagging when mucus drains into the lungs.
_Suppressant: Drugs containing a suppressant such as dextromethorphan quiet coughs so you can sleep or speak more ...
Source: HighBeam Research, A guide to terms on cold and flu remedies.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)