Indications
Bromhexine is a mucolytic, a medicine that thins mucus. It is used for coughs and chest conditions where thick, sticky phlegm is hard to cough up, such as acute and chronic bronchitis, and other airway conditions with excess mucus. It is also included in some veterinary combination products for respiratory disease in poultry and livestock; those products are for animal use only and must be used as directed by a veterinarian.
How It Works
Bromhexine breaks down the fibres that make mucus thick and increases the production of thinner secretions in the airways. This makes phlegm more watery and easier to move by the tiny hairs that line the airways, so it can be cleared by coughing. In the body it is partly changed to Ambroxol, which has a similar effect.
Dosage and Administration
For adults and children over 12 years, the usual dose is 8 to 16 mg three times a day. Children’s doses are lower and depend on age; follow the label or your doctor’s advice. Drink plenty of fluids to help loosen mucus. Do not use for more than 4 to 5 days without medical advice. For veterinary products, follow the label or your veterinarian, and observe the stated withdrawal period before meat or eggs are used for food.
Interactions
Do not combine with cough suppressants such as Codeine or Dextromethorphan, because they stop the cough needed to clear the loosened mucus. Bromhexine may increase the amount of some antibiotics (such as Amoxicillin, Erythromycin and Doxycycline) reaching lung tissue, which is not usually harmful.
Contraindications
Do not use if you are allergic to Bromhexine or Ambroxol. Avoid in children under 2 years unless a doctor advises it.
Side Effects
Side effects are uncommon and usually mild: nausea, stomach upset, diarrhoea, headache, dizziness and sweating. Mild skin rash can occur.
Stop the medicine and get urgent medical help if you develop a serious skin reaction (blistering, peeling skin or mouth sores, often with fever), swelling of the face or throat, or difficulty breathing.
Pregnancy and Lactation
Avoid in the first 3 months of pregnancy and use later in pregnancy only if a doctor advises it. Bromhexine passes into breast milk, so it is not recommended while breastfeeding unless your doctor approves.
Precautions and Warnings
Use with caution if you have a stomach ulcer, severe liver or kidney disease, or asthma, as it may irritate the airways. People who cannot cough well may struggle to clear loosened mucus. See a doctor if the cough lasts more than a week, or if you have high fever, blood in the phlegm or shortness of breath.
Overdose
Overdose is unlikely to be dangerous but may cause stomach upset and dizziness. Contact a doctor if a large amount is taken, especially by a child.
Therapeutic Class
Mucolytic (expectorant).
Storage
Store below 30°C in a dry place, away from light and out of the reach of children.
Prepared by the Oshud Alo team from standard drug references. For information only; always follow your doctor's advice.