Carbocisteine
Indications
Carbocisteine is a mucolytic, a medicine that loosens thick, sticky mucus (phlegm). It is used for coughs with thick phlegm in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis and other chest conditions where mucus is hard to cough up. In COPD, regular use may reduce the number of flare-ups.
How It Works
It changes the structure of mucus so that it becomes thinner and less sticky, making it easier to clear from the airways by coughing.
Dosage and Administration
- Adults: usually 750 mg three times a day at first, then reduced to 1.5 g a day in divided doses once the cough improves, or as the doctor advises.
- Children: syrup is used in a dose based on age; follow the doctor's advice or the pack instructions. Not for children under 2 years unless a doctor prescribes it.
- Take by mouth. Drinking plenty of water also helps to loosen mucus.
Interactions
No important interactions are known. Avoid taking it with cough suppressants such as Dextromethorphan or Codeine unless a doctor advises, because they stop you coughing up the loosened mucus.
Contraindications
- Allergy to carbocisteine or any ingredient of the product.
- Active stomach or duodenal ulcer.
- Children under 2 years.
Side Effects
Usually well tolerated. Some people get nausea, stomach discomfort, diarrhoea or a skin rash.
Get urgent medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty breathing, widespread rash) or signs of bleeding in the gut such as vomiting blood or black, tarry stools.
Pregnancy and Lactation
Avoid in the first three months of pregnancy. Later in pregnancy and while breastfeeding, use only if a doctor advises it.
Precautions and Warnings
Use with care if you have had a stomach ulcer in the past or take medicines that can irritate the stomach, such as NSAIDs or steroids. Syrups may contain sugar, which matters for people with diabetes. See a doctor if the cough lasts more than 2 weeks, or if you cough up blood or have fever and breathlessness.
Overdose
Too much is likely to cause stomach upset, nausea and diarrhoea. Seek medical advice.
Therapeutic Class
Mucolytic (expectorant group).
Storage
Store below 30°C in a dry place, away from light and out of the reach of children. Keep syrup bottles tightly closed.
Prepared by the Oshud Alo team from standard drug references. For information only; always follow your doctor's advice.
All brands of Carbocisteine