Carbocisteine is an expectorant indicated for coughs with thick and abundant phlegm, caused by chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary emphysema or other obstructive airway diseases, such as COPD, for example.
This medicine has a mucolytic action that fluidifies the phlegm, making it more liquid, facilitating its elimination, and is found in the form of an adult or children’s syrup, such as the generic “carbocisteine”, or with the commercial names Mucofan or Mucoflux, for example.
Carbocisteine should be used with the advice of a pulmonologist or pediatrician, for the duration of treatment and with individualized doses according to the age and condition to be treated.
What is it for
Carbocisteine is indicated for:
- Chronic bronchitis;
- Cystic fibrosis;
- Pulmonary emphysema;
- COPD.
Carbocisteine is indicated to relieve coughing with phlegm caused by acute and chronic conditions of the respiratory tract, in which the secretion is thick and abundant, as it helps to fluidize the phlegm, facilitating its elimination.
The use of carbocisteine should be done with the advice of a pulmonologist or pediatrician, who can indicate doses and treatment time individually, or even other syrups for coughing with phlegm. See other cough syrups for phlegm.
How to use
Carbocisteine syrup must be used orally, using the measuring cup provided in the package to measure the correct dose indicated by the doctor.
1. Carbocisteine children’s syrup 20 mg/mL
Carbocisteine children’s syrup 20 mg/mL (or 100 mg/5mL) can be used by children from 2 years of age.
The normally recommended dose is 0.25 mL of syrup for each kg of body weight, which is equivalent to 5 mg of carbocisteine/kg of weight, 3 times a day, as instructed by the pediatrician.
2. Carbocisteine adult syrup 50 mg/mL
Carbocisteine syrup 50 mg/mL (or 250 mg/5mL) can be used by adults or children over 12 years of age.
The normally recommended dose for adults is 5 mL to 10 mL of syrup, 3 times a day, or as advised by a pulmonologist.
This 50 mg/mL syrup should not be used by children under 12 years of age.
Possible side effects
The most common side effects of carbocisteine syrup are nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or stomach discomfort.
Additionally, although less common, insomnia, headache, dizziness, palpitation, rash, gastrointestinal bleeding, or mild hypoglycemia may also occur. Know how to identify the symptoms of hypoglycemia.
Who shouldn’t use
Carbocisteine should not be used by children under 2 years of age, pregnant or breastfeeding women or people with stomach or intestinal ulcers.
Furthermore, this remedy should not be taken by people who are allergic to carbocisteine or any other component of the syrup.
Carbocisteine should be used with caution and only if indicated by a doctor, in cases of bronchial asthma or respiratory failure.
Bibliography
- SONG, Y.; et al. Carbocisteine Improves Histone Deacetylase 2 Deacetylation Activity via Regulating Sumoylation of Histone Deacetylase 2 in Human Tracheobronchial Epithelial Cells. Front Pharmacol. 10. 166, 2019
- PACE, E.; et al. Clinical Efficacy of Carbocysteine in COPD: Beyond the Mucolytic Action. Pharmaceutics. 14. 6; 1261, 2022
- ALIBASIC, E.; et al. Efficacy of carbocisteine in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and impact on the quality of life. Med Glas (Zenica). 14. 2; 182-188, 2017
- ESPOSITO, A.; et al. Effect of CArbocisteine in Prevention of exaceRbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (CAPRI study): An observational study. Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 37. 85-8, 2016
- ANVISA. Carbocisteine - Xarope 20 mg/mL e 50 mg/mL. 2020. Available at: <https://consultas.anvisa.gov.br/#/bulario/q/?nomeProduto=CARBOCISTEINA>. Accessed on October 9, 2023
- ZENG, Z.; et al. Effect of carbocisteine on patients with COPD: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 12. 2277-2283, 2017
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